The Mental Game of Pitching and Trust

Are you able to perform freely and let your performance happen in games? This is a common challenge among all baseball players, including pitchers. You may try to “fix” your pitching technique after a wild pitch. Some players become too mechanical and over think their pitching motion. When you over think your pitching motion, your mind and body are at odds with one another. Your mind is sending verbal commands about “how to” pitch the ball.... [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...]

How to Think Less at the Plate

The ability to swing your bat naturally and instinctively is critical to great hitting. The major purpose of batting practice is to trust your swing when it’s time to play the game. As you get more repetitions through practice, you develop a memory program for that movement. 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... [Read More...]

Do You Step Up in Big Games?

Most athletes train hard all year long to make it to the playoffs or a state level competition. It’s clear to me that “the cream always rises to the top” during big games–the top athletes raise the level of their performance when they need it the most. I’m sure you’re also aware that some athletes mentally crumble in big games–they allow the pressure to cause them to tighten up. They are overcome by a tsunami... [Read More...]