Our favorite tee drills for improving hitting performance are:
- Shoulder Swings
- High Tee Drill
- Top Hand and Bottom Hand Tee Drills
- Wall Ball Drill
- Stride Pause to Stride Swing Drill
- New Fence Drill
- Bryce Harper Drill
- Happy Gilmore Drill
- Flamingo/Front Leg Post Drill
- Soccer Ball/Basketball Tee Drill
- SwingRail Drill
- Skater Swings
- Catch & Crush Drill
- Barry Larkin Drill
Every great hitter knows that what happens in practice shows up in games. That's why tee drills remain a cornerstone of batting practice for baseball players at all levels, from Little League to the pros. These hitting drills build the foundation for consistent swing mechanics and solid contact that translate to success at the plate.
Tee work isn't just for beginners. Even professional hitters rely on batting tee drills to fix flaws, maintain proper form, and develop the muscle memory needed for a repeatable swing path. The beauty of tee drills is their simplicity – with just a batting tee and a ball, players can focus on specific parts of their swing without the pressure of timing a live pitch.
What makes some tee drills more valuable than others? The best hitting drills isolate key parts of your swing – from stance and balance to hand position and hip rotation. By breaking down your swing into smaller parts, you can fix problems one at a time and build a more compact swing that produces line drives consistently.
Foundational Tee Drills
The foundation of a great swing starts with proper balance and body positioning. These drills focus on developing the stance and weight transfer that every solid hitter needs.
Stride Pause to Stride Swing Drill
- Stride forward to your launch position and pause for 2 seconds
- Step back to starting stance
- Repeat the stride, this time continuing through a full swing
Purpose: This drill teaches hitters to find their balance point before swinging. By pausing, you develop awareness of your weight distribution and ensure you're in an optimal position to generate power. Many hitters rush their stride, leading to weak contact.
Flamingo/Front Leg Post Drill
- Begin your swing, lifting your back foot off the ground
- Complete your swing while balancing on your front leg
- Hold your finish position like a flamingo
Purpose: The Flamingo Drill forces you to maintain a firm front side through contact. Many young players collapse their front leg during their swing, causing ground balls. By balancing on your front foot, you learn to create a stable post to swing around.
Skater Swings
- Shift your weight side to side like a speed skater
- Build a rhythm with this weight transfer
- On the third shift, use that energy to step and swing
Purpose: This tee drill teaches proper weight transfer and timing. Many hitting problems come from poor weight shift, but Skater Swings build the dynamic movement patterns that power great hitters.
Shoulder Swings
- Place the bat against your back shoulder
- Take several half swings while keeping the bat touching your shoulder
- On the final swing, allow the bat to naturally come off your shoulder
Purpose: This excellent drill promotes staying connected throughout your swing. Many hitters lose power when their arms disconnect from their body. Shoulder Swings help you feel what a connected swing should feel like.
Tee Drills for Improved Contact
A hitter is only as good as their ability to make solid contact. These drills focus on developing the compact swing path and hand-eye coordination needed to consistently square up the ball.
High Tee Drill
- Set your tee at chest height (much higher than normal)
- Focus on keeping your hands above the ball
- Swing with your lead elbow driving down and through
Purpose: The High Tee Drill is perfect for hitters who tend to pop up. By placing the tee higher than normal, you train your hands to stay on top of the ball, promoting a swing path that creates backspin and line drives.
Fence Drill
- Position yourself close to a fence (about 12 inches away)
- Place a tee in front of you and another behind you
- Take compact swings that avoid hitting both the fence and the back tee
Purpose: This drill forces you to develop a compact swing path. Many hitting problems come from a long, loopy swing. The New Fence Drill trains you to keep your hands inside the ball for harder contact.
Top Hand and Bottom Hand Tee Drills
- Take swings using only your top hand, then only your bottom hand
- Focus on a smooth path through the ball
Purpose: These drills isolate each hand to develop better bat control. Your top hand controls the bat path while your bottom hand provides power. They're excellent drills for developing hand-eye coordination.
Barry Larkin Drill
- Set a tee for an outside pitch, with a partner for soft toss (inside pitch)
- Your partner will either toss a ball or fake a toss
- Hit the inside toss or adjust to hit the outside pitch on the tee
Purpose: This drill develops your ability to adjust to different pitch locations. The Barry Larkin Drill trains you to make quick changes to your swing path for both inside pitches and outside pitches.
Tee Drills for More Power
Generating power comes from proper hip rotation, weight transfer, and explosiveness. These drills focus on building the mechanics that create bat speed and drive the ball with authority.
Bryce Harper Drill
- Start in your stance with an exaggerated leg lift
- Show the pitcher the bottom of your foot as you load
- Rotate your hips explosively as you bring your foot down
- Swing with power while keeping your hips engaged
Purpose: Named after the MLB slugger, this drill teaches proper hip loading and explosive rotation. Many hitters lack power because they don't fully engage their lower body. The Bryce Harper Drill shows how to load your hips and create the rotational force that drives the ball.
Happy Gilmore Drill
- Start a step behind your normal position
- Take a small step backward with your back foot
- Step forward and swing without stepping over your front leg
- Focus on creating momentum while maintaining control
Purpose: This tee drill, inspired by the movie character, teaches hitters to generate momentum through their swing. Many baseball players hit with static energy, but the Happy Gilmore Drill helps you feel how forward momentum can add bat speed without sacrificing control.
Wall Ball Drill
- Imagine there's a wall in front of your back leg
- As you swing, drive your back knee forward and slightly down
- Avoid popping up by keeping your swing level
- Feel your back leg work through the swing
Purpose: This excellent drill prevents hitters from shifting back during their swing. A common flaw is keeping weight on the back leg, leading to weak contact. The Wall Ball Drill trains your back leg to drive forward, creating more power through the hitting zone.
Soccer Ball or Basketball Tee Drill
- Place a soccer ball or basketball on top of your tee
- Take aggressive swings through the larger ball
- Feel the resistance as you make contact
- Focus on driving through the ball with explosion
Purpose: This power-building drill forces you to swing with intent. The resistance of the larger ball requires more bat speed and follow-through. Regular practice with this tee drill develops the explosive power needed for driving the ball to the outfield.
SwingRail Drill
- Attach a SwingRail to your back arm
- Take controlled swings keeping hands close to your body
- Feel the feedback when your swing gets too long
- Work on a direct path to the ball
Purpose: The SwingRail device helps create a more compact swing while still generating power. Many hitters lose power with arm-only swings. This drill teaches you to use your body efficiently, keeping your hands inside the ball while still creating the bat speed needed for solid contact.
With consistent practice of these power-focused tee drills, you'll develop the explosiveness and technique needed to drive the ball with authority. Remember that power comes from proper mechanics, not just strength. These drills build the foundation for a powerful swing path that will help you hit more line drives and increase your slugging percentage.
Level Up Your Performance with Grip Boost
What many players overlook is how equipment affects the effectiveness of training. When your hands slip during these drills, you lose valuable feedback and training effectiveness. That's where Grip Boost batting gloves make a difference.
Grip Boost's revolutionary batting gloves feature Boost+ technology infused into premium Cabretta sheepskin leather, creating grip that maintains its tackiness longer than any other brand. The wrap-around leather palm and pre-curved design enhance your connection to the bat during every tee drill.
The vented breathable fabric keeps your hands comfortable during long practice sessions, while the adjustable wrist strap provides the stability needed for consistent swings. Whether you're a youth player or adult, these gloves deliver the perfect combination of superior grip and comfort that brings out the best in your tee work – and might just be the difference between warning track power and clearing the fence.
Ready to take your hitting to the next level? Grab a pair of Grip Boost batting gloves today and experience the difference that superior grip makes in your tee work and game performance!