The Two Tee Drill helps to train and develop a short swing path to the ball.  Staying “short” fights an athlete the drops the barrel early, and helps hitters catch up to good fastballs.  Dugout Captain partner coach Chris Malec describes the benefits of training swing mechanics using the prop of a second batting tee.  Think “Less is More”: This hitting drill brings more advanced fundamentals into hitting.  When working with young athletes, use the target example (DC Key #1) as an example of ‘less-is-more.’  Don’t talk too much about the short bat path, or taking the knob of the bat to the ball.  Rather, let the back tee and the target-pyramid do the talking.

EXECUTION – This drill utilizes two tees, placed in a straight line from the pitcher’s rubber through home plate.  Place the front tee, with baseball to be struck, just inside the front foot’s stride position.  Connect the bases of the two tees, so that the back tee is roughly 12-inches behind the front tee.  Lower the height of the back tee, also with a baseball on it, so that it is roughly one-half of a baseball below the forward tee.  Issue the athlete challenge:

“Swing aggressively and avoid the back baseball”

DC KEYS

1. Hitting Target – Place a target at the bottom of the cage an appropriate distance in front of the batter.  Have the athlete simply attempt to hit the ball into the target.  Example: Ball pyramid (five baseballs – four at the base and one stacked on top of those four).
2. Heavy Knob – Coach Malec uses coaching verbal and athlete visualization of a “heavy knob.”  A related verbal would be “knob to ball.”  This creates a short/inside path.
3. Use the Two-Tee Drill for high Velocity – Because this drill trains and teaches a short bat path, it is GREAT for the athlete that is consistently late.  Or when you will be facing a pitcher that throws cheeeeeeeeese.

EQUIPMENT LIST