an apparatus is described that includes a bat handle and a bunt element within a region of space extending from the baseball bat handle where a meat portion of a bat would exist if the bat handle was part of a baseball or softball bat . the bunt element has solid material in a first location of the region of space that is struck by a pitched ball that first meets the region of space within a bunt window on the region of space . the bunt element has empty space in a second location of the region of space that is struck by a pitched ball that first meets the region of space outside the bunt window .