How to properly hit off a tee

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Aug 19, 2016
42
6
My daughter is in 12u...we will be hitting off the tee a good bit this winter. I just wanted to make sure we are doing the tee work correctly, I've been doing what Tony does in this video, is this the proper way? Any thoughts/tips would be greatly appreciated.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q45aE-XQABQ
 
Oct 16, 2008
164
18
SE Michigan
Like that video...especially the part about contact location at the belly button for outer half pitches.

I would add that it also a good practice to have your hitter staring out an imaginary P while starting her sequence and visualize tracking the pitch and only actually picking up the ball on tee just before launch. Hitters that practice off tee while always staring down at the ball on tee often over rotate their shoulders...not good. We sometimes actually put additional ball on tees at the P rubber and halfway or so near home plate to help visualize tracking a pitch. This is also good with side toss which I suggest even though some coaches hate side toss.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
Also important to take note of where the ball goes into the net compared to the tee placement. Example tee placed outside ball better go opposite field. Tee place down the middle ball goes into the middle of the net.
Better have a Tanner tee or like tee. (ask if not sure why)
Also better know what a good sequential swing looks like. Because off a tee some bad muscle memory can get burned in.
Watch for level to the ball type swing.
 
Mar 13, 2015
202
18
Omaha, Ne
I've shared this video with some of our parents. How many times have you guys gone to the cage and a dad is struggling with their DD because the tee is set too far out front or too deep? I personally don't like setting the tee at the center of the body on an outside pitch but it did work for Tony Gwynn. I usually set tee at front hip to inside of foot at launch when working away. I'm not a mathematician although I was part of the mathathon from 4th-6th grade
https://youtu.be/wkT6yHeaTGw

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
 

Chris Delorit

Member
Apr 24, 2016
343
28
Green Bay, WI
briang,

You're usually wise to pay closer attention when Tony Gwynn talks hitting. ;)

Great idea to hit the tee, as it's hands down the best place to break down and re-construct a players swing. Boring for players who don't understand it, you have to make it fun, interesting and competitive.

Looks like just two quick scenarios of tee placement relative to each contact point when hitting a low inside and outside pitch. From there, there are all kinds of different placements, drills and visualization progressions.

For starters, you don't need a ball to get comfortable with tee swings. Dry swings will help familiarize without any embarrassment misses. You can work the three horizontal zones (inside, middle & outside) via an imaginary directional line relative to home plate (plate coverage) at three different planes or height levels to cover the strike zone. Always try to emphasis visualizing the ball path of line drives to each corresponding field. There's walk-throughs and one-legged load drills. Bunting, slapping, power hitting...there's a ton more. Really, anything you can think of that can help or mimic live game swings and situations.

Chris
 
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