As we all know, hitting is one of the most difficult skills in any sport. One of the key components of hitting is our ability as athletes to have a plan to give us the best opportunity to be successful. The best hitters in our game are only successful 35-40% of the time which leaves a large margin for failure in our sport. The game is not about perfection but the willingness to prepare for the opportunity when it may happen. As a hitter, that preparation begins with formulating a plan and being able to commit and execute the plan. There will be times when we do everything in our control as a hitter and not have success due to the nature of the game we play, but ultimately we significantly increase our chances of hitting the ball hard – which is the only goal you can have, if we understand how important preparation is to a quality at bat. Failure to prepare in our game ultimately always ends in failure!
Developing and executing a plan takes time and practice just like the repetition you are accustom to getting to develop your hitting mechanics. The one mistake we make in preparing our hitters is not giving them the game situations and live at-bats in practice. Executing a plan must begin in batting practice where each round has a purpose and allows your hitters to gain confidence that they can sit on a pitch or location and make good decisions. We cannot expect great at-bats in a game if we fail to challenge our hitters in our practice sessions.
An at-bat routine is a series of thoughts or behaviors that you complete before each at-bat and pitch. Once you establish it as a routine, it becomes “natural” to do and helps you avoid getting distracted.
Here are some common mistakes that players make during their at-bat preparation:
1. Failing to Have a Specific Plan
a. Your planning begins on deck as you take in account your pitch selection, the game situation with runners on base, and the proper swing depending on where you are looking to hit a specific pitch or location.
b. Know what pitches you are looking for and what pitches you will be sure to let go.
c. Pick a zone to focus in and look for a specific speed and pitch.
2. Lack of Full Commitment to the Plan
a. Biggest danger is not having a plan or second guessing your plan.
3. Worry About Not Getting a Hit
a. When you are thinking about striking out or not hitting the ball, you are telling your body not to hit the ball.
b. Have a plan and don’t worry about what will happen if you don’t achieve the plan. Softball is a game about managing your mistakes or failures!
4. Lack of a Positive Image or Thought
a. When your images (visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) or thoughts of negative (don’t strike out) or focus on faulty execution, you program yourself to have a poor at-bat.
b. You want to program your body by seeing a good at-bat or feeling a good at-bat in your body before every pitch.
5. Over Analysis or Trying too Hard
a. The mind can only handle one thought or image at a time. You can clog your mind by thinking too much about how to perform your routine, make a solid swing, or have precise timing of a pitch.
6. Lack of Trust in Your Skills
a. Your mental preparation during your routine helps improve your faith and trust in your swing at a critical time; the moment the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand. You want to train yourself to see the ball and react instead of over-think you’re at bat.
b. We’re not talking about confidence here. Rather, confidence says you believe in your ability to execute, such as “I know I can hit this pitch.” Trust helps you get out of your own way and swing the bat like you have trained yourself to do. Its “letting go” and allowing yourself to just perform without thought just like you practice and have done over and over before.
Until Next Month,
