Different Kinds of Bunts in Baseball and How to Do Them Properly

Filed under Hitting by on June 19, 2011 at 11:54 {no comments}

When first learning the sport of baseball, you typically learn that there are two kinds of bunts: sacrifice bunts, and bunts for a base hit. In fact, there are more kinds of bunts than only those two. I like to call these kinds of bunts specialty bunts, simply because they’re only used in certain situations if a player believes it is necessary. Most of these bunts are not as easy to accomplish than the conventional bunt, but if you execute it correctly, it could possibly pay off big time. These types of bunts are normally made use of in very important situations during a baseball game and therefore they must be learned so that if you are ever called upon to perform, you are able to with confidence.

Drag Bunt: This style of bunt is primarily used by left-handed batters mainly because it is a whole lot more effective. However, you can certainly make use of this bunt if you are right-handed, however it will not be quite as effective. The goal of the drag bunt is to get on base, not to sacrifice a runner to the next base. To execute this bunt, you need to wait until the last moment possible to show your intention to bunt and bunt the ball to the same side of the field as you bat (left-handed hitters to first, right-handed batters to the third base side). The trick (especially for left-handed batters) is to start moving towards first base at the same time as you bunt the ball, which is certainly a lot trickier than it sounds! This movement saves valuable time and may make the difference between you being safe and you being called out at first base on a bang-bang play.

Push Bunt: Ordinarily, once a bunt is revealed, the second baseman will go and cover first base while the pitcher, 3rd baseman, and 1st baseman all attempt to field the bunt. The objective of a push bunt is to get a hit by bunting or “pushing” the ball hard past the charging fielders towards where the 2nd baseman would normally stand (but remember, he is over covering first, not covering his regular location). This leaves nobody to field your bunt in time to throw you out at first if you are a half-decent runner. To execute this bunt, you need to push the ball as you’re bunting it. Generally this is a no-no while bunting as you’re supposed to “catch” the baseball with the bat, but in this instance you need to put some power on the bunt to push it past the mound and towards the second base position.

Suicide Squeeze: The objective of the suicide squeeze would be to score a base runner from third, mostly performed with one out. With this particular bunt, you don’t care if you’re called out or safe at first base so long as the base runner scores. With this bunt, as soon as the pitcher commits, the base runner at third base should break to steal home and then it is the hitter’s job to lay the bunt down ideally away from home plate so the base runner can’t be tagged out. This kind of bunt is a do-or-die. As the batter, if you want to protect your runner from almost certain doom, you have to get the bunt down, even if this would mean bunting a bad pitch.

Hopefully, by knowing (and practicing) these various types of bunts, you will be able to execute them during a game whenever your team needs you to. Even though bunting is not usually the thrilling part of hitting, it could be if you execute during the right moments. It is all about doing what you are able to help your team win, and bunting is a significant aspect of doing that. Knowing how to bunt well is a enormous advantage that coaches and scouts look for in a player. Be sure that you do not slack off and learn how to bunt well, as it’s going to be worthwhile later!

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How to Bunt in Baseball

Filed under Hitting by on June 8, 2011 at 13:51 {no comments}

Virtually all baseball players like to hit. Players really enjoy being the one up there at the plate hitting line drives along with the occasional long ball. Players like batting so much that they will do many baseball workouts and hitting drills to improve. Sadly, since everybody loves batting so much, sometimes understanding the way to bunt effectively is overlooked.

Sometimes, players (especially the younger ones) assume that bunting is for the players that are not good at hitting. This just isn’t true at all! Bunting is a very valuable skill in the game of baseball, and can make the difference between your team winning and your team losing. It might not be the most glorious thing to do, but it is critical that you learn to bunt and when to bunt.

When you bunt, you are looking to achieve one of two things. You either want to advance a baserunner to the next base or you want to get a base hit. Occasionally if you’re lucky you’re able to do both!

Sacrifice Bunting: The objective of sacrifice bunting is to move a runner to the next base. When sacrifice bunting, you should begin in your regular batting stance. Before the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand you want to square your whole body so it is facing the pitcher. Squaring up earlier makes it easier for you to see the arriving pitch. Make sure that your weight is on the balls of your feet and you’re in an athletic position with your feet shoulder width apart and your knees a little bit bent. Hold the baseball bat out over the plate with your left hand one third up the baseball bat from the knob, and the other hand two thirds up the baseball bat from the knob, pinching the barrel of the bat with your right hand. It is very essential to keep the bat parallel to the ground or the barrel end of the baseball bat higher than the knob end of the baseball bat while sacrifice bunting. You should bend your knees if you are planning to bunt a low strike as opposed to dropping the barrel of the baseball bat with your hands. If the barrel of the bat is nearer to the ground than the knob, it’s probable that you’ll pop up the bunt.

Bunting for a Hit: When bunting for a base hit, you should use the same exact principles as sacrifice bunting except for two things. The first is you want to surprise the opposing team and reveal the bunt as late as you possibly can. Wait until the pitcher is at least releasing the baseball to reveal the bunt. The later the better. The second difference is your stance. Rather than squaring your body facing the pitcher pitcher, you should stay in your batting stance and pivot both your feet so that your toes are facing the pitcher. This enables you to prepare yourself to bunt quicker so you are more likely to surprise the opposing team. Basically, everything else is the same as the sacrifice bunt.

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Cliff Lee – Baseball Training Profile

Filed under Hitting by on June 5, 2011 at 10:58 {no comments}

This season, the Phillies are the talk of the baseball world whether or not you like them. And the reason for much of the talking is the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation. Extraordinary is an understatement. The Philadelphia Phillies basically now have 4 aces on the staff with Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, and Roy Halladay starting four out of every five games. Right now, I want to talk about Cliff Lee, not merely because he is part of this dream rotation, but due to his good work ethic, and his good outlook towards baseball workouts and training.

Born in Arkansas, Cliff has always been a superb baseball player and loved sports. As he became older, his enthusiasm for baseball grew stronger. He was known for appearing quite passionate and often cocky on the baseball field. This cockiness helped him on the mound nonetheless it also had its negatives. After a loss, Cliff was not somebody you would like to be around. He took just about every loss personally. His family, friends, and teammates sometimes became the victims of his frustration.

Today, Cliff has learned to control his emotions better,but you can unquestionably tell his passion for baseball as well as his no BS attitude. The great thing about Cliff is the fact that he uses that mindset to shape his pitching drills, hitting drills, and total baseball workouts routine.

Cliff Lee determined a baseball training program he liked around 9 years ago and has kept with it since then. “I keep it simple,” Lee explained in an interview with Philly News. “The simpler the easier for me.” Anytime a trainer or coach wants Cliff to perform new pitching drills or hitting drills he always asks “why?” If there is not a valid answer as to how this new drill will substantially improve his game, he will not do it. It’s not that he is being stuck up…he is merely being sensible and not wasting his valuable time.

Not only is Cliff Lee passionate about the sport of baseball, but he is also passionate about serving his local community and giving back to those who have assisted his family. A year ago, Cliff and his wife Kristen donated one million dollars to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in honor of their son Jaxon who was treated for cancer there when he was an infant. Cliff Lee is a good role model for young players and his no-nonsense approach towards baseball workouts is one I highly recommend to all serious players.

Are you interested in improving your game and being the best baseball player you can be? If you are, visit www.BestBaseballWorkouts.com to find more useful information in addition to pitching drills and hitting drills that will take your game to the next level!

Baseball Batting Coaching Strategies: How to Affix with Your Players

Filed under Hitting by on February 14, 2011 at 19:18 {no comments}

There is a major disconnect in today’s baseball world between coaches and players. Players are becoming increasingly more independent, and coaches have become increasingly more knowledgeable with all the information available at the click of a mouse. As a result, it has become increasingly more difficult to establish yourself as a well-qualified batting coach because you must be able to fully explain the madness behind you batting training methods. The old of age of do this and do that has flown out the window as players are looking for a deeper understanding of exactly what is trying to be accomplished. This is precisely why I want to share 7 overlooked coaching techniques that will make you a more knowledgeable coach, and a better communicator.

The first baseball batting coaching strategy is a bit counter-intuitive. If you have ever conducted a private lesson, you know that most of the time is spent giving the player advice and fixing his mechanical mistakes. This is precisely why I want you ask more questions. Players will agree with you by shaking their head and acknowledging that they are listening, but the real question is do they understand what you are saying? Experience has taught me that they don’t. Ask players questions to get a feel for what doesn’t make sense, do you have a different theory, what do you think your struggling with? The more you know about your player, the more you understand his learning style and the way he approaches hitting. More information allows you to more effectively design baseball batting solutions to his baseball batting problems.

The second baseball batting coaching strategy revolves around emotion and temper. Player emotions will always run high; it is in their nature. Performance feels very personal and when you fail it can be very embarrassing and self-deflating. This is exactly why your relaxed confident nature must never change. If you get frustrated and raise your tone you are only going to add pressure to the situation and fuel the fire. One of the main responsibilities of a batting coach is to ease player tension and get them back to a relaxed state so they can perform at a high level. Keep in mind that your frustration is a result of your lack of ability to help your player make the batting adjustments necessary. If you remain relaxed and positive, so will he.

#3: Change what you say. I was once told that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If this is your fifth baseball batting training session and your player is still struggling to understand what you are teaching, change the words that come out of your mouth. It’s ridiculous to think that repeating yourself over and over again is eventually going to work. If you truly believe that, tape record yourself and play it back every time you meet because it will save you the trouble of talking! Be creative in your approach and find what connects with your player. Every player learns differently. If you find the sayings that connect with him, then you find the key to creating a better swing.

#4: Follow the Thomas Edison approach. For those of you out there who aren’t familiar with Sir Thomas, he invented the light bulb and also delivered one of the best quotes I have ever heard in my life “I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that will not work”. Failure is a part of hitting a baseball. In fact, the best only hit a little over .300. Every swing brings a new learning experience and one step closer to getting it right. Have three or four big takeaways from every swing to learn from. What do you need to correct? What did you do right so you can repeat it? Hitting is not complicated, but players are. Make it simple and learn to watch your hitters flourish.

#5: You are in a suburb, not a city. Communication is a two way street, not a one-way road. Communication is not talking at your player and getting him to agree with you. Communication is allowing your player to freely form his own opinions and share them with you! I am sure he has feedback on how you could become a better coach! What’s the matter, don’t like what he has to say? Baseball Coaches are always at the front of the line in arrogance. If you want to be a better baseball batting instructor, ask your player what you could be doing better to connect with him. If he says nothing or that you are doing a great job, he is lying. Find out what he doesn’t like about how things are going and you will establish much stronger bond of trust.

#6: Critics are for Critics, not for the batting cage. The only person who likes a critic is another critic. Praise your player for even the smallest accomplishment and always focus on the positive. It is proven that people respond and work harder when they are showered with praise because it gives them the confidence to achieve more. On the contrary, if you start pointing out flaws and throw words around like don’t, you might as well pack your bags and head home. Give your players a reason to look forward to their next swing, not run away and be scared of what comes next.

#7: Laugh more and laugh loud. Baseball is an awesome sport to play. In fact I first started playing because it was fun. I don’t know who brought the serious guy, but he can stay home with the critics. There are too many funny things that happen on a baseball field not to laugh. If you want to be hated as a coach, strip laughter out practice and games. Laughter means relaxation, and relaxation means a better performance. Work hard, get better, but do it while laughing.

These 7 baseball batting coaching strategies will take you a long way on the baseball field. It will not only help you bridge the gap of communication, but it will build the player-coach bond. When you establish a deeper connection with your player, you establish yourself as a well-qualified instructor that your player can rely on for advice. Not only is this bond crucial to your success as a coach, but it is crucial to the success of your players. Begin using these strategies in your next practice today!

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