Baseball Mental Game Tips

Mental Game of Baseball Tips For Players, Coaches, & Parents

  • Home
  • About
  • Mental Coaching
  • Products
  • Free Report
  • Articles
  • Videos
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
  • 888-742-7225
You are here: Home / Baseball Mental Game Articles / Do You Strive for Success or Avoid Failure?

Do You Strive for Success or Avoid Failure?

June 27, 2009 By Patrick Cohn Leave a Comment

Success in Baseball

Striving For Success in Baseball or Softball

Baseball players and other athletes contact me every day saying that they can’t get out of their own way during games – that their mental game is holding them back.

Why would you want to sabotage your own success and prevent yourself from achieving success?

Some baseball players and coaches would answer ‘fear of success.’ It maybe fear of success, but not likely. Fear of success, although it does cause players to self-destruct, is more rare in my work compared to fear of failure.

What is the difference between fear of failure and fear of success when it comes to your mental game of baseball?

Both the fear of failure and fear of success cause you to get in your own way with fear, anxiety, tension, and worry about results. This leads to self-sabotage. However, the source of the fear differs.

Fear of failure is worry about not getting what you so badly want and have worked hard to obtain. Fear of success is worry about what comes with being more successful in your sport. Most students I work with come to me with fear of failure.

Are you afraid to succeed in baseball?

You might be thinking, why would anyone be afraid to succeed at something they work so hard to obtain?

Think Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Ken Griffy, Jr. Very successful athletes for sure. But think about the precautions Tiger Woods has to make just to go out to dinner with his wife or friends. With success, come ‘other’ responsibilities and constraints that non-elite athletes never experience.

“Getting in your own way” because of fear of failure is much more common in my work as a mental game expert to players. Fear of failure turns into anxiety and tension on the diamond because you don’t want to fail and screw up.

Fear of failure can also cause you to try too hard to get a hit or make a play, which would be my definition of ‘getting in your own way’ mentally.

It’s ironic that the player who want to succeed so badly, worry too much about “what if I don’t succeed?” The need to play well often turns into a failure-oriented approach to your game: don’t strike out, don’t give up a hit, don’t make an error, etc.

So how do you improve your mental game so you are not getting in your own way with fear of failure?

The answers are not easy because players hold themselves back for many reasons. You might fear not reaching your or others expectations, for example. You might fear embarrassing yourself if you go 0-4 at the plate. You might worry too much about impressing college scouts. In each of these scenarios, I would take a different approach to finding the solutions.

However, one tip that applies to all these scenarios is you have to learn how to focus on success instead of failure when you play.

You should never set negative goals for example – to not strike out.

You should always focus on what you want to have happen – hit it hard down the 3rd base line – instead of avoiding mistakes (don’t foul the ball off again).

In the mental game of baseball, the body will follow the input from the mind. If you focus on not striking out at-bat, your body finds a way to strike out. If you think about seeing the pitch well, you focus on positive cues and your mind will achieve this task.

Thus, always ask yourself, “What do I need to focus on to execute this pitch, at-bat, or defensive play.”

Strive for success instead of avoiding failure is the mental game lesson for today!


The Mental Edge

Get The Mental Edge For Baseball and Softball Players!

Do you (or your athletes) lack full confidence in your skills when you step on the field as if your game disappears at game time?

Do you lose composure easily after you make your first error of time game?

Do you feel embarrassed after striking out and carry this with you for longer than one inning?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out The Mental Edge For Baseball And Softball Players!

Boost your (or your athletes mental) toughness! Learn 8 mental toughness lessons to help ball players improve confidence, focus and composure.

The Mental Edge For Baseball And Softball Players: Mental Toughness Strategies For Ultimate Confidence

Download your copy today!

What are mental game customers saying?

“Dr. Cohn has put together a program that has enabled myself and our players to approach the mental game in a systematic way that is easy to use and apply. Our awareness level has greatly increased.”
~Marty Hunter, Head Baseball Coach George Fox University


Get Our Weekly Mental Game Tips!

Learn 6 Costly Mental Game Mistakes Baseball
And Softball Players Make While Batting

Baseball and Softball Confidence ReportGet instant access to a Mental Game of Baseball and Softball FREE report. Discover if you are making one or more of these “costly” mental game errors at the plate!

You’ll discover:

  • How your mind can be your best or worst asset during batting.
  • If you are using your mind effectively to get a hit.
  • A critical mental error that can erase your confidence at the plate!
  • How to prepare your mind using an at-bat routine.

I’ll also notify you when we have other baseball or softball mental game tips to boost your performance! Please enter your first name, primary email, and role in baseball/softball below to instantly receive your 100% FREE mental game report:

© 2016 Peak Performance Sports, LLC | 888-742-7225 | Baseball and Softball Confidence

Mental Game of Baseball Success Stories

“With your help, I have been able to deal with stress and pressure of the game of baseball more efficiently. I have learned what it means to focus on the process to help me keep my focus and disregard negative thoughts and energies. This process focus will keep me from getting my head in the way of my performance, from working against myself. Thanks for your help. I look forward to speaking with you again.”
~Keith Donnell, College Baseball Player.

“I currently play NCAA Division 1 Baseball, and even my coaches have noticed a change in the way that I approach the game; my attitude and confidence at the plate. Thank you for helping in my continuing goal to mental toughness.”
~Tylor Prudhomme, College Baseball Player


Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!

Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.

You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!

What are our mental coaching students, parents and coaches saying?

“Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with our team. It was greatly appreciated and really helped a lot. I found myself implementing your teachings in our first practice right after you left. I really enjoyed the way you implemented already known ideas, but gave us a different way of viewing it. Thank you.”
~Amber Prosser, Clark College Softball

Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedInPin on Pinterest

Filed Under: Baseball Mental Game Articles, Baseball Psychology Tagged With: Baseball Psychology, fear of failure, fear of success, mental game of baseball

Get The Mental Edge For Baseball & Softball

The Mental Edge

If you have trouble taking your practice game to competition and under perform in games, your mental game might be the culprit! With The Mental Edge For Baseball and Softball Players, you will discover how to take full control of your self-confidence instead of reacting to every pitch. With this new audio and workbook program, you'll learn you how to improve your mental game in 8 easy-to-apply-lessons- the same TOP lessons that Dr. Cohn teaches to baseball and softball players everyday in his one-on-one mental coaching program. Seven bonus programs included!

Read more about our mental training audio program...


Top Baseball Psychology Resources To Improve Performance!

  • One-On-One Mental Game Coaching - Work one-on-one with Dr. Cohn via phone, Skype, FaceTime.
  • The Confident Athlete CD Series - Help athletes improve confidence, focus, and composure quickly.
  • Instilling Confidence in Baseball and Softball Players - A 7-day plan for coaches.
  • Online Mental Training Network - Discover proven mental strategies to improve mental toughness.
  • Become a Certified Mental Coach - Get MGCP certified. Learn Dr. Cohn's system for mental coaching.
  • Baseball Psychology Articles - Read other mental game articles to improve your performance.
  • Call 888-742-7225 for Baseball Mental Game Coaching

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Baseball/Softball Confidence Report

    GET FREE REPORT NOW!

    New Digital CD & Workbook Program

    The Mental EdgeLEARN MORE NOW>>

    Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Google+Follow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on E-mailFollow Us on Instagram

    Baseball Mental Game Articles

    • World Champions’ Mental Toughness
    • Overcoming Negative Self-Talk for Ball Players
    • The Mindset Needed for a Comeback
    • Why Big Games Become Overwhelming for Ball Players
    • Ball Players Who Are Self-Critical
    • Mental Keys to Higher Confidence for Ball Players
    • Control Your Thoughts. Control Your Performance
    • How to Avoid the Absolute Thinking Trap
    • Use Your Mind to Perform Better in Games
    • Integrating Mental Training Into Practice
    • Riding Ups and Downs for Ball Players
    • How to Cope Better with Adversity on the Ball Field

    Baseball Mental Game Topics

    Partner Sites

    • Baseball Throwing Yips Cure
    • Free Baseball Confidence Report
    • Hockey Psychology Tips
    • iPeakCoach Sports Psychology Tips
    • Kids' Sports Psychology
    • Online Mental Training
    • Overcome Golf Putting Yips
    • Racing Psychology
    • Sports Psychology for Athletes
    • Tennis Psychology
    • Youth Sports Psychology

    Do You Have The Throwing Yips?

    Check out Beat Baseball Yips for Baseball Players with Throwing Problems.

    Copyright © 2019 Baseball Mental Game by Peak Performance Sports & Dr. Patrick Cohn

    Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms of Use