A Hitter's Best Friend

From the first time we pick up a bat until the last day we lace up our spikes there is one training tool that remains a constant throughout, the batting tee. The batting tee should quickly become a hitter's best friend and remain within close reach throughout their careers. It is the only training tool that has withstood the test of time and can be found on little league fields all the way up to major league batting cages. A training tool with an extremely impressive track record indeed.

What makes the batting tee such a worthy companion? Simply put, it's simplicity. The batting tee takes away all the variables; pitch speed, pitch location, pitch movement. The ball is stationary, placed right where you want it. It's just you and your swing that determine what kind of contact you make with the ball. A poor swing results in poor contact and a quality swing results in quality contact. But what is quality contact off of a tee?

A good approach to hitting off of a tee is to drive the ball on a level ( line-drive ) or slightly downward plane ( hard ground ball ). The reason being, a hitter wants his / her swing to be direct to the ball. A quick and direct swing with extension is a hitter's primary objective when the ball is in motion. Thinking logically, the hitter's hands will start above the ball. In order to be direct and quick, the hitter will then descend down and toward the ball to make contact. Thus, creating the level to slightly downward angle of the driven ball from the tee.

The hitter must learn to trust that his / her swings off of a tee that result in well struck line-drives and low line-drives ( hard ground balls ) will translate into pitched balls being struck with backspin. These pitched ball contacts with backspin will cause the ball to carry, which in turn will result in well struck singles, doubles, triples, and home runs. Continue to practice a quick and direct swing for the best results. A hitter's swing is sculpted in practice and the batting tee is a great way to create a mold to build from.

So do as thousands of major leaguers have done befor you, get yourself a batting tee and make friends with it. Continued success in all you do and play ball !!!

- More Posts on specific drills with the batting tee to follow -