If you’re researching “How to Make a Homemade Softball/Baseball Tee” your research is over in this post. If you’re a player or a parent looking for an affordable way to enhance your batting practice, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to make a reliable batting tee at home for less than 30$.
In my 10 years of experience in the baseball and softball world, I understand the importance of having a reliable batting tee for practice. Whether you’re an experienced player or a beginner, a homemade tee can be a game-changer in refining your hitting skills.
In this guide, I’ll through the step-by-step process of making your homemade tee, sharing tips and insights that I’ve gained over the years. So let’s start:
How to Make a Homemade Baseball or Softball Batting Tee?
Image by Instructables
In the world of baseball or softball, the tee is not the tool on your equipment, rather this is the gaming-changing tool in your bag. But the main thing is you use the tee regularly. This tool is so expensive, so many beginners cannot afford this tool.
When I started my career in baseball, I couldn’t afford to purchase a tee. As a player myself, I’ve faced the frustration of not having access to proper equipment at home. So, I decided to share my knowledge with you on how to make a tee at home. Follow the steps below to make a tee at home within your budget.
Step 01:Material Needed(Baseball Tee)
- Plywood
- Wood Screws(at least 4 screws)
- Iron Floor Flange 1 ¼”
- PVC Pipe Fitting, Male Threaded Adapter 1 ¼”
- PVC Pipe
- Shepherd Rubber Furniture Leg Tips
- Discharge Hose
- Drill and Screwdriver
- Saw
- Sandpaper
- Utility Razor Knife
- Measuring Tape
Step 02: Make the Base
Measure the home plate with measuring tape take your plywood and cut it off with a hand saw or table saw. Like if a plate is 12*12” cut your plywood 12*12”.The piece of plywood is the base of the tee.
Step 03: Attach the Iron Floor Flange
Image by Instructables
Now you have the base of the tee, Once you have it, measure the center of the base tee and attach the iron floor flange to the base tee with wooden screws. You have to attach the floor flange using the drill or screwdriver to tighten the screws. It is important to make sure that the screw is fully tightened, otherwise, the floor flange can move out of its place and the tee will become unbalanced. After tightening the screws, move the floor flange around slightly to check if they move. If they do, then you need to tighten them again.
Step 04: Attach Male Adapter
After making the base of the tee with the floor flange, next you have to attach the male threaded adapter to the top of the iron floor flange. Insert a suitable length of PVC pipe into the male threaded adapter, adjusting the height according to your preference. A standard height for a batting tee ranges from 24 to 36 inches.
Step 05: Cut the Furniture Leg Tip
In this step, take the furniture leg tip and cut the one on the side that is the closest. Use the drill or bits to cut the leg rubber, if you don’t have a drill you can use the utility razor knife to cut.
Be careful performing this step while cutting the rubber, because the rubber may be moving during cutting and they are harmful for you so make sure before cutting to wear a protective gare like an eye protector, gloves, etc.
To attach a rubber leg tip to a PVC pipe, start by cutting the rubber tip. Then, insert one end of the rubber tip into the top end of the PVC pipe. The rubber tip may not fit perfectly, but with some force, you can make it fit snugly inside the pipe. Once the rubber tip is in place, attach by Male Threaded Adapter to the other end of the PVC pipe.
Step 06: Insert of Discharge Hose
Take the discharge hose and insert it into furniture leg tips or PVC pipe. This will keep the hose in place, preventing it from sliding down the PVC pipe during use. This part of the tee is adjustable, so you can up and down the position of the ball.
This flexible yet durable material provides the right balance for your baseball or softball.
Step 07: Assembly Completion
Image by Instructables
Attach the discharge hose to the top of the PVC pipe, ensuring a snug fit. Your homemade batting tee is now ready for use in playing in the backyard or field.
Step 08: Cost Breakdown
Calculate the cost of each material, revealing that the total expense for this DIY tee remains under $30. This cost-effective solution ensures that players, regardless of skill level, can benefit from a homemade tee without straining their budget.
Tips for Make a Homemade Baseball Tee:
- Sturdy Base: Ensure that the base of your tee is stable and sturdy. This can be achieved by using a heavy material like wood or filling a bucket with sand or concrete to provide weight and stability.
- Choose the right material: For a sturdy and long-lasting batting tee, you’ll want to use strong wood like maple, ash, or oak. You can also use PVC pipe or metal, which can be good choices for the post, and a strong rubber or flexible material for the topper.
- Adjustable Height: Make your new tee adjustable so that you can practice hitting balls at different heights and angles. This allows you to simulate various pitch locations and improve your overall hitting skills. For example, For young children, you’ll want a tee that’s about knee-high. For older children and adults, you can make the tee a bit taller to hit the ball.
- Rubber Topper: Choose a rubber topper that can securely hold the ball and provide some flexibility upon impact.
- Removable and Portable Design: Consider making your tee easy to disassemble and transport. This feature allows you to take your tee to different locations for practice and makes it convenient for storage.
- Weather Resistance: If you plan to use the tee outdoors, ensure that the materials used are weather-resistant to withstand exposure to the elements over time.
- Easy Ball Placement: Make it easy to place the ball on the tee quickly and securely. A simple mechanism or cup design can help with efficient ball placement.
- Personalized Features: Customize your batting tee to fit your specific needs. Whether it’s adding weight for extra stability, or you can personalize it by painting it or adding your designs.
Conclusion
At the end of this guide, I hope this helps you knowledge about how to make a batting tee at home, and I hope you follow the above step-by-step guide.
Congratulations! You have successfully crafted a batting tee from easily accessible materials. This DIY project not only saves you money but also allows you to customize your training equipment to suit your specific needs. Occasionally, if the tee is broken, you can easily fix it because you made it yourself and know how to do so.
Incorporate this homemade batting tee into your practice routine and watch your batting skills improve as you swing regularly on inside and outside pitches becoming a better hitter. Happy hitting!
