How do you achieve maximum production as a softball or baseball player?
Even more importantly, how can you consistently maintain high production?
Improving production and consistency requires three components:
- Understanding – Players should understand that baseball or softball is a game of averages. Expecting to get three hits every game or to hold the opposing team to under two runs per game is unrealistic.
- Drive – Production results from the unrelenting quest for improvement. Drive is the element that keeps you motivated to put in the work to improve your game every day. Instead of going through the motions during practice, it is being focused. Drive is showing up every day prepared to work.
- Self-Trust – Trust refers to the belief that a player has in their ability to perform across various circumstances and replicate their mechanics, which have been honed in practice. Trust allows a player to perform freely and avoid the overthinking and over analyzing traps.
In our Softball and Baseball Mental Toughness Survey, a baseball player asked the following question:
“I’m trying to be a consistent hitter. Sometimes, after I play a great game, I play poorly the next day. How can I remove this mental block so I can play more consistently?”
Production and consistency require confidence and trust. Confidence and trust are mental skills built during practice.
In other words, when you commit to working on your mechanics and take advantage of every opportunity to improve your swing, fielding, or pitching, you will increase your belief in your ability to replicate those mechanics during games.
For example, Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager devotes much time, energy, and effort to fine-tuning his swing during practices to maximize his production and consistency.
Seager is considered one of the best hitters in the game, with a .295 batting average over his first nine years in the major leagues.
SEAGER: “I love the process. You have to enjoy it to be able to do this, right?… As much as I hate the mental grind, I love going in there and fixing the puzzle.”
Seager’s single-minded focus has helped him become a reliable, clutch hitter.
Justin Turner, Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter, points to Seager’s dedication, work, and preparation as the keys to Seager’s consistent production.
TURNER: “[Seager] is prepared. There’s a lot of confident guys, right? But he believes in his work. He believes in everything he does going up to the game to give him that mental freedom where no situation is too big for him. A lot of this is being able to find freedom in your game — that you’re not thinking about a mechanic, a situation. There are no what-ifs. You can get ready on time and let it rip. When you have that freedom, you can do anything.”
Preparation builds confidence and trust, which helps improve production and consistency. Committing to the process is what separates elite players from the rest.
Since preparation is the key to self-belief and trust, you must take advantage of every opportunity to improve your skills.
One way to improve your preparation is to have a plan for practice. Before practice, set two objectives to help you focus on what you want to improve.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Does Pressure Help Your Performance as a Ball Player?
- Mental Skills for Highs and Lows of the Season
- Use Your Mind to Perform Better in Games
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