Practice & Gear Bag · Head to head
Tanner Tee vs JUGS Tee: the two batting tees every coach owns, compared for a kid
Both are the standard. Tanner's youth range starts lower and its top is hand-rolled; JUGS ships an 8-pound steel base and a printed guarantee. The height ranges, bases, tops and parts, quoted from each maker, and the honest verdict by age. Tanner's weighted Pro is the third contender.
By Mike M.Updated Researched · every figure sourced
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The contenders
Side by side
Tanner Original Youth: lowest start, lightest
Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in
Ages 5–12 (20–32 in)9.2 /10The hand-rolled Flextop, steel stem and composite base that made Tanner the standard, in the youth height range. The tee that outlives the kid's tee-ball years and then some.
$129.46Amazon#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in
JUGS T: the base that won't tip
JUGS T Batting Tee
Ages 7 and up (24–45 in)9.4 /10An 8 lb rubber-coated steel base, a 24-to-45 in adjustment range and JUGS' Always-Feel-The-Ball flexible top, with a 1-year guarantee. The tee that will not tip and that a 7-year-old can still use at 24 in.
$104.99Amazon#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to JUGS T Batting Tee
Stock photoTanner Pro Youth: Tanner's range on a weighted base
Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in
Ages 6–12 (20–32 in)9.2 /10The Original's Flextop on an 8 lb weighted base with a reinforced stem: the tee that stays put when a 10-year-old hits the stem instead of the ball.
Check price · Amazon#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in
The verdict by age
Height range
Tanner Original, Pro and Heavy: Youth 20–32 in, Adult 26–43 in, Low Ball 16–23 in, Junior 18–25 in (maker). JUGS T: 24 to 45 in (the maker's page says 24–46 in in one place and 24–45 in another). Tanner segments by size; JUGS covers the range with one tee that starts higher. For the tee-height-by-age rule, see the tees page.
Base
Tanner Original: a dense composite base, the lightest of the three, fine for a kid who hits the ball. Tanner Pro: an 8 lb weighted base with a reinforced steel stem. Tanner Heavy: a 10 lb claw base. JUGS T: an 11 × 14 in rubber-sealed steel base at 8 lb; JUGS says it “won't tip over, no extra weight needed.” If your kid hits the stem more than the ball, the base is the whole decision.
The top
Tanner's hand-rolled Flextop is the feature the brand is known for: the maker says it lets hitters “feel the ball (not the tee) at contact.” JUGS's Always-Feel-The-Ball flexible top makes the same claim in its own words. Both are soft, rolled tops rather than hard cups, which is what matters for a kid: a hard cup teaches hitting the tee. We have not hit off either and will not pretend to prefer one.
Parts and guarantees
Tanner's comparison table lists replacement parts across the line, and its site sells Flextop replacements, stems and bases separately, so a Tanner is a tee you keep for a decade and re-top. JUGS prints a 1-year guarantee on the T and lists a Grip-N-Go handle for adjustment. Neither is a reason to choose; both are reasons to buy either over the no-name tee.
Side by side
| Evidence | Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in | JUGS T Batting Tee | Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height range | Youth 20–32 in (maker) | 24–45 in (maker; page also states 24–46 in) | Youth 20–32 in (maker) |
| Base | Dense composite base | 11 × 14 in rubber-sealed steel base, 8 lb (maker) | 8 lb weighted base |
| Construction | Adjustable steel stem; hand-rolled Flextop | Always-Feel-The-Ball flexible top; Grip-N-Go handle | Adjustable reinforced steel stem; hand-rolled Flextop |
| Warranty | — | 1-year guarantee (maker) | — |
| Included | Replacement parts available (maker's comparison table: 'Replacement Parts') | — | — |
| Fits | Ages 5–12 (20–32 in) | Ages 7 and up (24–45 in) | Ages 6–12 (20–32 in) |
| Score | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
In detail
The contenders, in full
Tanner Original Youth: lowest start, lightest
Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in
The hand-rolled Flextop, steel stem and composite base that made Tanner the standard, in the youth height range. The tee that outlives the kid's tee-ball years and then some.
Spec sheetEvery figure sourced and linked
| Category | Batting tee |
|---|---|
| Fits | Ages 5–12 (20–32 in) |
| Construction | Adjustable steel stem; hand-rolled Flextop |
| Height range | Youth 20–32 in (maker) |
| Base | Dense composite base |
| Included | Replacement parts available (maker's comparison table: 'Replacement Parts') |
The rubric points behind the 9.2
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 8
- Portability (15%)
- 9
- Durability (20%)
- 10
- Value (20%)
- 8
Rubric points are scored out of 10 per criterion. The weighted result is published on this site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale, because everything listed here is a product we would tell a parent to buy — how the scale works.
Why we picked it
- Flextop lets the kid feel the ball, not the tee, on contact
- Steel stem handles the missed hits a beginner delivers
- Replacement tops and stems are sold, so it is a ten-year tee
Good to know
Composite base is lighter than the Pro or Heavy; a big kid's mishit can tip it.
#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in
JUGS T: the base that won't tip
JUGS T Batting Tee
An 8 lb rubber-coated steel base, a 24-to-45 in adjustment range and JUGS' Always-Feel-The-Ball flexible top, with a 1-year guarantee. The tee that will not tip and that a 7-year-old can still use at 24 in.
Spec sheetEvery figure sourced and linked
| Category | Batting tee |
|---|---|
| Fits | Ages 7 and up (24–45 in) |
| Construction | Always-Feel-The-Ball flexible top; Grip-N-Go handle |
| Height range | 24–45 in (maker; page also states 24–46 in) |
| Base | 11 × 14 in rubber-sealed steel base, 8 lb (maker) |
| Warranty | 1-year guarantee (maker) |
The rubric points behind the 9.4
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 10
- Portability (15%)
- 7
- Durability (20%)
- 10
- Value (20%)
- 8
Rubric points are scored out of 10 per criterion. The weighted result is published on this site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale, because everything listed here is a product we would tell a parent to buy — how the scale works.
Why we picked it
- 8 lb steel base needs no sandbag
- One tee from 7 to adult
- Named guarantee
Good to know
24 in minimum is too tall for tee ball.
#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to JUGS T Batting Tee
Stock photoTanner Pro Youth: Tanner's range on a weighted base
Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in
The Original's Flextop on an 8 lb weighted base with a reinforced stem: the tee that stays put when a 10-year-old hits the stem instead of the ball.
Spec sheetEvery figure sourced and linked
| Category | Batting tee |
|---|---|
| Fits | Ages 6–12 (20–32 in) |
| Construction | Adjustable reinforced steel stem; hand-rolled Flextop |
| Height range | Youth 20–32 in (maker) |
| Base | 8 lb weighted base |
The rubric points behind the 9.2
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 10
- Portability (15%)
- 7
- Durability (20%)
- 10
- Value (20%)
- 7
Rubric points are scored out of 10 per criterion. The weighted result is published on this site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale, because everything listed here is a product we would tell a parent to buy — how the scale works.
Why we picked it
- 8 lb base does not tip
- Same Flextop and parts availability
Good to know
Heavier to carry to the park.
#ad · Price as of November 12, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in
How we picked these
Researched, certification-checked and sized for the age
Every pick on this page earns its place the same way: the certification is checked against the governing bodies' rules and the maker's stated stamp, so the gear is legal for the division it is bought for; sizing comes from the makers' own age, height and hand charts; the published specs (drop, barrel, construction, closure, cleat type) are read from the maker's page; and the patterns in verified buyer reviews sharpen the “best for” line on each card. Every figure links to where it came from, with the date.
Scores are editorial judgments built from that documented research, applied with the same weights to every product in a category, so the ranking is comparable top to bottom. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
Questions parents ask
Frequently asked
Is a Tanner tee worth it?
Tanner Original vs Pro vs Heavy?
What is the lowest a JUGS T goes?
Which tee lasts longer?
Keep reading
Related on Bat & Bucket
Receipts
Sources
- Tanner Tees: The Original batting tee, Youth 20-32 in
- Tanner Tees: Pro batting tee, Youth 20-32 in
- Tanner Tees: Heavy batting tee, Youth 20-32 in
- Tanner Tees: Junior batting tee, 18-25 in
- Tanner Tees: The Original batting tee, Adult 26-43 in
- JUGS: JUGS T batting tee
Certification rules come from the governing bodies' own pages (Little League, USA Baseball, USSSA, NOCSAE), sizes from the makers' published sizing charts, and specs from the maker's product page or the retailer listing named on each product. Every figure above links to the page it was read from, with the date. Amazon prices move often, so each buy button takes you to the current price. Read the full method.