Getting a grip on bunting

Guest post by Ken Krause, Life in the Fastpitch Lane  blog

Although there has been a lot of emphasis placed on power hitting in our sport over the last 10 years or so, bunting continues to be an important part of the game. And it probably will be as long as pitchers continue to dominate.

Yet as I work with hitters and watch others, it's amazing how many are using techniques that are less than optimal — particularly for younger girls. A lot are carry-overs from baseball, taught by dads who used to play that game.

The worst of the lot is running the top hand up the bat and then pinching it between the thumb and forefinger, which is definitely a baseball technique. Here's why it doesn't work so well in softball.

Let's start with the difference between the two balls. The mass of a baseball is roughly 145 grams, while the mass of a typical softball is 198.4 grams. That means the softball has 37% more mass than the baseball. Now add in the mass of the bat, which will have an effect on how much force it can absorb without being felt. Younger boys will tend to use a -7 (the bat weighs seven ounces less than its length in inches), while older boys will use a -3. Girls, on the other hand, typically use a -10, and sometimes even a -11 or -12. So what you have is a heavier ball impacting a lighter bat. That's a recipe for pain right there.

The other factor that goes into it is the relative strength of boys and girls. At the younger ages it's probably not that big a difference. As they get older, though, boys become much stronger than girls overall. That includes their hands and wrists. Put it all together and a technique that works in baseball just doesn't work that well in softball. If that's what you're teaching, don't be surprised if a lot of bunts go foul, and your players are reluctant to get in there and do it — or even practice it.

Slightly better is a technique called "point the gun and squeeze the trigger." It's still a pinch, but the pinch sits deeper in the crook of the thumb. When the ball makes contact with the bat, it will likely push the bat back deeper into the crook, which can be painful as well. It will deflect the bat, which generally will lead to a foul ball too.

A better technique, especially for younger girls, is to get a full grip on the bat with the top hand (see the picture). Personally, I prefer having both hands up the bat, as it yields better control and makes it easier to "receive" the pitch and soften it. Some people will dismiss this grip saying it puts the hand in danger. But proper bunt technique says you should hit the ball off the end of the bat, not the sweet spot or close to the handle so the hand should never be in danger.

With the hand holding the bat fully the hitter is a lot more solid at impact, increasing the likelihood the ball will go fair instead of deflecting foul. It will also be a lot less painful for the hitter, encouraging her to be more aggressive with her bunting.

Change can be difficult at times. But it's often worth it. Try this grip with your players and see if they don't increase their level of success. Just be sure to remind them to hit the ball off the end of the bat!