Baseball Hitting Tips: 

In my opinion Baseball Hitting Tips should begin with The Bunt, but in some circles the bunt is considered, let’s say “not required learning” until 12 or 13 years old, as they feel there is more than enough to learn about trying to hit the ball, much alone worry about properly bunting it.

In my opinion this conception is totally Wrong, as the bunt  is an important play at all levels, perhaps more so the older the players become because it opens numerous additional plays which can be called, but it can also be a great aid in helping a youngster become a better hitter.

Some baseball hitting tips, and bunting is one of those skills, are easier to explain and describe what not to do before tackling the how to dos. Let’s learn to bunt by the numbers. 

 Good Form

Steps To Bunting:  Baseball Hitting Tips

(1.) From his normal batting stance, the player swings his hips around until his body is square, or facing the pitcher. From this position the bunter must be sure of two specific things:

(a.) He must be careful to not be standing or in contact with home plate, or should he hit the ball while being in contact with the plate he will be called out….

(b.) He must be far enough up in the batter’s box for his bat to be in Fair territory.

(2.) As the hitter squares, he slides his hand up the barrel of the bat, being careful to not wrap his fingers around the bat, but rather cradle the bat in his thumb and forefinger. I shouldn’t have to explain the painful consequences of fingers smashed between the ball and the bat.

(3.) The hitter must always remember:

(a.) The intent of the bunt is to deaden, restrict distance the ball travels …

(b.) Redirect the ball to a specific area of the infield, normally down the first or third base foul line …

Therefore, he should never stab or lunge at the ball with the bat, as that action eliminates all bat and ball control, which is so very important for a successful bunt.

 In reality, especially on a sacrifice bunt, the batter does NOT hit the ball with the bat, but rather allows the ball to hit the bat, which is being loosely and gently cradled, which absorbs the impact resulting in the ball going fair, but a limited distance.

(4.) Never, unless it’s a suicide play, try to bunt a high pitch. 

High pitches are nearly impossible to place onto the ground, because the batter can not get above the ball with his hands, known as  getting on top of the ball, which normally will result in a pop up and an easy put out.

Bad Angle of Bat Popped Straight Up -  Baseball Hitting Tips

   Baseball Hitting Tips: Sacrifice Bunt:

  The sacrifice bunt is used to give up an out, the batter, in order to advance a base runner into scoring position, whether it be to second or third base. In other words, exchange an out for an increased opportunity to score a run.

 One of the worse things an inexperienced hitter can do when faced with this situation is trying to be cute and disguise his intention to sacrifice, by feinting a bunt, pulling his bat back feinting to hit, then back to bunting. All this does is throw off the hitter’s timing and ruins his mechanics.

Everyone in the ball park is 99% sure the batter will be sacrificing, because it perfectly fits the criteria of a sacrifice bunt, tie game, late innings, pitchers duel, so there is no element of surprise required as would be the case in attempting to bunt for a hit. 

(1.)  As the pitcher comes set in his stretch position the hitter should square his body, directly facing the pitcher. As he does this he should lower his bat from the hitting position, slide his right hand (right handed hitter) up the back of the bat’s barrel, stopping @ at the trademark. 

(2.) The bat should be held and guided with the batter’s left hand that’s in a slightly choked location. The barrel of the bat should be cradled from behind with the thumb and knuckles of the first two fingers.

(a.) The left hand allows the hitter to angle the bat to make the ball go towards the third base side or the first base side.

(b.) Pull the handle in toward your body, directs the ball down the third base line. Push the handle away from you, the ball will be bunted down the first base line.

Deadened On The Ground - Baseball Hitting Tips

 (c.) The cradle hand helps absorb the impact of the ball striking the bat deadening the bounce off the bat and limiting how far it goes.

  This is extremely important. You must have the bat out ahead of the plate in fair territory. Failure to do this will almost always result in bunting a foul ball!

Baseball Hitting Tips to Teaching Hitting

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