Attention all DU Amateur Sports Psychologists - Help!!!!

[soleft]

I'm A Rod in the batting cage. My swing is perfect. I take the proper stride, swivel my hips and hit beautiful line drives to right center field.

In games, I swing only my upper body, come around and hit my left arm in with the bat, resulting in an upper arm of dark blue spots. But worse than that, I hit cheesy little grounders and pop ups to the left side.

There are only three weeks left in the season, and then the playoffs. What can I do either mentally or physically to turn this thing around?

[LaurenG]

1. Do you "see" the ball out of the park?

Imagine seeing the ball out of the park. My son used this in track and he made regionals before deciding he didn't really like track.

Oh and I am not a sports anything this is just my 2 cents.

[soleft]

18. I'd just like to "see" it over 2nd baseman's head

[Hugin]

2. Take several deep breaths in through the nose, out through pursed lips... Shake out your arms...

Clear your mind... and imagine the ball is your least favorite world figure.

Can't miss. ;)

[soleft]

17. Too many least favorite world figures to choose from

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Well, basing on only the way this reads...

Mentally, you need to relax. It definitely sounds like you're way too wound up in the box on game day. Baseball is a bitch in that a slump can quickly become a self-fulfilling prophecy because you start trying too hard. I'd say it's at least part mental, but there are other factors involved.

What kind of pitches are you practicing on? All fastballs, all the same speed? Or are you get curves and change-ups as well? They say practice makes perfect, but that's BS. PERFECT practice makes perfect. You're not going to get batting cage quality pitches when you step in. Get someone to throw some live balls at you, real game simulation. From the sounds of things, you're trying to anticipate the pitch too much and it's causing you to adjust by shortening up your swing when you don't get the pitch you expect. This results in not stepping into the pitch and using your wrists way more than you should - hence hitting yourself in the arm with the bat. Read the pitch by picking up on the spin of the ball. Also try to see what kind of grip the pitcher's using during the delivery. If you can accomplish that, you'll know what kind of pitch to expect, which will give you the time you need to properly swing.

Hope this helps. It's hard to judge these things without seeing it, but this is how it sounds to me.

[soleft]

4. Sadly, I'm having all this trouble over slow arc pitch

The pitches are usually very consistent. And I have a good eye so I don't swing at junk. And I perform in live BP pretty much the way I do in the cage. I hit much better. I need something that I can use to prepare myself mentally so I hit in a game the way I do in non game situations.

[AllegroRondo]

5. get into a mental routine

I never did baseball, but I ran track. Before every race, I would do the exact same routine - tie my shoes the same way, adjust socks, breathe, stretch, go to the line, visualize, and run.

It helps you get into a mental zone, and clear out everything else. I guess thats why the pro baseball players go through so many pre-batting routines, to clear their mind and get into the zone. If you do the same thing every time, your body and brain get into that routine and it gets easier every time.

[soleft]

16. like how they strap and unstrap their batting gloves a thousand times

There was an old Texas Ranger who used to screw on this thumb.

[wildhorses]

6. do you step into the ball?

and QUIT hitting yourself:P

[soleft]

9. I used to wear a pad on my arm because I did it all the time

Then I stopped doing and thought I was cured of that bad habit - then it came back.

I step and turn my hips when I'm practicing, don't do it when i bat in a game.

[wildhorses]

10. you are tensing up in the game and relaxed

at practice....hmmmm---

what place are you in the line-up?

[soleft]

11. We bat 12 - 10 fielders (4 outfielders) and 2 Extra Hitters

I'm usually 10th in the line up.

Part of me wonders if it has anything to do with the fact that I always get a courtesy runner if I reach base. Now, I am definitely the slowest person on the team, and my manager is former Olympic runner who LOVES speed, and probably sees me running the bases as a liability. But other teams in the league don't use courtesy runners unless the person wants one or is injured. I know I'm slow, but I've lost a lot of weight and have gotten faster than even earlier in the season. Still, when I get on base I know I'm coming out (you don't leave the game completely). I wonder if that in anyway could affect my attitude when I come to the plate.

[wildhorses]

23. i would think so...i think you are putting extra pressure on your

self due to that fact. what position do you play in the field? do you mind if i ask your age? and the age limitations of this league? i really don't care for your coach's attitude about this base running business.

[soleft]

25. I'm a catcher and a pitcher, but really a catcher foremost

I only started pitching last year, and while I like the position a lot, I really don't have mastery of it so I don't enjoy it as much as catching.

I'm 44, and there really is no age limit in the league. It runs from 18 to however long you can play. It's co-ed, but my particular team is all women. Some of the women are amazing athletes and have played in college ball and in leagues for years. I just came back to playing a few years ago after not having played since I was 15. So the fact that I'm even out there competing is something I should feel great about in itself.

I tried timing people on the team to see how far behind I am in speed. The fastest girl can get to first base in like 3 seconds, some 3.5, and a few reach there just under 4 seconds. My fastest time so far seems to be around 4.5 seconds.

Maybe I should be grateful to have a courtesy runner. Maybe it will add years to my being able to play.

Or maybe I should switch to another team.

:shrug:

[wildhorses]

30. i would finish the season out with this team.

work on your pitching skills during the off season and, look for another team. your coach is placing to much emphasis on winning. that is what i would do. i would not worry about my batting until the start of next season and under the management of another coach. relax and have fun. good luck to you. :hug:

[soleft]

33. Will do. Thanks for the advice!

[meegbear]

7. You're a rod in the batting cage?

:shrug:

[soleft]

8. A Rod - Alex Rodriguez, and I'm definitely guilty of hyperbole

But I wanted to make the point that I'm a completely different hitter when I'm practicing, either against live pitching or a machine, and when I'm in a game.

[DS1]

14. Despite all my rage I am still just a rod in a cage!

[soleft]

19. But I feel like a rat in a cage!

[underpants]

12. I use a numerical trick when I play golf

4
alignment
athletic stance
rhythm which is achieved by starting 1...backswing2....go forward3... contact4 get it 4
and lastly (you may want to use this) BREATHE!

as with shooting a weapon (I learned this in the Army) or shooting a basketball I teach myself to EXHALE as I make contact. Not only does it slow the heart down it completely occupies my mind so I don't overthink it.


Basically you concentrate on the breathing and get your head out of your way.

"don't think it can only hurt the ballclub"-Crash Davis

[soleft]

15. hmmm, I think I can apply that to pitching as well

What would you exhale on, the release?

[underpants]

21. For golf-on contact

I have found that it works well on the release when shooting hoops so for another throwing/arm motion thing like pitching yeah it should work on that too.


This mentions DEEP breathing
http://www.winnersunlimited.com/audio/success_pitching.html

[soleft]

22. Cool, thanks for the link

[AngryAmish]

13. You have to learn not to be afraid of the ball

[soleft]

20. afraid period

[davsand]

24. Scream "WATER FIGHT!!!" in the dugout periodically.

I dunno--works for me with the kids I coach in softball...

:shrug:


Now that you think I'm a total freak, let me explain. I coach little girls' softball. They are 8, 9, and 10 year olds, and these kids get ALL kinds of bummed if they have a bad inning. In fact they get bummed to the point that they REALLY start to stink up the joint because they are in the dumps and stop trying. It can be a very real downward spiral. I found by accident that I can start a water fight and suddenly they are all squealing and having fun again--and they start to PLAY better.

I am not advocating that you start water fights. I am wondering, however, if maybe you are stressing yourself too much and you are forgetting that this is supposed to be fun. Stress can ruin performance in ALL things--especially in batting when you tense up..

It is termed as "PLAY" ball for a reason. It is supposed to be fun...

Regards!


Laura

[soleft]

26. Thanks - what do you use for the water fights? Bottle water?

Reminds me of how they used to dump gator aid on Bill Parcells.

[davsand]

29. We have a giant picnic jug of water in there for the kids.

WE keep paper cups in ther so everybody has a clean cup. Same sort of thing, really, as the jug they used to dump on Bill PArcells--on a smaller scale.


Here is the sequeence of events:

I scream "WATER FIGHT!!!"

The kids squeal.

Everybody scrambles for a paper cup of water to throw at somebody...

Squealing is optional, I guess, but it sure can be a bunch of fun to hear the kids all doing it. In part, it started because it gets REALLY freaking hot at these games. Those poor little kids were coming in off the field just dripping sweat. One day my own kid came in and asked me to pour water over her head to cool her down. The next kid asked for the same thing, and the next thing I knew my dugout was a swarm of squealing soggy girls who were having an awful lot of fun.

Then they ran out on the field and played some REALLY good ball because they were recharged (mentally) again.

The parents all just sit and shake their heads while they laugh.

Works for us. YMMV. :)


Laura

[soleft]

32. I wish you were my coach!!!!!!

[davsand]

37. Hon, you can be on my team ANY time!

I'd pick ya for my team in a heartbeat! You planning to be 10 or 11 next year?

:hi:

Truth be told, this may be our last year coaching. Material Girl moves up to Girls' A league next year and they may have coaches already in place. We have coached all this time (five years) because nobody else ever stepped up to do it and we thought it was important to do.

We'll see--not very many people WANT this job, so we may be doing it again. Are you willing to move to boo-foo no-place here in Illinois to play ball for me if I'm still coaching next year?


Laura

[SPKrazy]

27. be the ball so left

be the ball

then see the ball (you) floating gently towards you as the bat comes into contact with you, and SMACKS THE EVERLOVING CRAP out of you :P

okay, maybe that isn't the right approach

relax

breathe

be the ball, well be the bat then! :D

[soleft]

35. Breathing seems to a universal consensus - thanks!

[nickgutierrez]

28. Stop trying to hit the ball, and hit it.

The next time you get up to the plate, target a specific area of the strike zone where you know you can get your best swing to the ball. When the ball comes in at that spot, think about swinging as hard as you can with the swing you use in the cage. Even if you miss - which can be embarassing in slow pitch, I know - or if you just tip the ball or pop it up, you get a feel for what your swing should feel like in live action. It takes time, and practice, and no amount of BP can cover for that.

Or, a trick I used to use when I pitched: focus on one specific mechanical thing that's going wrong, even if it's not the main problem. In this case, maybe you want to focus on keeping your weight back, or on making sure your hips get around like they do in the cage. You would be surprised how focusing on some tiny thing can actually make everything else happen naturally.

[soleft]

31. Target a specific area, pivot hips

Okay. I have a game tonight. Should I try both things, or only worry about one. I think I might go with the hips.

[nickgutierrez]

34. Only one.

Don't do them both - that would constitute "thinking too much". That's a bad thing. :)

[soleft]

36. okay, it's the hips then - they seem to be the key - thanks

Hips. Breathe. Don't think.