SACRIFICE BUNTING
Starting Position
The player rotates from a hitting stance to a bunting stance by pivoting her feet towards the pitcher. This allows the hips and shoulders to square to the ball. The legs are flexed and the head is out over the feet. The player positions the bat out over the plate at the top of the strike zone with the barrel above the hands and the arms flexed. The top hand is placed above the grip for better control of the bat head. If the ball is above the top of the strike zone, the player pulls the bat back.
Bottom of Zone Positioning
The player remains in an athletic position witht the feet pointing towards the pitcher and the shoulders and hips square to the ball. For balls down in the zone the player uses her legs not her arms to get the barrel to the ball. The legs are well flexed both close to 90 degree angles. The arms are flexed with the barrel of the bat above the hands.
Top of Zone Contact
The player remains in an athletic position witht the feet pointing towards the pitcher and the shoulders and hips square to the ball.The legs remain flexed enough so the bat head is still above the ball. Just prior to the ball making contact with the bat, the player extends the arms slightly to push the ball. The prevents the bat head from retracting and the ball going foul. Slight angles are used to position the ball down the third or first base line.
Bottom of Zone Contact
The player remains in an athletic position witht the feet pointing towards the pitcher and the shoulders and hips square to the ball. The legs are well flexed both close to 90 degree angles to get the barrel down in plane with the ball. The arms are flexed with the barrel of the bat above the hands. Just prior to the ball making contact with the bat, the player extends the arms slightly to push the ball. The prevents the bat head from coiling back and the ball going foul. Slight angles are used to position the ball down the third or first base line.