I am torn on this one. I was an accomplished bunter in my time, and I used the flat bat (parallel to the ground) approach. As time went on, I started to change and worked with my high school aged kids on more of a 45 degree angle approach.

Now that I have to teach little kids (7-10) how to bunt, I don't know which approach to use. I'm really concerned about the 45 degree angle approach and them fouling one into the grill.

Help!!!!!!!!

They used to say I could bunt the ball into the pitcher's back pocket. I always used parallel to the ground. Still teach that, even to HS aged kids.

Yes, a bunt can be popped up. However, IMHO it is much easier to successfully and accurately get a bunt down with the parallel bat. The greater success rate more than offsets the risk of an occasional popup (and not all bunt popups are caught anyhow).

I teach bat head above handle. Not 45, just above.

The important thing is to have the bat in front of home plate, and let the ball to hit the bat. Don't move the bat foward looking for contact, and keep the knees flexibles to move up or down according to the pitch. Use the back hand to close or open the bat angle depending to where you want to direct the bunt.

We teach our hitters to set the bat on the ball, start with the bat at the top of the zone, never go above their starting point unless suicide, barrel at approx a 30 degree angle, steer it with the bottom hand, pivot from their stance, do not square up, start a bit forward in the box so the contact is made near the front of the plate or in front of it.