Hitting is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports, without a doubt. Even though this is the case, you still have the choice of how you think in the box. Many hitters fight to just put the ball in play, while others look to do damage with the pitch coming in. The main point of this article is to shed some light on what the best hitters in the game think and how you can develop that same thought processes for yourself.
Personally, I have experienced both thought processes. In times where I was in a slump, I would just try to put the ball in play somewhere. Slumps happen and you scratch and claw your way out of them, but it always came down to me just trying to put the ball in play. If you notice this, it is your job to get yourself out mentally first and the results you are looking for will come.
In times when I felt amazing at the plate, I would think “Do Damage.” I remember always thinking that “how could I ever lose this feeling?” This mentality helped me to drive the ball instead of flaring it all over the place. The ball looked like a watermelon coming in and felt like it was 10 miles per hour slower than it actually was. The stillness of time in the box allowed me to build the “Do Damage” mentality. Once you notice yourself in this mode, write down your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, because when you do slump, you can find your way back much easier. This is something I wish I did earlier in my career and I just want you to avoid making the same mistake.
How to build the “Do Damage” Mentality
- Start in practice
The way we go about practice is how we will perform in the game. If you just try to hit the baseball, you will do the same when competing. If you are practicing doing damage, you start to build those habits and it will translate into the game. Having an intent of “Do Damage” takes time to build, which is why practice is the perfect time to build it. I used to be a power hitter when I was young and lost it because of the shift in my mentality. It came down to me not wanting to strike out instead of me looking to drive the baseball. Whether you are hitting off the tee or taking batting practice, think “Do Damage.”
- Repeat it to yourself
Repeating “Do Damage” to yourself is vital to your success as a hitter. The more you can tell yourself to “Do Damage,” the better off you will be. Hitting is about consistency. The more consistent you can become at building the right mentality, the better hitter you will be. Just like you need to take thousands of proper reps for grounders, you need thousands of reps to build this mentality to make it second nature.
- Execute it in the game
There are a few times you should be repeating “Do Damage” in the game. The first is before the game. You can do this at home before leaving for the field, in the locker room, in the car, or in pregame warm-ups. It really does not matter when since you are just priming your brain to think “Do Damage” when you are competing. The second is in the on-deck circle. When you are warming up and getting your timing down, you should be telling yourself “Do Damage” a few times. This will help your confidence level by the time it is your turn to hit. The last time is before you step into the batter’s box between every pitch. This will help you to stay confident throughout your entire at-bat and to have the right mentality to “Do Damage.” You will take healthier hacks and not cheat yourself much more often.
The biggest take away is that you have control of your own thoughts as a hitter. You can choose to think “put the ball in play” or to “Do Damage.” Let’s start practicing the latter and becoming a hitter that pitchers long to face.
