I was wondering what the biggest benefit to hitting off a tee is. I have heard many things. Several have said that you should hit off a tee all year long--increases bat speed, and muscle memory just like pitchers throwing in the pen.

The biggest benefit to hitting off of a tee is that it allows 2 things.
1) Repetition: You set the tee to work a certain location and you can continue to work that location as opposed to soft toss or BP it will not always been in the right location.

2) Mechanics: Because the ball is not moving it allows you to really work on changing any mechanical flaw that you might have.

Absolutely essential to do TEE work. It let's you focus the time in the drill, to specific needs. The biggest benefit is learning to repeat the "proper" swing, IMO.
GED10DaD

if you swing and miss you can try again

The problem with tee work is, if your not careful is that you can develop a long loopy swing because you end up trying to hit the ball too hard. There is no adjustment needed cuz the ball is not moving. Also there is no ball plane for the batter to adjust to.

Sounds crazy but often players don't really know how to use a tee or why they need teework. Then you end up with the problems mentioned..swinging too hard, no adjustments, bad mechanics. I have found I save some headaches by actually working with players doing teework and discussing the objectives we are trying to work on. Basically trying to get them in the right mindset and not the "let's see how hard I can hit this one" mentality.

Since my special clinics with former Major League players, the consistent use of the tee is to place the top of the tee at chest high level.

Use a bucket if needed. This is developing "back spin" and creating hand action. Always visualize where you will hit the ball. Do not swing like a robot, have a purpose.

Also use the batting tunnel to observe the impact of the batted ball into the "back screen".

The tee teaches "self-teaching" extremely important in learning "proper thinking".

Bob Williams

Work with the kids on a tee to teach proper hitting techniques, then move to soft toss or soft toss machine and to let the kids hit a moving ball, using same swing techniques.



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quote:

Originally posted by LAball:
The problem with tee work is, if your not careful is that you can develop a long loopy swing because you end up trying to hit the ball too hard. There is no adjustment needed cuz the ball is not moving. Also there is no ball plane for the batter to adjust to.

I have heard Coaches telling kids they are "swinging too hard" before and that is an absolute crock of s---! It's impossible to swing too hard! Can you "muscle up" and ruin a good swing by trying to swing harder? Sure, but their is no way to swing too hard if you are using proper mechanics. All you need to do is watch Dustin Pedroia or Gary Sheffield to know that.

I think the single most important thing kids do wrong when hitting off a T is that they focus on the ball and in turn end up dropping their front shoulder to the ball; sort of a turning in of the shoulders or diving down to the ball ("body following their eyes" sort of speak). I think it is important for them to get set while visualizing a pitcher and never looking at the ball...even through the swing. IMO the best way to work on a T is with the T set-up inside the front foot about thigh high.