Batting Tees

.... My question to the group is do you think a batting tees help kids who face real pitchers in a game or should I just practice pitching more to him?

Major league teams still use batting tees, so they are useful throughout a player's career. The question now becomes what are they best used for and what drills should you do with them. It is my opinion, teaching correct mechanics or correcting mechanical flaws are best done with a tee. But even with great mechanics, a player still has to see the ballwait on the ball, and hit the ball and no amount of tee work will teach this. Tee work is but a part of the training needed to become a good hitter.

Get a good book.... Dusty Baker has written a good one, Mike Schmidt has written a technical book, or Ron Delmonico (check spelling, coach of U of Tenn.) has written a couple good ones and they will give you a whole series of drills and practice sessions and tell you about correct mechanics. Then pratice, practice, practice.

Some people say hitters are born and not made. I don't completely believe that. Obviously, a hitter needs some God-given talent but with out putting in the practice hours he/she will never become a good hitter. "You get what you put into something" is usually quite true!