What Is a Fungo Bat?

Fungo bats are created with the practice field in mind. Made with a smaller diameter than a normal bat, fungo bats are 17 to 22 ozs. and 35 to 37 inches long. Baseball and softball coaches use fungo bats to practice fundamentals with players.

Use

Fungo bats are often used during practice to hit pop-ups to outfielders or grounders to infielders. Fungo bats were not created to hit pitched balls but rather balls thrown into the air by the batter. The bat is lighter and has a longer neck than a normal baseball or softball bat, and the smaller diameter allows for greater accuracy with hit balls.

History

There are multiple theories surrounding the origin of the word "fungo": some believe it's slang for "fun" and "go," a part of a street-ball game in which a player catching a specific number of fly balls would replace the batter; or it might be derived from the Scottish word "fung," meaning "to pitch, toss or fling." The first recorded use, according to The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, came between the late 1800s and 1915.

Types

Every major manufacturer of regular baseball bats also produces fungo bats. Mizuno, Easton, Louisville Slugger and Diamond produce some sort of ash, pine, aluminum or composite bat alongside their game-legal bats. Fungo bats are made for all levels, Little League to the pros, and come in a variety of sizes. Coaches should choose a bat that's light enough to continuously hit balls to players without becoming fatigued.

Price

The cost of fungo bats ranges from $24 to more than $100, depending on the material used to make the bat. Wood bats are often cheaper than metal bats, and composite bats sell for as much as $150 at Amazon.com.

Drills

A look at some fungo bat drills:

1. To teach a catcher how to properly field a pop fly, a coach should stand inside second base or in foul territory and hit balls into the air.

2. A coach, standing at the pitcher's mound or home plate, hits pop-ups to an outfielder.

3. A coach simulates a throw from an outfielder to home plate by hitting a ball from the outfield area to the catcher at home.

4. A coach stands at home plate while there is a runner on first. The coach hits to the shortstop, who then throws the ball to the second baseman, who in turn throws it to the first baseman. This simulates a double-play opportunity.

Resources

• Baseball skills and drills