Posted by: Coach Ron (ron_reardon@msn.com) on Wed Mar 23 12:23:07 2011

I could not agree more on the benefits of using the tee. For teaching mechanics--especially rotational mechanics--there is nothing better. That said, it should not be the only thing you use....mix in live batting practice speed, the pitching machine, and some kid pitching too if you can. The transition from tee and batting practice speed to live kid pitch is tough and we are stuggling with that right now with our 12yr olds...everything changes once they get in the batters box with a kid on the mound. No cues to offer, but consistently encouraging them to apply sound rotational mechanics and staying connected is what I've been doing.

> Jim,
>
> We use a lot of heavy bag work as well and I see it as being very beneficial. But at the end of the day, you still have to be able to hit a moving target and the heavy bag is just as stationary as the ball on a tee.
>
> All kids are different, when it comes to body control and the ability to take a verbal instruction and make your body perform the desired movement. At 12 years old, is about when most kids begin to gain this ability. So, in that respect, you will probably see more success transferring mechanics from a stationary target to a moving target.
>
> I am just wondering if anyone else has used any techniques or verbal cues that seemed to work when kids have struggled to carry mechanics from the heavy bag / tee to live pitching?
>
> Thanks.
>
> > Gentlemen,
> >
> > I don't use a "Tee" as I see no merit in hitting a ball off a stationary stick. The "Tee" concept seems asociated with the swing level, knob & hands to the ball mentality.
> >
> > I am having tremendous results with my boys hitting into a heavy bag. Old school coaches, instructors, & gurus alike disagree, but the boys get it.
> >
> > The heavy bag method trains for transfer mechanics up to contact. The boys learn that whatever happens after contact is relatively incidental. The boys are able to transfer (to live pitching) the proverbial muscle memory using this method.
> > Twelve year olds are adjusting to outside pitches and are hitting oppo with power.
> >
> > As Jack has identified through study and analysis of the best hitters in the world, hitting is not what most have come to believe it is.
> > Welcome to the 21st century...
> >
> > Jim D
> >
> > > Joe,
> > >
> > > I have noticed this, too. I would recommend that you use one of the tees that can angle in different directions. That will help. There are some other devices (netting system where the ball dangles from cables) that may be more useful.
> > >
> > > The area that has provided the most difficulty for me, is moving from the tee to live pitching. I will videotape a fair amount of the swings over the course of a work out and find that my son will have pretty good mechanics off the tee. But when we move to live pitching, he reverts to old habits.
> > >
> > > If anyone has had success transitioning mechanics from the tee to live pitching, please let me know how you were able to accomplish it.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > >
> > > > It looks like tee work probably has limited usefulness with rotational hitting mechanics because for a low pitch (a low tee), the proper rotational swing would require the batter to hit the neck of the tee as well as the ball. So, instead of reinforcing rotational mechanics the low tee has a negative effect because batters' naturally try not to knock the tee over.
> > > >
> > > > Anyone else found this to be the case?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks!
> > > >
> > > > Joe
> > > > --------