Improving Your Mental Game in Baseball
When is extra batting practice not enough?
When is off day training not enough?
When is strength training not enough?
When is eating the right foods not enough?
When is additional fielding practice not enough?
When it comes to peak baseball performance, it is not enough to only focus on the physical aspects of the game.
Focusing on the physical game alone is one reason why baseball players suffer inconsistent performances.
Yes, baseball is a physical game. You must be physically present… You need to physically hold the bat, throw the ball, run the bases and field the ball.
If you want to consistently play your best, it is not enough to be physically present… You must be mentally present.
There is more to baseball than throwing, catching and hitting.
You need to be able to deal with the following mental factors:
- Slumps
- Making errors
- Throwing bad pitches
- Giving up home runs
- Blowing a lead late in the game
- Striking out with the bases loaded
- Getting picked off of first base
- Losing five games in a row
- Playing with a one run lead late in the game
- Being the underdog, etc.
If you pay no attention to developing a strong mental game, you will find it harder to have a strong physical game.
The mental game is extremely important for Atlanta Braves third baseman prospect Austin Riley.
Riley has learned a lot about the mental game, especially the mental game of hitting, during spring training from Atlanta great Chipper Jones.
Riley is 20-years old and is a top minor league prospect who is looking to eventually be a cornerstone at third base for the Braves for many years to come.
Riley evaluates his mental approach for each at-bat more so than the result of his plate appearance.
RILEY: “It’s been an honor to be around that type of player [like Chipper Jones] and pick his brain about the mental side of hitting and the importance of trying to get inside the pitcher’s head. I’m just really trying to progress with the mind game. Really, the next level is the game inside the game.”
The higher you climb in your sport, as Austin Riley noted, the more important your mental game becomes.
Getting to the next level requires improving your mental game as much as it does developing your technical skill set.
Not only does your mental game help get you to the next level; it will give you a decisive advantage over the competition at that level.
Improving Your Mental Game:
Adopt Riley’s approach to your mental game…
Assess your game and evaluate how your mental game influenced your performance.
After a game, mentally review your approach to each play:
- How did mental factors affect that at-bat?
- What was your mental approach heading into the batter’s box?
- What were you thinking about during the at-bat?
- Were you feeling relaxed or nervous?
- Were you confident?
- What were you thinking when you were down in the count had a swing and miss at a fastball down the middle?
Option 1: Evaluate your mental approach to figure out what has worked and what mindsets might hinder your performance.
Option 2: Request our one-page mental game assessment to identify areas of your mental game that can improve (just return this email).
Option 3: Contact us today to learn more about working one-on-one with myself or Dr. Megan, our new mental coach.
Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
Our expert mental game coaches, Dr. Patrick Cohn and Dr. Megan Melchiorre, can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching!
You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn or Dr. Megan Melchiorre 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
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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.
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Mental Game of Baseball Success Stories
“The mental game lessons really helped me focus on the process of my performance and not the outcome. I now realize the difference between confidence and trust, in that confidence comes before competition. Your coaching is really going to help me improve my mental game this fall.“
~Trey Mancini, Collegiate Baseball Player
“I want to thank you for the great work you are doing with Ty. He seems to be soaring with confidence right now. We are flying out to see him pitch next weekend. He threw well Friday night and is drawing a lot of interest from several Division 1 schools. I’ll let you know how he looks.”
~Randy Sullivan, Ty’s Father
“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. Thanks for your help. I look forward to speaking with you again.”
~Keith Donnell, College Baseball Player
“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
“The mental aspects definitely separate the great performers from the unsuccessful ones. Dr. Cohn’s programs can help athletes improve the mental aspect and take performances to a higher and more consistent level.”
~Rick Hall, Baseball Coach, Daytona Beach C.C.
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