The Mental Battle: Get Out of Your Own Way
Your mindset can be an asset or a determent to your performance. If you doubt yourself, lose composure after mistakes or over analyze your performance, your mindset can hurt your performance. You can be your own worst enemy. In these situations, it’s hard to bounce back with confidence and composure during the game. Many baseball players struggle with these mental game challenges. Cleveland pitcher, Justin Masterson is aware of the mental battle... [Read More...]
Why Pitching or Hitting Routines Help You Focus
Do you have a pre-pitch or at-bat routine? Some ball players have a routine, but don’t use it consistently. Others don’t have a routine at all. Without a consistent routine at the plate or on the mound, you’re more likely to lose focus or become distracted. A pre-pitch or at-bat routine is designed to help you: Focus on what’s important Prepare consistently for the pitch or at-bat Feel confident before execution Trust your swing or... [Read More...]
Joe Saunders Stays Positive After Loss
You can react to losses positively or negatively. You can beat yourself up, become frustrated with your performance and lose confidence, taking a negative approach to your game. You can also take a more positive look at your performance learning from your losses. The Los Angeles Angels fell 0-6 to the Toronto Blue Jays Monday night. Angels pitcher, Joe Saunders, didn’t perform his best allowing three runs, four hits and five walks over 6 1-3 innings. “It’s... [Read More...]
Do You Ride The Confidence Rollercoaster?
Doubt is the number one killer of your baseball confidence. You might think, “Can I get a hit off this pitcher?” or “Don’t walk this batter!” Your doubts cause you to lose confidence, question your ability and get down on yourself. Without confidence and a strong mental game, you crumble under pressure, play tentatively and under-perform in games. Doubt isn’t the only challenge for baseball players though. Many players have fragile self-confidence.... [Read More...]
Lester Draws Confidence From the Save
Some baseball players thrive in crunch time, such as when the bases are loaded. They want to be up to pitch or bat in this situation. These players demonstrate their confidence and trust to perform their best in critical moments. Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester is one of those players who thrives in crunch time. Lester pitched his way out of a bases loaded scenario to help the Sox beat the Angels 5-1. “It’s nice to be able to fight out off that and... [Read More...]
Stop the Mind Games and Play Ball!
Some baseball players worry too much about what others think about their game. For example, do you worry too much about what your coach thinks about your batting technique or about performing well to gain respect from teammates. Many baseball players don’t want to let teammates, parents or coaches down. When you make assumptions about what others might be thinking about your game, you engage in “mind reading.” You don’t really know... [Read More...]
Mental Toughness Helps Tigers’ Hang Onto Lead
Does your seem to relax when they have a big lead? For many teams, maintaining the lead and finishing off the game is hard to do. Finishing a game strongly is primarily mental, not physical. Physical skills can only carry your team so far. A team also needs a strong mental game to allow them to continue their aggressive play. Recently, the Detroit Tigers blew a 6-1 lead game against the Texas Rangers. The Tigers were able to regroup and clenched... [Read More...]
The Power of Choice in Hitting
The power of choice is one of the most important mental game abilities that ball players possess. Much of my work with athletes involves teaching players that they have the ability to make good choices with their mental game. In fact, everything I do in sport psychology revolves around showing players how to make good choices in their thinking. You have the power to make choices, too. You have the ability to choose your attitude, choose to be confident... [Read More...]
Don’t Be Wishy-Washy at the Plate
Doubt and indecision will ruin your confidence at the plate. I call this “wishy-washy hitting.” Players who engage in wishy-washy hitting have trouble making decisions and can’t decide on a specific plan for each at-bat. Players who step up to the plate without a plan or change their plan frequently are prone to indecision and don’t perform as well as they should. If you are a wishy-washy batter you change your mind as you step into the batter’s... [Read More...]
Matt Garza on Controlling Emotions
Baseball players can experience highs and lows during competition. Players can experience highs such as the joy of connecting with the ball at the plate, catching a fly out ball or sliding into home base. Players can also experience lows such as striking out, fumbling the ball or walking a batter. How you react to those lows can influence your performance. Do you get frustrated and upset with your performance? Or, are you able to bounce back from... [Read More...]
