Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I purchased this item becuase my 8 year old daughter's tendency was to drop her hands, shoulder, and bat while hitting. She would open her swing too early and had such a difficult time getting her hands out in front. Though I would demonstrate to her how to properly swing she didn't seem to grasp my instruction. This swing tee was what I was looking for and after only one swing session on this tee my daughter realizes now how she's been dropping her hands. It did take a few whacks to the frame of the tee, and that painful vibration to her hands, to grasp what she was doing wrong. Shortly though, she began to keep the hands, shoulder, and bat up and swing properly. This item met my expection.
Now, the reason I gave this item only three stars. I received this item yesterday and immediately set it up. After about ten minutes each of swing practice for my 8 and 6 year old daughters, two of the three included rubber tees, which the ball seats on, had cracked in half. I'm on my last rubber tee and likely will have to purchase replacement tees at about $16 for a 3-pack. This is absolutely unacceptable for a product in this price range! My take is that the rubber tees are too stift, not enough flexibility to withstand continuous strikes from a bat. The solution to this is to use some rubber glue compound, purchase the replacement tees, or purchase the Louisville Slugger Retract-A-Ball & Tee Attachment For Instructo Swing Batting Tee for additional $60 which angers me oven more. The link to this item on Amazon is included below.
http://www.amazon.com/Louisville-Slugger-Retract-Attachment-Instructo/dp/B00183HOOI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1300024464&sr=1-1
My other complaint with the 1500 model is that it doesn't allow for a slight upward swing as pictured on the 5000 model. Also, the full downward setting (swivel fully to the right) is too angled, so much so that I wasn't able to place a softball, baseball, tennis ball, or wiffle ball on the rubber tee and have it remain. It would make more sense that the angle from the base pole that attached to the C-style rubber encased "hitting zone" would be 90 degrees given how the base pole is able to swivel. Swiveling the tee fully to the left allows for a level swing. Swiveling straight up allows for a nice downward cut. Anything to the right, you're better off purhcasing that Retract-A-Ball & Tee Attachment that I likely will end up having to do. I'll be contacting Amazon today to express my complaints with the replacement rubber tees. But for purposes of you considering my review, I would recommend this product because I've already seen a difference with both my daughter's swings after only one use.
Update: I've since purchased replacement rubber tees from another website. I had the same problem which after only a few swings the rubber tees cracked in half. I had actually supported the rubber tees by taping with black electrical tape. This made no difference and within one day of using the replacement rubber tees with my 8U softball team, they all cracked in half after only two batters. These rubber tees are horrible, absolutely terrible. What I've done since then is to use a separate rubber tee and position it flush to the Louisville swing tee. I love how this swing tee demonstrates a proper tee but the rubber replacement tees are absolutely terrible. Do not purchase any replacement tees and it's a complete waste of money.
I did elect not to purchase the Retract-a-ball tee attachment because I just don't foresee the foam casing lasting long after multiple strikes. Does Louisville actually believe that children will strike the ball without striking the rubber tee.
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Louisville Slugger Youth Instructo Swing 1500 Baseball Batting TeeLouisville Slugger IS1500 Youth Instructor Swing batting tee develops perfect path to the ball mechanics. Ideal for teaching and developing any hitting philosophy including rotational, linear, and slapping. Perfect for teaching and developing any hitting philosophy including rotational, linear, and slapping. Angle adjustment feature for developing proper downward, level, or slightly upward swing paths to the ball. Youth Tee height 21-28".
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