Often times the batting tee is viewed as an introductory tool used solely for new baseball players. However, mastering the basics of hitting off the tee is a cornerstone of becoming a great hitter that is used throughout a baseball player's development from little league to the pros. The placement of the tee is more crucial than it might seem at first glance. It's not just about hitting the ball; it's about how and where the ball is hit. Let's break down why positioning the tee in front of the plate is vital for developing young hitters.

The Importance of Tee Placement

Positioning the tee in front of the plate is not a random choice. It impacts several aspects of a hitter's swing by allowing hitter to create space for the bat to move through the zone before and after contact with the ball. Specifically, this allows:

1. Weight Transfer: To hit with power and to create timing, a hitter must learn to transfer weight from the back side to the front side effectively.
2. Hit the ball over the front toe: Lining up 'even' with the tee causes the ball strike to be too deep in the zone which often results in weak flares and pop-ups to the opposite field.
3. Promoting Arm Extension: One of the goals of a good swing is to extend the arms past the point of contact. This ensures maximum power and distance. When the tee is placed in front of the plate, it naturally encourages hitters to reach out further, promoting a fuller extension of the arms.
4. Preventing Over-Rotation: A common issue with young hitters is the tendency to roll and spin towards their pull side. By positioning the tee towards the front of the stance, hitters are more likely to focus on driving through the ball back up in the middle of the field, rather than cutting across the zone which results in a lot of groundballs.

Setting Up for Success

Now that we understand the why, let's talk about the how. Setting up next to the tee correctly is straightforward but requires attention to detail:

1. Position the Tee: Have the player setup where they normally would next to the tee and make sure they don't move their feet after the tee is placed on the ground. The tee should be placed slightly ahead of the plate as opposed to directly on it.
2. Position the Ball: Use the seams of the ball for a visual queue for the players.

   

   

   1. Player is casting or cutting across the plate: Setup the ball so that 2 seams are visible and pointed vertical. Instruct the player to aim for the 'inside seam'
   2. Player is chopping down too much on the ball: Flip the ball over and instruct the player to aim for the lower seem.
   3. Player is hitting the tee or skying the ball: Instruct the player to aim for the top seam of the ball.

Final note, when hitting off a tee, player should attempt to hit the ball between the SS and the second base or left handed hitters between the second base and the 2B head for right handed batters.

To help explore how to create a safe, fun engaging and movement based practice, keep looking for updates on the Coach's Clipboard or use one of the links below.

Links:

1. Importance of Baseball Warm-up
2. How to Grip a Baseball
3. Receiving a Baseball
4. Batting Stance