The first hitting drill teaches the kid that the bat has to hit the ball, not the ball hitting the bat. The ball sits still on the tee. They are in charge. Belly button height is the easiest contact height for a kid to feel.
What you need: A T-ball tee, 10 plastic or safety-core baseballs, an age-appropriate bat, a fence or net.
Setup: Tee at belly button height. Kid stands so the tee is between them and the net.
How to run it:
- Cue: Set, Load, Step, Swing. Today focus on Set and Swing.
- Set: feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, hands by the back shoulder.
- They swing through the ball.
- After contact, they retrieve and reset. That’s their job.
- Do 10 swings.
What to watch: Are they making solid contact? Solid contact sounds different than a glance. If they’re glancing, the swing path is over or under the ball. Have them aim for the back of the ball.
If they’re struggling: Lower the tee to belt height or knee height. The closer to the ground, the easier the contact for some kids.
If they’ve got it: Move the tee slightly forward (in front of the front hip). Now they have to hit the ball out in front. That’s the next skill.