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 Sourced · gear tested by us: 0
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The contenders
Side by side
Stock photoTanner Original Youth: lowest start, lightest
Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in
Ages 5–12 (20–32 in)9.0 /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.
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- Stock photo
JUGS T: the base that won't tip
JUGS T Batting Tee
Ages 7 and up (24–45 in)9.2 /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.
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- Stock photo
Tanner Pro Youth: Tanner's range on a weighted base
Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in
Ages 6–12 (20–32 in)9.0 /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 set by Amazon · 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 | 9.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
In detail
The contenders, in full
Stock photoTanner 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 sheetSourced · not tested by us
| 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') |
How the 9.0 score breaks down
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 8
- Portability (15%)
- 9
- Durability (20%)
- 10
- Value (20%)
- 8
What the spec sheet supports
- 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
Where it falls short
- Composite base is lighter than the Pro or Heavy; a big kid's mishit can tip it
- Youth range tops out at 32 in; a tall 12-year-old will want the adult 26–43 in
Skip this if…
…the kid is 12 and tall; buy the adult range.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Tanner Tee The Original, Youth 20–32 in
Stock photoJUGS 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 sheetSourced · not tested by us
| 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) |
How the 9.2 score breaks down
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 10
- Portability (15%)
- 7
- Durability (20%)
- 10
- Value (20%)
- 8
What the spec sheet supports
- 8 lb steel base needs no sandbag
- One tee from 7 to adult
- Named guarantee
Where it falls short
- 24 in minimum is too tall for tee ball
- Heavy for the smallest kids to carry
Skip this if…
…the kid is 5; a Tanner Junior or Youth starts lower.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · 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 sheetSourced · not tested by us
| 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 |
How the 9.0 score breaks down
- Setup time (20%)
- 10
- Stability (25%)
- 10
- Portability (15%)
- 7
- Durability (20%)
- 10
- Value (20%)
- 7
What the spec sheet supports
- 8 lb base does not tip
- Same Flextop and parts availability
Where it falls short
- Heavier to carry to the park
- Costs more than the Original
Skip this if…
…the tee stays in the garage and nobody hits the stem.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Tanner Tee Pro, Youth 20–32 in
How we picked these
Gear we claim to have tested: 0
Plenty of sites say they swung every bat on the list in a lab. We don't say that, and we say so on every page. What we do instead: check each bat against the governing bodies' certification rules and the maker's stated stamp; compile sizing from the makers' own age, height and hand charts; read the published specs (drop, barrel, construction, closure, cleat type); and read the complaint patterns in retailer reviews for the “skip it if” line. Every figure links to where it came from.
Scores are editorial judgments from that documented research, not test results. 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
We don't claim to have swung, worn or tested this gear, and we don't pretend to. Gear we claim to have tested: 0. Certification rules come from the governing bodies' own pages (Little League, USA Baseball, USSSA, NOCSAE), sizes from the makers' sizing charts, and specs from the maker's product page or the retailer listing named on each product. Amazon prices change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.