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Baseball drill

No-look tee drill

The hitter takes full swings off a tee and keeps the eyes on the spot where the ball was for a three count after contact instead of looking up to watch it fly. It trains a still head and seeing the ball all the way to the bat.

A youth baseball hitter in a helmet with the chin tucked and eyes on a ball on a tee as a coach watches with one finger raised
Video by Ultimate Baseball Training on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Hitting
Ages
6U to High school
Players
1 hitter per tee (a partner can count)
Time
About 5 minutes
Level
Beginner
Equipment
Batting tee, A bucket of balls, Bat and helmet, A hitting net or open field
Indoors
Yes

Kids want to see where the ball goes, so they look up before the bat even gets there. When the head comes up, the front shoulder pulls open with it and the bat comes off the ball. Saying "watch the ball" is easy; doing it takes practice.

This drill makes the habit concrete. The hitter swings off the tee and keeps looking at the tee after contact, while a partner counts to three. Only then do they look up. It takes a tee and a net and suits every age, from tee ball up.

Setup

  • Set a tee at a comfortable height in front of a net, or facing an open field.
  • The hitter takes their normal stance by the tee.
  • A partner or coach stands safely to the side, ready to count.

How to run it

  1. The hitter looks at the ball on the tee as they get set.
  2. They take a normal stride and a full swing.
  3. After contact, they keep the chin down and the eyes on the top of the tee.
  4. The partner counts "one, two, three" and only then does the hitter look up.
  5. Reset and repeat, 8 to 10 swings a set.

Coaching points

  • Watch the eyes and the chin, not the ball flight. Neither should follow the ball.
  • Full-speed swings. Slowing down to keep the head still misses the point.
  • The body still finishes the swing; only the head stays put.
  • Ask the hitter where the ball went. If they can't say, they really did keep their eyes on the tee.
  • Use it early in a hitting session, then ask for the same still head in front toss.

Common mistakes

  • Peeking at the ball right after contact.
  • Slowing the swing down to keep the head still.
  • Freezing the whole body at contact instead of letting the swing finish.
  • Counting so fast that the hold is gone.

Printable drill card

Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.

Print the drill card

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

By age

Tee ball and coach pitch

Put a sticker or a colored dot on the tee and ask the hitter to tell you its color after the swing.

10U to 14U

Do a set on the tee, then a set of side toss or front toss with the same three count on the contact spot.

High school

Use it as a quick reset in a cage routine whenever a hitter's head starts pulling out.

Next: Free lineup card generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the no-look drill be used in live batting practice?

Yes, after it is learned on the tee. With a moving ball the hitter keeps the eyes on the contact point for a moment after the swing instead of watching the ball fly.

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