Unlike baseball, the term "bunt" is not an official stroke or method of advancing the ball. Technically, a bunt is any stroke not using a swing to generate power or pace. In tennis, a bunt can be used at different times in different strokes. For example, a volley is by nature a "bunted" stroke because proper form requires not swinging. Bunting is also used when returning serves so control over the ball is maintained while using the pace of the oncoming ball. Because the basics of any bunt are the same, you can adapt a bunt into any stroke.
Step 1
Get your feet in position. This means you move to the oncoming ball with your feet behind the ball, centering your weight. Generally speaking, when hitting a ball on your right side, your right foot is the back foot with the left the front foot; hitting the ball on the left side reverses the footing.
Step 2
Keep the racket in front of your hips. Ground strokes bring the racket behind you and swing forward, but you want to eliminate that motion when bunting.
Step 3
Line the open racket face with the oncoming ball. Imagine a smiley face drawn on the strings that is smiling at the ball -- that is an open racket face and you are lining it up between the nose and eyes. A continental grip, in which your knuckles face the sky, is the best grip to achieve an open racket face off both the forehand and backhand side, though you might vary your grip slightly for comfort.
Step 4
Meet the ball by stepping forward. Your feet make adjustments to position and keep your body and racket stable to counter the oncoming ball force.
Step 5
Freeze the racket at the point of contact. It is common to want to follow-through. Nothing's wrong with following through, but you are no longer bunting the ball and instead imparting pace or spin on the ball.
Tips and Warnings
- Use a bunt when volleying, returning serve or when your position and ball speed doesn't allow you to take a full swing. When used on a ground stroke, bunting helps you stay in the point and not get overpowered by a stronger shot.
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