Soon with a lot of practice, your swing becomes instinctive, natural, and feels effortless to do (you reach a state of over-learning). An effortless reactive swing is essential for superior performance for all skill levels. Most players don’t allow their swing to be reflexive. They focus too much on technique or controlling the path of the bat instead of reacting to the ball.

It gets even worse for many players in big games. Their tendency is to tighten up and not trust the swing in pressure situations. When you focus too much on how to make a good swing, you guide the bat and consciously try to force a hit. Over control causes poor timing and throws off your natural rhythm. The purpose of practice is to build motor memory–that you can rely on in games. When you play, let your instincts take over.

Some baseball players can trust their hitting better than others. When you trust in your swing, you forget about the mechanics of the swing. Let your creative mind take over during competition. Once at the plate, you should react to the pitch. If you think too much about how to make a good swing, the ball will pass you before you had a chance to even make a cut at the ball. Less thinking is better. React to the ball and let your body do what it knows how to do. I call this reacting to what you see and skipping the mental gymnastics.

“Hope & Pray” Hitting
The moment the pitcher releases the ball, you just pray you can make contact with the ball. If you’re a hope hitter, you stand at the plate and strike out in your mind even before the ball crosses the plate for the first pitch. Even worse than that, you hope that you won’t have to hit again in the same inning! If you hope and pray to get a hit, you have trouble trusting your swing because you are so unsure of the outcome.

“Do or Die” Hitting
A do or die hitter focuses too much about not getting a hit and make it a dire need. If this is how you think, you worry too much about results. You always know what your batting percentage is during a game: 0-1, 1-1, 02, etc. You say to yourself “I need to get a hit.” As you focus on trying to avoid getting thrown out or popping out, this causes you to forget about execution and lose sight of what it takes to actually get a hit.

“Wishy-Washy” Hitting
If you engage in wishy-washy hitting, you have trouble making decisions at the plate. You change your mind often about your plan when at the plate. You may decide on a strategy, but then at the last minute change your mind as you settle into the batter’s box. You have two plans in your mind, which causes doubt. Indecision and doubt kill a smooth swing, which are a hitter’s worst enemy.

“Panicked” Hitting
If you engage in panicked hitting, you are too scared to start your swing. You panic because hitting is the weakest part of your game and you know it. You need to get a hit in order to play well. Visions of poor hitting days and strikeouts have you bewildered. Even if you gather yourself enough to take a cut at it, your muscles are too tense to make a smooth swing.

“Pessimistic” Hitting
If you are a pessimistic hitter, you are streaky and rely on momentum. If you get a hit in your first at bat, you’re OK and you can play well that day. You might “run the table” if you get hot early. But if you strike out or pop out early, your game is shot. You become pessimistic and say to yourself: “I’m going to play poorly today.” You generalize based on the first at bat that you just can’t play well today and become more pessimistic.

“Synthetic” Hitting
If you are a synthetic hitter, you think too much about mechanics while you play. Your left brain, the analytical side of your mind, has you under its spell. Your hitting does not feel natural or smooth because you think too much about HOW TO swing the bat. You try to make adjustments during your swing but this only makes matters. You are so consumed with making perfect swings that you loose feel and forget about making contact with the ball.

If you are a wishy-washy batter you change your mind as you step into the batter’s box about where you want to hit the ball. You can’t make up your mind about which swing thought to use when it’s time to execute. Wishy-washy thinking fills your mind with doubt and indecision. “Should I bunt the ball or hit it hard down the line,” you say to yourself. The doubt and indecision kills your ability to make a good swing with determination.

Usually, a player’s first decision is the correct one. Sometimes athletes talk themselves out of their plan at the plate. They start to question their ability to carry out the plan. To help you be more decisive in the batter’s box, follow these three steps. First, prepare a specific plan of what you want to do such as “wait for my pitch and hit it hard down the third base line.” Second, commit to the plan. As you move from the on deck circle to the batter’s box, commit to your plan and see yourself executing the plan. It’s easy to change your mind if you let yourself do so.

Third, use a swing cue or thought as you take a couple practice swings and settle into the batters box. Stay focused on your swing thought such as “see the ball and react” while you wait for the pitch. Recommit to your plan between pitches and don’t be wishy-washy!

An at-bat routine has three overall objectives. The first is to instill confidence and help you focus on success – or what you want to accomplish. The second is to focus you on the task, not the results of your at-bat. The last is to help you trust in your skills during execution and not over-analyze or over-think your swing. A batting routine locks your focus into performance cues, such as seeing the ball well, so you can be task-focused for every at bat.

A routine also should be simple and tailored to a player’s preferences, but still achieve these three primary objectives. You don’t want a batting routine that is too complex. You don’t want to focus on too many details during your routine. You want to simplify your batting routine so it’s easy to practice and put into games. Here, I outline five important ingredients of a good preshot routine:

Mental Game Keys of a Positive At-Bat Routine:

1. Regroup and Get Control: Outside of the box, release the last pitch, it’s over, let it go. Take a slow, deep breath as you prepare to step into the batter’s box. When you step into the box, this says your mind is clear and you are focused on the next pitch.

2. Have a Plan: Get signal from coach. Make sure you have a plan and commit to it before your step in such as “see the ball and react.” Do not proceed unless you are committed to a plan.

3. See Your Plan: Rehearse your plan. You have a few options here. See it, “feel” it, hear the ball contacting the bat, or use a combination of all! Positive image here is necessary to feel confident and commit to plan.

4. Focus on the Ball: Narrow your focus on the release point of pitcher as you settle into the box. Here, you are setting the stage to see it and react.

5. React, Just do it: React to the ball freely. What’s important is to be free, natural, and loose. Don’t “guide” the swing—trust your mechanics. You may choose a cue word or phrase to help you “let it go,” such as “hit it hard.”

If your mind wanders for any reason (including negative results) stop and refocus your mental game. For example, if your mind wanders to the last pitch or worry about not getting a hit, stop, step out of the box, and restart your mental routine.