HITTING DRILLS -TEE WORK

PUBLISHED BY OHS VARSITY BASEBALL

Equipment:  plate, baseballs, batting tee, and bat.  Suggested Tee:  www.tannertees.com

Purpose:  to improve hitting mechanics, eye conditioning, hitting to all fields, plate coverage/discipline, and increase hand/bat speed.

OHS Statement:  Tee work is the one drill that can be completed by yourself.  There is not a better tool that will allow you to focus on one type of pitch in the exact same location.  This will allow you to work on weaknesses or strengths for a desired repetition.  Below you will find key points to conducting tee work that will help you get started.  Tee work can be very interesting and rewarding if completed in correct manner. 

KEY POINTS

1. Proper Setup:  place a home plate below the tee that will help you visualize the pitch that you are working on for the drill.  
2. Feet Position:  your stance should never alter from the position of the tee.  This is a very common mistake that many hitters make continually.  This is the reason we use a home plate that will remain in the same location. 
3. Visualize:  always look ahead and visualize a pitcher with a release point.  Every swing, hitters need to take a look out in front and act is if every swing - is a LIVE swing.  Hitters can even visualize the seams of the baseball as it approaches the hitting zone.  Stay focused on each and every swing. 
4. Tee Locations (3).  Inside:  place tee approximately 4-6 inches out in front of your plate on the inside corner.  Middle:  place approximately 2 inches out in front of your plate over the middle of the plate.  Outside:  place tee approximately 4 inches deep within the outside part of the plate.  Remember - the outside pitch must travel deeper in the zone.
5. Tee Height:  place proper height pending on your weakenesses and/or strengths.  Typically - we like to stay away from the high pitch.  This is the most difficult pitch to hit in baseball.  Anything above your belly button may be too high.  If you work on that pitch - make sure you stay on top of the baseball.  Hit the ball on a line or on the ground.  
6. Variations:  tee work can be completed in with different variations including the following.  Top hand strong, bottom hand strong, beginning with your hips open and hands in a hitting position, etc. 
7. Repetitions:  the great Tony Gywnn would take approximately 300 hacks a day.  It's important that you build up your workout.  Suggested Pre-Season Workout:  Week 1 - start with 50 balls.  Week 2 - move to 75.  Week 3 - move to 100.  Combine this workout with short toss and various soft toss drills.  
8. Focus:  the single most difficult aspect to tee work is completing it with 100% focus on each swing.  Watch the baseball hit the barrell of the bat and then watch the baseball move from the bat to the ground.  Stay on top of each swing - drive the ball on a line and on the ground.  If you find yourself getting bored - take a small break or switch to another location and/or height. 
9. Games:  play games with yourself.  Create self-talk in your head about situations.  Example:  positioning the tee on the outside of the plate and working a 3-1 fastball on the outside part of the plate.  Drive the ball to the right center gap for a stand up double or triple.  
10. HAVE FUN!  Hitting is the single most difficult activity in all of sports.  Enjoy the game of BASEBALL!