How to Bunt: Sacrifice, Drag and Squeeze Bunts

By 4Baseball Staff · November 5, 2026 · 11 min read

A step-by-step guide to the three kinds of bunt: the sacrifice, the drag or push bunt for a hit and the squeeze play. It covers grip, stance, bat angle, placement, signals, safety and the mistakes players make most often.

A bunt is a batted ball that the hitter taps softly into the infield without swinging, and it is the smallest big play in baseball. A good one moves a runner into scoring position, beats out a hit against a defense that was playing back, or scores a runner from third while the infield is still reacting. A bad one is a pop-up that turns into an easy out or a double play. The difference between the two is mostly technique, and technique can be learned in a few weeks of focused practice.

There are three kinds of bunt that every player should understand. The sacrifice bunt gives up the batter in exchange for advancing a runner. The drag or push bunt is an attempt to reach base, so the hitter is running as the ball is bunted. The squeeze bunt is a sacrifice with a particular job, bringing in a runner from third base. They share a grip and a way of seeing the ball, but they differ in when the hitter shows the bat, where the ball should go and what the runners are doing.

This guide is written for players, parents and coaches in youth and recreational baseball, though the mechanics are the same at every level. It gives general guidance only. Rules differ between leagues, so check yours, and defer to your governing body's published guidelines, such as those at Little League, and to a qualified coach for hands-on instruction.

What a bunt is, in the rules

The official rules define a bunt as a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield. That wording matters because it separates a bunt from a swing that happens to produce a weak ball. A hitter who is in a bunting position and pulls the bat back without offering at the pitch has not bunted; one who pushes the bat at the ball and makes contact has.

A few rules shape how bunting works in practice.

• A foul bunt with two strikes is a strikeout. Unlike a foul ball on a swing, which leaves a two-strike count unchanged, a bunt attempt that goes foul on the third strike ends the at-bat.
• A missed bunt counts as a strike. If the hitter offers at a pitch and misses, it is a strike, as with a swing.
• The batter must stay in the batter's box. If a hitter makes contact with one or both feet entirely outside the box, he is out. Coaches teach hitters to adjust their feet before the pitch and not to step out as the ball arrives.
• The infield fly rule does not apply to bunts. A bunted ball that pops up is a live ball, and the fielder can choose to catch it or let it drop.
• A sacrifice bunt is not an at-bat. The official scorer credits a sacrifice when a runner advances on a bunt with fewer than two outs and the batter is retired, and it does not count against the batting average. A bunt for a hit is scored as a hit.

Some youth leagues restrict bunting in the youngest divisions, so check your league's rulebook before you teach the skill to a group.

The grip and the stance for a sacrifice bunt

The sacrifice bunt is the simplest of the three, and it is the foundation for the others. The goal is to place the ball on the ground in a spot where the fielders cannot easily turn it into an out at the lead base.

The grip. The bottom hand stays near the knob. The top hand slides up the barrel to a point about a third of the way along, and the fingers wrap behind the barrel with the thumb on top, pinching the bat lightly. The fingers must be behind the barrel, not in front, because a pitch that strikes a hand is painful and can injure it. Many coaches teach the pinch grip for this reason: the hand is out of the path of the ball.

The stance. There are two common ways to show the bunt. In the square-around method, the hitter turns both feet to face the pitcher, with the feet parallel to the front of the plate and a little wider than the shoulders. In the pivot method, the hitter keeps the back foot in place and turns on the balls of both feet so that the body faces the pitcher while the feet remain close to where they started. Many coaches prefer the pivot because the hitter stays closer to a normal stance, while the square-around gives a clearer view of the ball. Pick one and practice it until it is automatic.

The bat. Hold the bat out in front of the body and over the plate, with the barrel at the top of the strike zone and angled slightly up. A barrel that is level with the handle or lower tends to produce pop-ups, because the ball hits the lower part of the bat and rises. A barrel that is higher than the hands sends the ball into the ground. The arms should be extended and relaxed, not stiff.

The legs. The hitter adjusts to the height of the pitch with the knees, not by dropping the bat. A low pitch is met by bending the knees and lowering the whole body, which keeps the barrel level and the eyes in line with the ball. A pitch above the barrel is high, and the hitter can let it go.

Watch the ball. The eyes follow the pitch all the way to the bat. Hitters who look at the fielders instead of the ball tend to miss, or bunt it where the fielders can reach it.

Where to put the ball

Placement matters as much as contact. The best sacrifice bunt rolls along the ground, slowly, a few feet from the foul line, far from the pitcher. The ideal location depends on the runner and on the defense.

With a runner on first, the usual target is down the first-base line. The first baseman has to charge to field the ball, the second baseman has to run to cover first, and the throw to second base becomes difficult because neither of the usual fielders is near the bag. The runner gets his base, and the hitter gives himself up as planned. A bunt toward third pulls the third baseman and the pitcher toward the ball, and it leaves a longer throw to first.

The mistake coaches warn about most is the bunt straight back to the pitcher. It is the easiest ball for the defense to field, and it gives the pitcher a chance to throw to second and force the lead runner. A bunt popped up in the air is nearly as bad, because it can be caught for an out without the runner advancing.

A useful rule is to aim for the open side. If the first baseman is charging, bunt toward third. If the third baseman is charging, bunt toward first. Do not guess: look at the defense as the pitcher starts the delivery, and place the ball where the fielders are not.

Deadening the ball helps. At contact, the hitter lets the hands and arms give slightly backward, as if catching the ball with the bat. A ball that has been absorbed rolls slowly and stays in the infield grass. A ball met with a firm bat rolls farther and into the fielders' hands.

The drag bunt and the push bunt

A drag or push bunt is a bunt for a hit. The hitter wants the ball to get past the pitcher and into a spot where a fielder cannot reach it before the runner gets to first. It is risky because a failed attempt is an out, and it works best against a defense that is playing back.

Left-handed hitters have the natural advantage. They are already standing on the side of the plate nearer first base, and their first step takes them toward the bag. A left-handed drag bunt is made by sliding the top hand up the bat just as the pitcher releases the ball, tapping the ball down the first-base line, and running immediately. The "drag" in the name comes from the idea of dragging the ball along the ground as the hitter moves out of the box.

Right-handed hitters have the harder job. They start farther from first and must hit the ball toward the third-base side. A push bunt sends the ball past the pitcher and toward the first baseman or second baseman, away from the third baseman who is charging. The hitter pushes the bat at the ball, aiming for the grass between the pitcher and the first baseman. The attempt must be well timed to make the defense hesitate.

Four points apply to both.

1. Show late. The longer the hitter waits to show the bunt, the less time the defense has to move. The bat should come into position as the pitcher is committing to the pitch, not before the windup begins.
2. Pick a target. Aim for the area just beyond the pitcher's reach, along the line. A bunt that stops on the grass near the line is hard to field.
3. Run first, then watch. A bunter who watches the ball is slow. The first step must come as the bat meets the ball.
4. Do not use it every time. A hitter who bunts often will see the defense adjust. A surprise bunt, from a hitter the defense does not expect to bunt, is the one that works.

The squeeze play

The squeeze is a bunt with a runner on third base and fewer than two outs. It exists in two versions, and the difference between them is when the runner leaves.

In a suicide squeeze, the runner breaks for home once the pitcher commits to throwing the pitch, and the batter must bunt the ball no matter where it is pitched. The play is called "suicide" because the runner commits before the ball is bunted. If the batter misses, the runner is likely to be tagged out at the plate. If the bunt works, the runner scores before the defense can react. The key to the play is that the batter must make contact, even if the pitch is outside the strike zone, and the pitcher can see the play coming if the runner leaves early.

In a safety squeeze, the runner on third waits until the ball has been bunted on the ground and is in front of him before breaking. The play is safer because the runner can stay at third if the bunt is bad, and it needs a better bunt, one that goes away from the pitcher and the infielders, because the runner has less time. It is often used when the batter is a good bunter and the defense is playing back.

Both versions need clear communication. The coach gives a sign, the batter and runner confirm it and everyone must know the plan. A missed sign can end an inning or a game. Keep the signals simple, and practice the play in a live drill before using it in a game. Because the play depends on timing, a squeeze practiced only in a game usually fails.

Practice drills that work

The best bunting practice builds contact, placement and confidence in that order. A progression that is safe for young players follows.

1. Tee work. Place a ball on a tee and have the hitter practice the grip and the bat angle without the pressure of a moving ball. Ask the hitter to bunt the ball down each foul line.
2. Soft toss. A coach or partner tosses underhand from the side, and the hitter bunts the ball at a spot marked on the ground. This is where the "catch the ball with the bat" feeling is developed.
3. Live pitching at reduced speed. A coach throws from a short distance, behind a protective screen, at a moderate speed. The hitter wears a helmet, and the bunter works on matching the barrel to the pitch.
4. Target games. Mark two target boxes with cones or tape, one along each baseline, and let hitters score points for ball placement. This turns the drill into a contest and builds accuracy.
5. Situational bunts. With fielders in position, the team practices sacrifice, drag and squeeze bunts against live defenders. This is where signs and communication are tested.

Wear a helmet for all bunting drills. Never practice with a live pitcher without a screen, and ensure the hitter's fingers are behind the barrel. These are general guidelines; a qualified coach should supervise, and any concern about an injury goes to a doctor. For ideas on fitting bunting into a full session, the guide to running a youth baseball practice offers practice-plan templates.

Mistakes to avoid

• Squaring too early. The defense sees it and moves in. Show the bunt as the pitcher releases the ball.
• Bunting with the bat dropped. A bat that sags below the hands produces pop-ups. Keep the barrel at or above the hands.
• Pulling the bat back. Many hitters flinch at an inside pitch. Learn to move the body out of the way with the barrel still in position.
• Leaving fingers in front of the barrel. This is a common way to hurt a hand, and the pinch grip helps prevent it.
• Bunting the ball hard. A hard bunt reaches the fielders quickly. Deaden the ball with soft hands.
• Failing to read the defense. If the third baseman is charging, bunt away from him. If the first baseman is charging, bunt toward third.
• Standing and watching. Even on a sacrifice, the batter should run hard to first, because a bobbled ball or a bad throw can make him safe.

Common questions

When should a team sacrifice bunt? Usually when the game is close, the hitter is weaker than the hitters following him, and one run matters a great deal. In many situations a hitter with a good chance of hitting is better left to swing.

What is the difference between a bunt and a slap? A bunt is a short tap with the bat held still, while a slap is a short swing, usually by a left-handed hitter who runs toward first as he swings. Slapping is common in softball, where the bases are closer; see the softball section and the history of softball at the Olympics for more.

Can you bunt with two strikes? Yes, but a bunt that goes foul on the third strike is a strikeout, so most coaches ask hitters to swing away with two strikes unless the defense is badly out of position.

Should a pitcher bunt? Where pitchers bat, they are often asked to bunt because a sacrifice is a better use of an at-bat than a weak swing. Where a designated hitter bats for the pitcher, the question rarely comes up.

How do I teach a young player who is afraid of the ball? Start with soft balls and a tee, wear a helmet and work up slowly. Fear usually fades as contact becomes consistent. For the youngest players, the guide to coaching T-ball and coach-pitch covers how to build confidence.

Where to go next

Bunting works best alongside smart running, so continue with baserunning fundamentals for young players and how to slide safely. For the bigger picture of how late-season decisions play out in October, see how the MLB postseason works. Youth programs and resources are collected on the youth section of this site.