If a batter bunts a ball fair, it goes foul, then comes back fair, how is that ruled?

Answer 1

The ball is not ruled at all until it is either touched or passes a base. So where ever the ball is touched is where it is ruled. When it goes into foul ground you will see a fielder rush to make sure he touches it to get the foul ruling. If it is going to be a base hit, you will also see the fielder just wait for it to stop on its own hoping that it hits something and goes into foul ground so he can touch it. If it hits a base it is automatically ruled a fair ball. So it only matters where it is touched or where it is when it comes to a stop prior to passing a base. A ball can go foul or fair 100 times, if that is possible, but it is not fair or foul until someone touches it, it stops, or it passes a base. And only then can it be ruled based on where it is at that time.

Answer 2

A batted ball is ruled by where it stops rolling or is touched by a player. If a bunted ball starts fair, goes foul and comes back fair, it is ruled a fair ball.

M. Clark

Answer 3

Well the only way its fair is if the ball was bunted passed 3rd or 1st base and rolled foul, which is highly improbable.
If the ball lands in foul territory or rolls into foul territory before it has passed 1st or 3rd base, it is ruled a foul ball. Though if someone touches it before it rolls into foul territory, than its fair.

Answer 4

A FOUL BALL is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground.
A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the infielder is on foul or fair territory at the time he touches the ball.
Rule 2.00 (Foul Ball) Comment: A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitcher’s rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball.

Thus if the ball is still moving before it reaches first or third and is not touched by a fielder, it can roll back fair and become a fair ball.

Answer 5

If the ball comes back fair before it reaches 1st or 3rd bases it would be ruled fair. That is why you see the player quickly grab the ball as soon as it goes foul.

Answer 6

if the ball comes back fair before it's touched, the ball is fair. if the ball is touched in foul territory, it's foul. if it goes beyond third or first base (which is a pretty foul bunt, no pun intended), then if it's foul it's foul, if it's fair it's fair. Basically it's just a matter of where it's touched!

Answer 7

The ball would be fair. Usually when it rolls foul, you'll usually see the catcher or one of the infielders touch the ball while it is in foul territority so that it becomes a dead ball. A fielder wouldn't give the opportunity for it to roll back fair because then it would be considered a fair ball.

Answer 8

Well the only way its fair is if the ball was bunted passed 3rd or 1st base and rolled foul, which is highly improbable.
If the ball lands in foul territory or rolls into foul territory before it has passed 1st or 3rd base, it is ruled a foul ball. Though if someone touches it before it rolls into foul territory, than its fair.

Answer 9

It is a fair ball unless a player on the defense touches the ball while it's in foul territory.

Answer 10

If it goes foul before it reaches either base its a foul ball, if it goes into foul territory after it goes by the bag it's still fair.

A lot of times if a tricky to field ball goes down the base line the fielder will wait for it to go foul before he picks it up.