2 Keys to Make Batting Tee Practice Work Better in Games

Batting Tee Practice vs. Games

Wondering how to make batting tee practice work better in actual games? Perhaps nowhere in sports is the difference between practice and actual games more pronounced than it is with hitting a baseball. You might be asking yourself, why am I crushing the ball in tee drills but not in real game situations? 

If you are having trouble transferring your hitting skills from practice to games, you aren’t alone. It’s a more common problem than you think.  The good news is that there are things you can do right now to make batting tee practice work better for you in real game situations.

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Bridging the Gap

When we practice our batting tee practice drills, we are focusing on the mechanics of our swing.  In order to do this effectively, we control the environment to work on specifics.  In a game situation, we become more focused on competing and sometimes we revert back to poor habits.  In this article, former MN Twin Doug Bernier shares his thoughts on how to bridge the gap between practicing and playing in an actual game and make batting tee practice work better for us.

Place the Ball on the Tee with Purpose for Batting Tee Practice

In order to be successful at the plate, you eventually have to transition away from thinking about your mechanics.  Placing the baseball with the seams running north and south allows a hitter to focus on hitting the inside seam.  This is what professionals refer to as “staying inside the baseball”.  

Hitting the outside seam during a game usually results in a ground to short or a hook into foul territory.  Hitting the inside seam allows you to accomplish the following:

The Back Elbow Stays in the Power Position

Keeping your back elbow up against your back hip and the barrel of your back close to your back shoulder allows you to remain connected, which is the strongest position you can be with your upper body.  In this position, your front arm is flexed with the elbow pointing down.  This will give you more power and more back speed.

A Shorter, Simpler, and More Dangerous Swing

Having a shorter swing can significantly improve the ability to make better contact and give you more time to commit to swinging at the ball.  This will also allow you to be a better two-strike hitter, improve hitting to the opposite field and also have better success with off-speed pitches.

Allows the Hitter to Work from the “Inside Out” Bat Path

Hitting the inside seam allows you to work out for away pitches, middle for center pitches, and for inside pitches, you will be ready with a shorter swing to put a backspin on the ball so it won’t hook towards the pole.  Remember, hitting the inside seam doesn’t mean you can’t pull the ball to the opposite field.  We’re just taking a better path to the ball to allow us to be more successful.

The Barrel of the Bat is in the Zone Longer

The longer the bat can stay on the plane with the pitch, the more time we have to hit the baseball.  This means that our timing doesn’t have to be as critical, which means we have a better chance at a solid connection.

Focus on the Pitcher

Many hitters that hit off a tee focus on the ball the entire time.  If we think about it, this is not getting us game ready.  Instead, we need to start imaging the pitcher ahead of us to make batting tee practice work better during actual games. Focus on him with our eyes.  Imagine his wind up and pitch.  Now follow the path of the ball as it gets into the strike zone and to the tee.  This gives us practice with tracking the ball.  It’s just a little adjustment to make, but the results can give big dividends.

Using These Keys in a Drill

Place the tee away for an outside pitch.  Now imagine a target in the opposite field.  Imagine the pitcher throwing an outside pitch and follow the ball into the strike zone while swinging and hitting the inside seam.

Now place the tee in the center of the plate and focus on an imaginary target in center field.  With both eyes on the pitcher, follow the ball in and hit the inside seam towards the target.

Now, move the tee for an inside pitch, and once again, imagine a target in the outfield nearest you.  Track the ball into the strike zone and hit the inside seam.

Many of us get stuck on the mechanics during tee work, which can work against us during games.  Transitioning away from thinking about your mechanics during practice will help you make it stick when it comes to real games.  

Thank You Doug!

Tanner Tees wants to thank Doug Bernier again for his insight and this valuable drill that you can use with the Tanner Heavy (Doug’s favorite tee) or any of the Tanner Tees available for hitters of all ages to make batting tee practice work better.

For more videos from Doug, click here to join the Tanner email list and receive this plus 4 more valuable free videos delivered directly to your inbox.

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