Life Changing Mindset

What mindset should I have during my at-bat in baseball?

I have been mentally screwed up at the plate recently, what should i be thinking. For example im 2-0 in the count and the pitcher walked the last batter and in my mind i think ok ill take this one because hes throwing balls, and then he throws one right down broad way. I always think way too much. What should i be thinking of?

Public Comments

1. not to look at my girlfriend Greta in the stands.

2. Calm and relax, try to react. Taking an 2-0 fastball after a walk is not a bad thing, sure the ball was down the middle but you don;t want to swing at a ball.

Just try to slow everything down and give yourself a chance to connect.

3. u should just take ur time and not think about anything except the pitcher. U should also watch the pitch out of his hand and u'll get a better look at it. and if its good swing at it if its out of the strike zone let it go,

4. Just think about hitting the ball and getting a base hit. Just make sure you make contact with the bat to the ball. Never want to strike out.

5. If you are a high school player or younger i think your mindset should stay constitant with all the others. With the focus on getting your pitch. I know everyone says that but it is the best way to focus. Something you can drive hard up the middle of the field. Until you fall behind two strikes this should be your mindset then you shorten your swing even more and hit the ball the other way. I am not a believer in always watching the first pitch espically if its not your first ab against the given pitcher. Sometimes it is the only good pitch you get. But it is what your comfort zone as a hitter is.

6. For your example taking that pitch is just fine. You said he just walked the batter before you and you are ahead 2-0 in the count. Nothing wrong with taking that pitch. Every pitch you should just try and pick up the pitch out of the pitcher's hand and try to determine breaking ball or fastball. Clear your mind see the ball hit the ball is always a good motto!!

7. A Mental Prep Buffet:

Recycling For Your Pre-Pitch Hitting Preparation
Making Your Brain See Green (As in GO... A Personal Mental Hitting Traffic Light)

An important key in the mental process involved in hitting is recycling. Refuel and recycle your focus with the hitting mantra for a 20 second duration after each pitch. This is to prepare you for a conrolled attack of the next pitch. Perhaps you're now thinking that this repeated thought control process of recycling after each pitch is not your cup of tea. Ultimately, it comes down to being part of the discipline required to be a successful hitter. The old cliche rings true here, "If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it." Ask yourself truthfully,"What kind of hitter do I want to be?"

Nitro Methane Thinking

Use a Hitting Mantra for Top Fuel Hitting.

An example of low octane thoughts would be-every pitch is my pitch and every pitch is a fastball...adjust to the curve. You will see some success even with this hitting attitude, but notching up the quality of your hitting mantra will make a substantial difference.
Successful Hitting 101
The Combat Hitting Formula for Success

Mental: 70%

Visual: 15%

Physical: 15%

These percentages equate to the time and effort required to be a successful hitter.

Leaping At The Opportunity To Hit
On Deck Prep and In Box Attitude

It's been said by many and multiple times that you get your hits in the on deck circle. If they can't qualify that statement, then it's only noise. Again, as stated in previous blog posts, a disciplined mental approach using a hitting system that works is a major component to being a successful hitter. If you employ such a system while on deck and in box, you'll be ripping line drives until the world looks level.

Preparing to hit on deck and in box means, as picky as it may seem, that proper hitting mechanics and an aggressive approach are important to maintaining hitting mechanics integrity and having successful at bats. To accomplish this in the Combat Hitting system, destructive muscle memory killers are removed and forbidden. The top of the throw out list is the softball swing... at anytime. If it doesn't look like a line drive swing, don't do it. Also, the pre-load bat waggle is not conducive to retaining a still head or the correct hitting muscle memory. Although it is not an uppercut swing or a swing of any type, it leads to problems. As an ex scout, I can tell you the problems with the feet and hands are the hardest to overcome. Feet and hand problems make you a "NP", a no prospect also known as a Zero in the OFP. You may argue that a waggle helps you in getting your hands started, but I've seen that it's of little or no benefit. The thought that it is useful in overcoming inertia in the launch stage is debatable. It does have a high propensity to lead to a hitch...especially if your hand and wrist strength can't handle a waggle. The end result will be the barrell dropping below the hands creating a hole in your swing. Expect to be pitched up and in routinely with this flaw.

Another case for eliminating the waggle is the probability of causing innervation* and blurred vision.
(Innervation* is an ugly beast in baseball. It likes to show up when there's blurred vision caused by tracking pitches with more than 4 eye muscles in each eye when hitting, and occurs after 10 minutes of repititious drills)

More ON DECK Prep

In the Combat Hitting system you're taught to desensitize your nervous system in your pre-at bat prep. Not only have I borrowed strength and stretching techniques from the Russian Sports Program, but I have incorporated many aspects from the Martial Arts as well...hence the name Combat Hitting was derived.

Desensitizing the nervous system by breathing techniques followed with the toe to head slap down, will have a positive physiological hitting effect. Additional on deck prep, which includes the hitting mantra with muscle memory work, a quick depth perception drill and fine tuning your visual acuity.

Summary: Hitting mindset must be that of controlled aggression. Find a system that teaches it, take it to heart, believe in it, and you will have success.

8. Concentrate on not being hit. Being hit by a baseball hurts like h*ll.

9. don't think; just swing when the pitch is good!