Trusting Your Abilities to Get Out of a Hitting Slump
When you are in a hitting slump, what do you try to get out of it?
Do you try to change something or mix it up to get out of your funk?
Recall a time when you went hitless for a few games…
You often try to find a solution to your hitting woes. You feel something needs to change if you are to break out of your slump.
You take extra batting practice… get advice from as many people as possible… change stances or pre-game routines.
Something needs to change, right?
Maybe not!
When you are trying to find a solution to your slump, you are focused on the slump.
You start questioning your abilities and skills.
The biggest weapon in a hitter’s arsenal is confidence and trust in your abilities.
New York Yankee Derek Jeter had a great start to the 2014 season hitting .294 with a .385 on-base percentage during the first 23 games.
Jeter then hit a stretch where he batted 3-for-28 (.107) lowering his batting average to .240 and his on-base percentage to .311.
So what did Jeter do to get out of his slump?
Jeter did nothing different and continued to trust his ability to hit:
“I was swinging the bat pretty good with the exception of [a few games]…I feel pretty good, and as long as I feel good, the results are going to be there.”
Slumps cause you to focus on your past last of production.
Jeter understands that hitting is a game of peaks and valleys and you need to trust your abilities and stay committed to your approach to an at-bat:
“I feel good. That’s the bottom line. You just want to feel good. If you feel good, the hits will come. It’s a game of ups and downs. Hopefully, the downs don’t last long and the highs go for a while. You just have to forget about the last few games and try to pick it up out West.”
Yankee manager Joe Girardi echoed Jeter’s sentiments about the highs and lows of hitting during the course of a long season and knows it’s just a matter of time before Jeter starts producing:
“It’s been his DNA; it’s been what he’s done. He’s went through slumps before and got going, been productive.”
Slump Busting Tips:
- You need to be confident that the hits will come and trust your swing. Stick to your approach that’s worked in the past. Avoid making drastic changes in your method or you might not climb out of the slump.
- Each new at-bat is an opportunity for success. Focus on the present at-bat instead of carrying a monkey on your back–the past few at-bats or games.
Remember, busting out of your slump is just an at-bat away. Stick to your philosophy about great hitting and be patient.
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