Batting Tee Work (Tee Placement)
Also known as: tee work, batting tee, batting tee drills, tee placement, where to put the tee, tee height, inside tee, outside tee, hitting off a batting tee
Tee work is hitting a ball off a stationary batting tee to groove the swing. Place the tee where you want contact. For a middle pitch, that is usually a little in front of the front hip. Move it deeper for an outside pitch and farther out front for an inside pitch, and set the height to the part of the zone you are working on.
A tee removes timing, so the hitter can focus on one part of the swing at a time. It is the simplest way to take many quality swings alone. Set the tee up as if home plate were there. Line it up with where you stand in the box, not just with the middle of the net.
Contact points change with location. Inside pitches are met farther out in front. Outside pitches are met deeper, closer to the middle of the body. Low pitches need the tee lower and often a bit deeper. High tee work at the top of the zone helps hitters who struggle with fastballs up.
Pick a target for every swing, such as a line drive into the back of the net. Change the tee spot every few swings so you don't groove a single pitch. Keep rounds short and focused. Tee work builds the movement. Front toss and live pitching test it against timing.
Tips by skill level
Set the tee just in front of your front hip for a middle pitch. Aim each swing at a target in the net.
Rotate through inside, middle and outside tee spots at two heights. Track how many line drives you hit at each spot to find your weak location.
Example
A 13-year-old hits off a tee in the middle of the plate every day but struggles with outside pitches. His coach moves the tee deeper and over the outer edge for half his swings. Within weeks he is driving outside pitches to the opposite field in games.
Why it matters
Tee work is the foundation of most hitting practice. Placing the tee well turns it into practice for real pitch locations.
Common mistakes
- Hitting every ball off the middle of the plate
- Setting the tee in a spot no pitch would cross
- Swinging without a target or goal
- Taking so many swings that quality drops
Frequently asked questions
Where should I put the tee?
Put it where you want contact. For a middle pitch, that is usually a little in front of your front hip. Move it farther out front for inside pitches and deeper for outside pitches.
How high should the batting tee be?
Set it at the height you want to practice. Belt high is a good start. Also work at the knees and at the top of the zone so you can hit every strike.
Is hitting off a tee good practice?
Yes. It lets you focus on your swing without worrying about timing. Pair it with front toss or live pitching so the swing also learns to time a moving ball.
Related terms
- Contact Point (Batting)Contact point is where the bat meets the ball, relative to the body and plate. It shifts with pitch location, and a fixed one is a common cause of weak contact.
- Soft TossSoft toss is a hitting drill where a partner kneels off to the side, a little ahead of the hitter, and flips the ball underhand into the hitting zone. The hitter drives it into a net. It adds a moving ball without real pitch speed. The partner must stay clear of the bat and the ball's path.
- Front TossFront toss is a hitting drill where a coach sits or kneels behind a protective L-screen in front of the hitter and feeds the ball underhand toward the plate. The ball comes from the pitcher's direction. That makes it better than side flips for training timing. The feeder must stay behind the net.
- Blocked PracticeBlocked practice is repeating the same skill or shot in the same conditions many times in a row. It is effective for initial skill acquisition but often less effective for long-term retention than varied practice.
- Hitting Low PitchesTo hit a low pitch, bend more at the hips and tilt the shoulders so the barrel can match the ball's path. Do not drop the hands or reach down with the arms. Topping low pitches usually means the chest stood up or the barrel came in steep. Many coaches teach letting a low pitch travel a little deeper before contact.
Related guides & benchmarks
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