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Great Age 8-9 yr. olds for Teaching Pushing & Dragging Bunting FUNdamentals
By: Bear
Great age to teach hitting.
For the short game, I teach the "Bunts for BaseHits" To bunt for basehits, I teach placement of the baseball. The expression I use to teach bunt placement of the baseball is: "Bunting: Perfect or Foul" For team drills, all of the children enjoy either the 'Perfect or Foul Drill' or, '1,2,3, Bunting Game. I use these drills to practice and perfect these basic bunting FUNdamentals. To enjoy teaching these Bunting FUNdamentals, I use two terms: Push Bunt & Drag Bunt Push Bunt - A RH pushes the ball down 1b line. Drag Bunt - A RH hitter drops (drags) the ball down the 3b line. (For LHH, it's the opposite) Most beginning bunters find it easiest to push bunts. In my 1,2,3 Bunting Game, no points are awarded for a bunt that is fielded on (or near) the mound by a pitcher. Most teachers of 'square' bunting mechanics accept a bunt back at the pitcher. Most teachers of 'pivot' bunting mechanics teach push or drag bunting fundamentals. 'Square' bunting mechanics are typically considered sacrifice techniques. For hitting FUNdamentals, I teach offensive styles of hitting, rather than 'sacrificial' characteristics. Of all the three types of hitters that I 'evaluate', the mashers are typically the best bunters, while the 'speed merchants' are not. I don't want 'my mashers' to bunt. I want my 'speed merchants' to get on base. cheers Bear ps. There are two schools of thoughts for bunting locations when teaching bunting for base hits. E.g. College vs Pro psps. I am not an advocate of a 'fastpitch' bunting fundamental for baseball, that being 'slap bunting'. I think it is an outstanding fastpitch offensive fundamental that pressures several defensive alignments. However in baseball, it is simply a very weak offensive baseball strategy that is almost never taught correctly nor executed with an high percentage (However it looks great if performed properly.)
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