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Do you lose confidence after striking out with the bases loaded?
Summary: A bad game itself doesn’t cause low confidence — the self-talk you have about it does. This article breaks down how negative, unproductive self-talk after a few hitless games spirals into a bigger slump, and how to interrupt that pattern.
Do you question your ability to pitch after a shaky inning on the mound?
Losing or having a bad game is not the cause of low confidence. There is a middle factor that often wreaks havoc on confidence. The problematic variable is self-talk.
Self-talk is often misunderstood.
Many players think of positive self-talk as filling themselves with fluff, such as, “I’m the best player ever,” “I will always get on base,” or “I will strike out every batter I face.”
Those statements are unrealistic and, therefore, not believable. Pie-in-the-sky thoughts generate false confidence, and those self-statements serve to mask doubts.
However, an internal dialogue always exists within you, even when you are unaware of it. Your self-talk or interpretation of events has a profound impact on your sports confidence.
For example, if you go hit-less in three consecutive games. Your mind can become cluttered with negative and unproductive thoughts such as, “Here goes another slump. I can’t hit the ball to save my life. I will probably be benched.” Those thoughts cause you to lose confidence at the plate.
But are those thoughts a reality? Do three hitless games indicate an impending slump? Will you really never get another hit? Will your manager definitely bench you?
You can maintain your confidence and improve your performance by changing your self-talk to something positive and performance-enhancing, such as “I’ve been in this situation before and turned things around.”
Or “I was patient at the plate,” “I made good contact with the ball,” or “I will work with my hitting coach to get his opinion on my mechanics.”
Each of these thoughts is a realistic assessment of your situation.
This strategy prevents you from unquestioningly accepting negative thoughts as facts. When you challenge negative thoughts or take a more objective approach, your confidence will remain intact.
The Boston Red Sox were three outs away from their first post-All-Star break win when Boston closer Kenley Jansen allowed a game-tying home run in the ninth inning.
The blown save opportunity was only his second blown save of the season. The four-time All-Star buckled down to finish the ninth without any further damage, but LA went on to win 7-6.
After the game, Jansen commented on his performance.
JANSEN: “Nothing you can do about it. Just one pitch. He kind of got it, and (there’s) nothing you can do about it. I just tried to keep the team in the game, and that’s it. It’s one hit.”
Jansen entered the game with a 2.36 ERA. Instead of getting down on himself, he understood that the homerun he allowed was just one pitch, and one pitch would not erase all his positive performances during the season.
When you challenge initial negative thoughts, find objective, productive evidence, and effectively manage your self-talk, you will preserve your confidence and perform better in future games.
Don’t take your confidence for granted. You can preserve and actually build confidence by using your self-talk to your advantage.
By engaging in confidence-building strategies, you can power through the tough outings and prepare for the next game.
FAQ
Does a bad game actually cause low confidence?
Not directly — the middle factor is self-talk, or how you interpret and talk to yourself about the bad game.
What’s a common misconception about positive self-talk?
That it means filling yourself with unrealistic statements like “I will always get on base” — those are unbelievable and just mask real doubts instead of addressing them.
How does self-talk turn a few bad games into a slump?
Thoughts like “here goes another slump, I can’t hit the ball” after a few hitless games cause you to lose confidence at the plate, even if three hitless games don’t actually predict a real slump.
How do I fix unproductive self-talk?
Question whether your negative thoughts are actually true or just an assumption, and replace them with a more realistic, balanced interpretation of your situation.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Tips to Get Out of a Baseball Hitting Slump
- How to Not Turn 0 for 8 Into a Slump
- Mental Tips for an Early Season Hitting Slump?
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