When it comes to honing baseball skills, many former youth players, community leaguers, and even major league players started at the same place: Lining up a swing at baseball batting tees. When it comes to teaching the littlest players how to handle a bat, these tools are indispensable. Even seasoned players use them now and again. And while you are busy running drills with your players, it may be worth considering adding in a few tee drills as well to work on batting form and precision.
Best Batting Tees Comparison Chart
We’ve curated the top 10 batting tees in 2021 in this handy little chart for easy readability. They’ve been listed in price ascending order and categorized by style and features. Take a look and be sure to read the more in-depth review of each unit below.
| Image | Tee | Brand | Perfect for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MacGregor Batting Tee | MacGregor | Teens |  |
 | Franklin Sports Batting Tee | Franklin Sports | Youth | |
 | Tanner Tee | Tanner Tees | Heavy Hitters | |
 | Jugs 5-Point Batting Tee | Jugs | Teaching | |
 | NEW JUGS T | Jugs | Durability | |
 | PowerNet Practice Tee and Net Bundle | PowerNet | Versatility | |
 | SKLZ Hit-A-Way Portable Baseball Trainer | SKLZ | Adults & Teens | |
 | SKLZ Hurricane Category 4 Batting Trainer | SKLZ | Moving Target Practice | |
 | Hit Zone Jr Powered Batting Tee | Hit Zone | 6 & under | |
 | SwingAway MVP Hitting Trainer | Swing Away | Indoors & Outdoors | |
Top 10 Batting Baseball Tees in 2021
So now that you know why you need one, which one should you choose? Here are our top picks.
1. MacGregor Batting Tee
This guy is a well-known staple on the tee-ball field, and for good reason. At an affordable price with a simple, sturdy design, the MacGregor Tee holds up against thousands of hits, and it travels like a dream. Adjustment is a snap with the MacGregor, making it ideal for families or groups with multiple age players. In addition, its sturdy construction ensures that it will stand up to the constant beating of baseball bats.
2. Franklin Sports Batting Tee
This tee is super flexible, ensuring that the tee stays upright after each hit. It has a great adjustable range of 30 to 34 inches, but maybe a bit high for very beginning players. Like all the tees on our list, the Franklin breaks down easily and travels well. Best of all, the Franklin is part of a larger line that has tees for every group imaginable, at a very reasonable price point.
3. Tanner Tee
The Tanner Tee is one of the more expensive tees on the list, at about $80 US, but it’s also one of those situations where you get what you pay for. It is a pro-style tee. It is lightweight for easy travel, but its sturdy construction means it will continue to hold up after thousands of hits. The Tanner also features a patented tip design, made specifically to ensure that the player feels the ball when they make contact, rather than the tee.
4. Jugs 5-Point Batting Tee
The only 5-point tee on our list, the Jugs 5-point comes with two separate tubes of different heights. The Jugs is a great option for helping players learn to hit in a variety of positions and for a variety of pitch styles.
The entire unit breaks down easily and travels well. It also stands up well against hit after hit. In addition, it comes with a 20-page drill book to work on fundamentals and swing performance. Make sure you let us know which tee worked best for you and your team!
5. NEW JUGS T
You know anything from JUGS is going to be rock solid in terms of quality. This is an extremely durable pro-style tee. The base is constructed using steel and then covered with rubber. That lends to the tee weighing in at a stable 10 pounds.
A big win with this tee is that it folds into itself, making it more portable than many of the tees out there right now. The telescoping stem can be unscrewed from the base for easy storage.
JUGS patented their interlocking bolt design which they say prevents slippage of the upper stem. The NEW JUGS T tee can be quickly adjusted from anywhere to 24 to 46 inches.
6. PowerNet Practice Tee and Net Bundle
If you’re looking for a comprehensive package for batting practice, this tee and net bundle isn’t a bad option. Heck, it’s just a little more expensive than some of the pricey batting tees out there and you’re getting a net to go with it. PowerNet has made both products in this bundle portable: the net comes with a canvas carrying bag and the tee features a foldable tripod design.
The PowerNet package comes in 10 color choices so you can get a professional-looking match to your team’s colors. Fortunately, it is easy to set up, not like some of the tents you may have gone camping with and given a good talkin’ to and maybe thrown a kick in there for good measure. This practice tee and net bundle can be used both indoors and outdoors.
7. SKLZ Hit-A-Way Portable Baseball Trainer
The SKLZ Hit-A-Way is a hitting trainer designed for players ages 7 and up. It is a collapsible unit and surprisingly portable which makes it ideal for pre-warm ups practice or repetition practice at home. This can be used by both left and right-handed hitters and the ball level is height adjustable. This trainer enables the hitter to focus on building quality muscle memory and hitting mechanics, without the need to place a new ball on the tee every rep, nor chase them down once the bucket is empty.
8. SKLZ Hurricane Category 4 Batting Trainer
This product from SKLZ is a little different than our other top picks on this list. It is what SKLZ calls a more ‘advanced swing trainer’ than batting tee. This is great hitting practice for both baseball and softball players. It has a ton of features that enable you to mimic the variation seen from actual pitchers.
You can adjust ball height to simulate high or low pitches and the four power bands let you increase or decrease tension. Practicing swings on this tee helps build sound muscle memory such as training the hitter to swing and drive all the way through the pitch aggressively, instead of stopping short with an incomplete swing. The bright yellow color reinforces a see the ball, hit the ball mentality.
9. Hit Zone Jr Powered Batting Tee
The HitZone Jr is one of the best tees available. The Hit Zone Jr suspends the ball in the air, allowing the stability of a tee without the resistance of actually hitting a stationary object with a bat.
This makes it a perfect tee for very young beginners as they practice aiming and keeping their eye on the ball. This tee is at a slightly higher price point than the others on this list, but you definitely get what you pay for with the Hit Zone. This tech is really cool. Hit Zone makes a few different models of their powered tee and they are all worth checking out.
10. SwingAway MVP Hitting Trainer
If you want to go all out and get what the pro’s use, the SwingAway MVP may be the one you’re looking for. This hitting trainer is supposed to do a better job of simulating an actual pitch. It doesn’t have the stem of the tee getting away or causing unwanted contact. A nice feature is that the ball can be positioned just about anywhere, to mimic the variation of real pitching.
The highlight feature here is the fact that you won’t be chasing any balls. You can get a high number of repetitions in quickly, SwingAway estimates about 100 swings in just 10 minutes. The SwingAway can be used at home in the backyard or garage, for example, it can also be used on the practice field.
Batting Tee Guide Part I: Benefits of a Quality Batting Tee
How do you know you are getting the right tee for your team or player? Do you really need tees, anyway?
Short answer: yes, you need a good baseball batting tee. Let’s talk about the most important why’s.
Baseball batting tees have a laundry list of benefits, but let’s go by age and take a look at how a tee can help every level of player, from beginner to advanced.
Beginners
These little girls and guys are usually between 4 and 6, and this may be the first time they’ve ever had a bat in their hands. Mom and Dad are watching, they are on a team for the first time. It’s a lot of pressure for a little kid. It probably isn’t the best time to also have a ball flying at them.
A tee gives the youngest players a predictable, stable environment to practice swinging and making contact with the ball. It allows a coach or parent to help the child with the very basics, like holding the bat properly and good swing technique.
For young players, a tee is an absolute must. Every now and again, a coach will encounter a child at this level who hits with natural skill. The vast majority of young players, however, will require the extra stability a tee provides.
Intermediate
Intermediate players, from about age 7 on up to high school can benefit from baseball batting tees. Using a tee at this level takes the beginner benefits and ramps them up to a higher level.
Using a tee, an intermediate player can work on form, build confidence, and practice independently when mom or dad can’t pitch for hours on end. This has the added benefit of giving kids a tool that helps them take responsibility for their own practice time.
Advanced
This level is for the college-age and community league players. These people know how to hit a ball, they’ve been playing for years, so why a tee? Honestly, because a tee provides unparalleled control to help tweak and improve a swing on the micro-level. The adjustable height and positioning help a player anticipate pitch types and prepare for them.
And, just like for intermediate players, when no one is around to pitch a ball for several hours, a tee offers the ability to practice regardless.
Batting Tee Guide Part II: 7 Things to Look for Before Buying a Batting Tee
All baseball batting tees are not created equal. You need to look at a few things to make sure you are getting the best tee possible.
- Craftsmanship – Ensure that the materials are quality and the workmanship sturdy and well-done.
- Durability – How many bats will hit this tee? How many players will it have to serve? A good tee needs to stand up to the constant abuse of practice and play.
- Travel Worthiness – Tees aren’t meant to stay stationary. A good one should break down well and go back together easily.
- Brand – There are many great brands out there that can help take you or your little one’s game to the next level.
- Height – The proper height or an adjustable base is crucial for making sure that the batting tee is the right fit.
- Ratings – The products on our list are the best batting tees of 2018, and they’ve all been bat-tle tested for optimal performance.
- Features – In addition to the base specifications, many of the best batting tees come with extra perks like automation and more.
It’s important to note that there are your standard tees and there are your full-blown trainers. What’s the difference? Read on to find out.
Batting Tee Guide Part III: Tees vs. Trainers
Now that we’ve taken a look at the benefits of tees and some of the things to look for, let’s go more in-depth into the types of tees to find which kind is best for you: tees vs trainers.
Batting Tees
Batting tees are simply stands that hold the ball up for you to swing at. They come in a variety of styles, but they all do virtually the same thing. Tried and true, the best batting tees are a fantastic way to get better and level up your game.
Batting Trainers
On the other hand, batting trainers are on a whole different playing field. You’ll see that we included a few in our list, but make no mistake- they offer a lot more than a stationary stand.
Some batting trainers come preassembled with their own balls and mechanisms. Others work by attaching a ball to a swinging contraption that mimics the look and feel of a live pitch. Once you’ve hit the ball, the trainer swings it back around for focused training sessions that don’t require you to leave your position. No more worrying about picking up your balls or having a ton of spares nearby. The best batting trainers are all-in-one solutions that offer a ton of flexibility and fun.
Choosing the Right Fit
But which is the right one? There are many factors involved, but trainers tend to be much more expensive than your standard tees. There is a lot of added convenience, but they’re also bulkier and harder to travel with. Plus, some people really enjoy the old school feel of hitting balls off a tee. It really comes down to finding what works for you and sticking with it. Baseball is a hard sport, but with dedication and perseverance, your game will improve.
The team here at DugoutDebate hopes you find the perfect tee, and we wish you the best of luck with your purchase. If you’re looking for more training tips and tricks, check out our comprehensive guide on baseball drills & practice plans.
