Bunting is the easiest way to put the ball in play and the easiest way to move a runner. The square-around is the basic version. Kids learn it once, use it for years.
What you need: A bat, 10 plastic or safety-core baseballs, a tee or coach to pitch.
Setup: Tee at the top of the strike zone (chest height) or coach pitching at half speed from 30 feet.
How to run it:
- Cue: Square, Show, Soft, Drop.
- Square: turn the body to face the pitcher. Both feet point at the pitcher.
- Show: the bat is held flat across the body, at the top of the strike zone, with the top hand pinching the barrel.
- Soft: hands stay soft, no swinging motion. Let the ball hit the bat.
- Drop: the ball drops off the bat in front of the plate.
What to watch: Is the bat held at the top of the strike zone? If the bat is at the belt, every ball at the top is a strike that can’t be bunted. The bat goes UP from there to lay off, not DOWN.
If they’re struggling: Drop the pitch. Use a tee. Just have them practice the position 10 times.
If they’ve got it: Add a target zone (a cone 10 feet in front of the plate on the third base line). The bunt has to roll toward the cone.
Gear for this drill (affiliate)
Youth baseball glove → — the first piece of gear for every new player.
Agility cones → — for setup, base paths, and field drills.
Full baseball gear guide → — all picks by age, sport, and level.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.