Hitting
Mental
Preparation
Softball Coach
One of the biggest down falls of a hitter is not being
Mentally Prepared.
This usually comes in many forms.
1. Fear of the Pitcher
(This girl is good, I am not going to be able to hit
her)
2. Lack of Confidence
(I can't hit her any way so I will just get up there
and swing at three pitches and go back and sit down)
3. Lack of Determination
(If I get a hit, ok---if I don't get a hit, so what)
4. Allowing yourself to be controlled by the Pitcher.
On the other side of the coin, there is also the Batter
who is overly excited and pumped up too much.
1. Let me at her, I NEED THIS HIT !
2. I've got to get a hit, the team is counting on me.
3. I am going to hit this one over the fence.
4. I am going to kill the ball.
5. This next pitch has to be over the plate, I am definitely
going to swing.
6. Frustration
(I have been doing bad so far, I have to do good this
time)
At some point in your Softball Careers you have come
across all the above items and could probably even add a whole bunch more.
With all of these, YOU BECOME YOUR OWN ADVERSARY
and actually help out the pitcher.
This is where you and you alone, must prepare yourself
for your next trip to the Batters Box.
Your Mental Preparation should begin even the night before.
Imagine yourself going to the plate and the pitcher giving
you all she has. Watch her wind up, her delivery, watch the ball come across
the plate. Watch the balls come on the inside corner, outside corner, low
strikes, high strikes, etc.
Now watch yourself attack each of these types of pitches
and in your mind use the proper mechanics for swinging at each of these
pitches.
Keep on doing this over and over until you have everything
set in your mind, just how you will do it tomorrow.
The day of the game, after you stretch and warm up, don't
just quit there--you have to get yourself limbered up for batting as well.
Then get your bat and go over your swing mechanics, paying
attention to your balance, proper grip, stride, stance and follow through.
Watch the opposing pitcher, check out her presentation,
wind up delivery, release and follow through. Watch her facial expressions
to see if she appears to be satisfied with herself or not. Watch her body
language for anything that could tip you off on anything that she does
which could help you.
Get to know her movements as much as possible.
Then sit some where and imagine yourself hitting against
her just like you did the night before.
On Deck, face her and the plate as she is throwing, time
her movements and your swing so that you are at the proper point in your
swing when the ball is just in front of the plate.
On Deck is also the time to rid your mind of all outside
distractions, this is not the time to talk with family and friends outside
the fence.
This is the time to fully focus on the matter at hand
and to become relaxed. This is also the time to see yourself hitting the
ball, one last time in your mind.
Now you have been up against the pitcher so much in your
mind and have the confidence in yourself, it is time for you to take Control
over the situation and the pitcher.
The Pitcher is going to try to do anything she can to
intimidate you, throw you off guard, off balance and rattle you.
If you let her do this, she will win--it is that simple.
How can you beat her?
1. Remember, this girl is just like you, she has her
weaknesses, her own fears, frustrations and she also makes mistakes.
2. After the ball leaves the pitcher's hand she has absolutely
no control over the situation any more and at this point she is most vulnerable
to you. Now it is just you and the ball.
3. When you walk to the plate, walk with confidence,
show her that you have no fear of her. Before getting into the box look
her directly in the eye, just to let her know you have no fear and that
she will not intimidate you.
4. Seasoned pitchers will try to vary their presentation
time in order to throw you off balance and make you wait and become overly
anxious for the pitch. If the pitcher makes you wait too long and you feel
yourself start to become anxious, raise your hand to the umpire and call
time. (Never take your eyes off the pitcher when you do this)
Then step out of the box and make her wait for you while
you reset yourself.
This will force her to begin to deliver the ball in a
more timely manner, more suitable for your satisfaction.
This will usually frustrate her and will begin to throw
her off balance to a certain degree, as well as show her that you have
no intention of letting her control you.
Relax
The biggest key to batting is to
be as relaxed as possible.
When you clear your mind on deck
and become relaxed, you are in the best possible position and state of
mind in order to perform to the best of your ability.
If you follow the advice here you
will be one step ahead of the others on the road to being a consistent,
productive hitter.
On
Deck Preparation Proper
Swing Mechanics Practice
Drills
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