Summary
- With his experience in baseball, Joe Tanner invented a rolled rubber tee top, the Tanner Flextop, 25 years ago as an improvement to the rigid molded cone batting tee commonly used at that time.
- His patented hand-rolled FlexTop invention allowed hitters to hit through the baseball without obstruction from the tee.
- Each Tanner FlexTop is a tightly wound cone that rests the baseball or softball high on the tee, exposing a large surface area to attack.
- New hitters like three-year old’s hitting with mom or dad in the backyard don’t know it, but they appreciate the rolled rubber Tanner FlexTop too.
- With four inches of rolled rubber beneath the resting baseball, a hitter has a four-inch buffer zone to miss the baseball but not contact something solid.
Joe Tanner invented a rolled rubber tee top, the Tanner FlexTop, 25 years ago as an improvement to the rigid molded cone batting tee commonly used at that time. His rolled rubber invention allowed hitters to hit through the baseball without obstruction from the tee.
It is used today by thousands of hitters, so here are some reasons why we feel it's a great tee top for all ages and skill levels.
Benefits of Rolled Rubber Batting Tee Top
BATTING TEE BENEFIT: Ball Presentation
Tanner Tees are hand-rolled in Sarasota, FL by staff that has taken Joe Tanner’s original Tanner Tee process and refined it each year to produce a very high-quality batting tee. Each Tanner FlexTop is a tightly wound cone that rests the baseball or softball high on the tee, exposing a large surface area to attack.
Batting Tee Benefit: Flexibility
At contact, rolled rubber flexes down then resets back to the upright position. The hitter does not feel the tee and therefore is able to contact any portion of the baseball they wish to achieve the ball exit path they desire. If that means hitting the lower third or bottom half of the baseball or softball, that’s perfectly fine because the tee will flex down and pop back up for the next repetition.
BATTING TEE BENEFIT: Durability
The rubber we choose for the Tanner FlexTop is a specific type that provides a balance of durability, flexibility, and hitting experience. We need the tee to survive repeated collisions with a metal or solid wood object but not be so tough that the bat would feel interference at contact. The top can’t be “all durable”, because we need some flex. It can’t be “all flex” because we need it to support baseballs and softballs and last for thousands of reps. We feel rolled rubber is the perfect balance of these attributes.
Other Observations Over the Years
New hitters like three-year old’s hitting with mom or dad in the backyard don’t know it, but they appreciate the rolled rubber tee top too. With four inches of rolled rubber beneath the resting baseball, a hitter has a four-inch buffer zone to miss the baseball but not contact something solid.
This may seem small, but it makes a difference for young and new hitters who may begin to anticipate “bat sting” against a rigid tee top and develop bad habits. With soft rolled rubber, there is some forgiveness when the inevitable miss hits happen, and that helps for a positive experience with the game.
If you have any questions about our batting tees or the Tanner rolled rubber FlexTop, please contact us anytime.