Why do we see so many pictures and videos of tees in the wrong location?
Usually we see these tees when parents or players are asking about some hitting issue.
Is this your tee?
We're not just talking about Tee-Ball either.
Tee work is not just for kids.
Most professionals hit from a tee everyday. And you don't need a second person.
We recommend hitting from a tee as one of the few drills that actually work.
However, many hitting issues and swing faults are actually caused by faulty tee placement.
Lunging
Casting
Extending your arms
Bat lag/drag
Where should the hitting tee be placed?
We will show you some "experts" using a hitting tee incorrectly, and finally explain the proper placement for a tee.
0:30 Never place [the tee] on top of home plate. The desired location to make contact... is in front of home plate
the plate is a good start... at 0:54-1:04, they use the wrong placement on example swings and the balls are going down.
The ball is placed on an adjustable tee atop the home plate at a suitable height for the batter to strike.
placing the tee on top of the plate is destructive
Here is JUGSsports demonstrating some Tee drills, but the tee placement is destructive
Hitting Tee Drills
the tee should be right where your front foot lands... you should have the tee out in front of the plate of course, it's the foot placement, too may LLers thinking they hit the ball over the plate...
the lowest part of your wing should be right behind the ball this gets your bat on plane with the pitch that's coming in great advice!
Here is a good video by Sean Dixon, son of baseball author Jim Dixon
NaturalHitting Bad placement causes castingGood placement
(watch that form though)
0:33 because they set the ball up in the middle of the plate, it's going to cause problems...
2:00 the 5 yo knows the first thing he's going to do with his barrel is throw it out [casting] and sweep the bat to the ball.
2:48 [tee at belly button] it also kills moving my body in a natural way towards the pitcher [demos stride], and I don't want to turn my body
4:10 [tee at front foot] this will create a natural move that the player wants to do
The Tee should be placed where your optimal contact point is
Most ask "Where is the plate?" when you ask them to place the tee. This is the wrong question entirely.
Most experts and others incorrectly place a tee in the middle of the plate, and then they compound the problem by straddling the plate!
Who straddles the plate when they play in a game? Who hits the ball at their belly button in a game? So, why do we place a tee here?
So, where should the tee be placed?
First, you must know what type of hitter you are supposed to be. Am I:
Rotational with an L back elbow slot
Rotational with Power V extended arms
Linear with an L slot
Linear with extended arms
Place the tee where you expect to make contact.
That is not rocket science, it's just common sense.
If you are trying to make contact using an "L" back elbow slot of any kind, then take your normal stride, take a slow swing to normal contact position,
and you will see that the tee must be at the ball of your front foot.
If you are trying to make contact using extended arms, then the tee must be approximately a foot ahead of your front foot.
The plate has nothing to do with the question.
Place the Tee at Your Front Foot (after stride) if You Hit With an L Elbow Slot Like This
Note: 99%+ of MLB hitters use an L Slot
Albert PujolsAlfanso SorianoA-RodVlad GuerreroSammy Sosa HR #599Fastpitch with L slot
Place the Tee 8-12 Inches in Front of Front Foot (after stride) if You Hit With Extended Arms Like This
Fastpitch with linear extended armsHoward Carrier linearMike Candrea linearRipken using Power V at contact
