I think this topic is worthy of more discussion.
The rule of thumbs given are very good - hand separated, bat not moving faster than hands. Those are assuredly bunts.
But I also feel a bunt can be described by answering the question "To where are you trying to hit the ball? In front of the defenders or through the defenders?"
An attempt to lay the ball down at the front of the diamond can easily be made with a style similar to a slap hit - hands together, bat head moving faster than the hands but just fast enough to get it in front of the ball - kind of a dead slap with no follow-through.
I've called such attempts a bunt and if it was a third strike foul, I've called the batter out. For me it was easy to defend that decision. Have only received minimal rebuttal from the offensive coach.
Conversely, I've had batters square with hands apart and as the ball arrives with defenders running up, forcefully try to slap that ball past/through the infield defenders by slightly pulling their hands back towards each other (but not fully together) and pushing the entire bat forward toward the outfield as part of the slap action. NOT A BUNT.
For me the difference between the two is where they are trying to place the ball - in front of the defenders, to me means bunt; behind or through the defenders, to me means slap hit. The batters' style may be inconsequential.
Just a little bit different opinion. Whatever choice you make to describe and define a bunt attempt, you've got to make it strongly because one coach is going to like and the other is not. It is a situation that calls for the umpire to be resolute.
[Edited by DownTownTonyBrown on Aug 19th, 2004 at 10:03 AM]