Softball drill
Show-and-slap drill
A softball hitter shows bunt early off front toss, then on the coach's call either bunts, pushes the ball past the charging corner, or pulls back and slaps. It builds the late bat control a short-game hitter needs to beat a defense that is crashing in.
At a glance
- Sport
- Softball
- Skill
- Bunting
- Ages
- 12U to High school
- Players
- 2 to 4 (a hitter, a feeder, and hitters rotating in)
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Advanced
- Equipment
- Bat and batting helmet, A bucket of softballs, A protective screen, Cones to mark the holes (optional)
- Indoors
- Yes
Once a hitter has a reputation for bunting, the corners start charging on every pitch. The answer is to show bunt, let them come, and then do something else with the ball: a push past them, or a pull back and a slap into the hole they left. This drill trains that choice off front toss.
It is for hitters who already bunt and slap well on their own. The hard part is the change at the last moment, keeping the move short and controlled so the ball goes where it was aimed instead of up in the air.
Setup
- Set a screen about 18 to 20 feet in front of the plate with the feeder and a bucket of balls behind it.
- The hitter sets up in the box with a helmet on. Lefty slappers use the left side.
- If you like, set cones in the holes on the left side of the infield as targets for the slap and the push.
How to run it
- Before each toss, the coach calls one option quietly to the hitter: bunt, push or slap.
- As the feeder starts the toss, the hitter squares early and shows a sacrifice bunt.
- On a bunt call, the hitter holds the bunt and deadens the ball up a line.
- On a push call, the hitter keeps the bunt grip and pushes the ball firmly past where the corner would be charging.
- On a slap call, the hitter pulls the bat back, gathers, and slaps the ball on the ground toward the hole. Rotate after six to eight reps.
Coaching points
- Sell the bunt. It has to look real for the corners to commit.
- Keep the pull-back short. A long loop to the slap ruins the timing.
- Stay in the box. Feet move toward the pitcher, not out of the box, before contact.
- On the push and the slap, aim for the ground. A ball in the air goes right to a fielder.
Common mistakes
- Pulling back too early, which lets the corners stop and drop back.
- Taking a big swing on the slap and hitting a weak fly ball.
- Rushing the feet and making contact off balance.
- Letting the hitter pick the option every time. The coach's call makes the decision game-like.
Printable drill card
Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.
Print the drill cardSmaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).
By age
12U
Start with show-and-bunt only, squaring early and placing the ball, then add the push. Save the pull-back slap for hitters who already slap well.
14U and up
Call the option as late as you can, or have a coach play a charging corner, so the hitter reads the defense instead of a spoken call.
Next: Free lineup card generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a softball hitter show bunt and slap?
When the corners are charging hard on a bunt, pulling back to slap puts the ball past them into the space they left. It works best for a hitter the defense already expects to bunt.
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