As tryouts approach, baseball and softball players often face a mix of excitement and nerves. It's not just about physical skills; mental preparation is equally crucial. Our latest RACS Corner post, "3 Tips to Mentally Prepare for a New Team, we're offering invaluable advice for young athletes stepping into this competitive arena from Coach Rac himself. Let’s adapt these tips for you ball players gearing up for tryouts this ball season!

Tip 1: Embrace the Challenge of Tryouts

• Positive Mindset: Approach tryouts as an exciting opportunity to showcase your skills and learn. Embrace the challenge with a positive attitude.
• Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt to different coaching styles, drills, and team dynamics. Flexibility is key in showing coaches that you're a team player.

Tip 2: Set Personal Performance Goals

• Specific Objectives: Identify specific areas you want to excel in during the tryouts, like batting average, fielding skills, or pitching accuracy.
• Progress Tracking: Keep a record of your improvements in these areas. This not only helps in maintaining focus but also boosts confidence as you see your skills develop.

Tip 3: Cultivate Team Spirit and Sportsmanship

• Effective Team Communication: Even during tryouts, communicate effectively with other players. Show your potential as a team player.
• Show Respect and Enthusiasm: Display sportsmanship towards coaches and fellow players. Your attitude can be just as important as your athletic ability.

Conclusion: Tryouts are a critical time for young baseball and softball players, serving as a stepping stone to your athletic journey. By embracing the challenge, setting clear goals, and fostering a spirit of teamwork and respect, young athletes can make a strong impression. Remember, mental preparation is a game-changer - it can elevate your performance and show coaches that you're ready to hit a home run, both on and off the field.

You can watch the entire video from Coach Rac discussing the Mental Approach when preparing to tryout for a new team this season.

The humble batting tee might seem simple, but it's a powerful tool in any player's arsenal. Lance Berkman, a seasoned pro, knows the ins and outs of tee hitting, and today, we're delving into his advice to enhance your batting practice sessions.

While it may seem silly, having the right tee placement is the upmost importance. According to Berkman, positioning the tee is crucial. Placing it on the outer portion of the plate can help you drive the ball up the middle - a fundamental skill for any hitter. This spot encourages a straighter bat path and prevents the common mistake of rolling over during your swing. If you're having issues with this check out the video below where Coach Rac gives some advice on how to fix this.

Achieving Backspin: The goal off the tee should be to create backspin on the ball, sending it soaring straight to the back of the net. Backspin indicates a well-executed swing and is key for driving the ball with power in games.

Understanding Bat Path Tendencies: By practicing with the tee, you can learn your natural bat path tendencies. Are you dipping? Rolling over? Each swing off the tee provides feedback, allowing you to make adjustments and iron out your imperfections and hitches.  Using a cell phone or camera to record yourself during your swing, and then analyzing this data can help drastically.

Why Tee Hitting Matters: Tee hitting isn't just for beginners; it's a disciplined practice that even the pros return to time and time again. Baseball players in the MLB hit hundreds of times off a tee before heading to live Batting Practice. It's about building muscle memory, refining your hitting mechanics, and cultivating a consistent, powerful swing.

To conclude this simple tee hitting guide, tee hitting is about precision, patience, and persistence. With the tee as your coach, you can fine-tune your swing, understand your tendencies, and build the foundation of a great hitter.

We encourage you to shop our Tanner Hitting Tees which is our recommendation for the best Baseball and Softball Tee on the market right now. 

For more insight on Tee Hitting you can watch Coach Rac explain this Simple Guide to Tee Hitting: