Define swing - bunt or strike

[akalsey]

If he's trying to hit the ball, it's a swing. If he's trying to get a mostly stationary bat into the path of the ball so the ball hits the bat, it's a bunt.

Bat hits ball = swing
Ball hits bat = bunt

At this age, many players will try and adjust the their bat up and down as they swing. It leads to an UGLY swing and can seem like they're trying to stop the bat or even check their swing.

I'd guess that the player you're describing is very inexperienced and lacks confidence at the plate. With a pitcher thowing harder than the batter's used to, he's going to be late on a lot of swings. Pair that with the adjustments he's trying to make and the fact that he likely doesn't follow through with his swing, and you'll have a movement that looks like a swinging bunt.