In our previous blog we discussed how to produce an effective swing as a baseball player. We talked about the different components of the body that play a vital role in the outcome of where the ball goes. Within the body of every baseball player is a very intelligent mind that is running and thinking 100 times faster than what their body is physically doing. As Yogi Berra once said, “baseball is ninety percent mental, and the other half is physical.” Today we are going to take a deep dive into what goes on in the mind of a baseball player while they are batting. We will accomplish this through testimonies of professional players and explanations of the routines in which some players perform prior to and during an at bat.

A Typical Day In The Mind

Developing The Proper Mindset

Keeping in mind that baseball is a sport is the pinnacle of having the proper mindset going into it. Sports are challenging, but intended to be fun. Therefore, if you are no longer have fun while playing baseball then it becomes a burden to get better. The proper mindset begins with enjoyment. Evan Longoria, former third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, stated in an interview that “I have never seen baseball as a job, and that is why I can continue to press on.”

Starting The Day

The beginning of any routine should influence the rest of the practice session, so start off with something fun. Longoria begins his day with hitting of of a tee because he knows that he will perform well doing that. Before you jump into the nitty gritty of batting, lead with the basics and build a level of confidence. Once you are enjoying the game, then lead into other exercises that will grow your level of expertise.

Day-To-Day and In Between The Lines.

As I have stated previously of the inconsistency of hitting in baseball. A player that fails seventy percent of the time could be considered a hall of fame player. However, a success rate of thirty percent or lower can build a level of hatred towards the game of baseball and a poor mindset can develop. It is important to recognize this reality not only throughout the day to day practice routines but also in between the lines on the field. A poor mindset from the lack of performance will only lead a player into further failure. The key to success at the plate begins with success in the mind. Every player that approaches the plate must approach each at bat with a clear, fresh mind. They cannot dwell on past failures or successes to influence their current circumstances. Each at bat is determined off the current mindset and execution of fundamentals.

Game Time

Outlined in this section is the road to the plate and discussion on the different viewpoints of an at-bat.

The On-Deck Circle

This little circle that resides next to each dugout holds tremendous value, but mainly for the mindset of the batter. “Practice your swing” a little league coach may say to the hitter in the on-deck circle. However, have you not already prepared for that at-bat prior to the game? What good is a couple of swings where you don’t even hit the ball going to do? Baseball is a game of muscle memory and routine. I would argue that the sole purpose of the on-deck circle is to perform a routine that will get your mind focused on the at-bat. It is a chance to clear your head of all distractions outside the game. Most major league batters take their time on-deck to perform the same motions every time. It becomes muscle memory; just like your swing that you have already prepared for prior to game. It is crucial to warm up, stretch, and take practice swings before the game so that when you step up to the plate you don’t have to question whether or not you’re ready. The on-deck circle hold tremendous value, but it mainly for the mindset of the at-bat.

At The Plate

One thing you notice about every baseball player is that every single player has a different batting stance. They also typically have different mechanics based on what they are taught. The one thing that all successful players do have in common is a plan at the plate and a belief that they can execute that plan. It’s a mindset. A good mindset at the plate starts with confidence. Most players use an at-bat routine just like on-deck routine to help them focus and become mentally prepared. The purpose of an at-bat routine is threefold:

1. Focus on the task at hand. Every at-bat brings about a different game situation. An at-bat routine can get your mind focused on that situation.
2. To build a positive mindset. Focusing on an at-bat routine draws your mind away from negative thoughts or doubt.
3. In between pitches, an at-bat routine helps to refocus the mind on each pitch. Sometimes you swing at a bad pitch or miss with your swing. A clean conscience each pitch is imperative.

Conclusion

Analyzing the complexities of the human mind are important in the game of baseball. We can not neglect to think about this aspect and only focus on the physical. While the physical is important, situational hitting and proper mindset can lead a player to great success or great failure.

How does a professional major league baseball player execute a fundamentally sound swing?

“The hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round ball with a round bat squarely.”

-Ted Williams

Bat angle, exit velocity, ball spin, and mindset: a small portion of the many factors that affect the difference between a four-hundred foot home run and a fifty foot ground out to the second baseman. Batting a baseball takes an extreme amount of concentration and practice. What a professional baseball player like Pete Alonso (pictured above) makes look easy as he competes in the home run derby, can seem impossible for other individuals no matter how strong or athletic you are. Baseball is a sport that takes an extreme amount of focus and cannot be “picked up” in a matter of days like football can. Here we will break down the physics of a professional baseball swing.

The Fundamental Body Parts

When a major league baseball player approaches the plate, most have one goal in mind: make solid contact with the baseball to drive to the outfield. What they don’t tell you is that in order to make that happen, a lot must be done right. To give perspective on the amount of failure that happens in the game of baseball, a player will sometimes have a career batting average of .300 and get elected to be a part of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. This means that 7 out of ten times that batter approaches the plate, he fails to get a hit. What a frustrating game right? That being said, we will analyze the proper mechanics of a hitter that will result in making solid contact with the baseball.

• Shoulders:

The shoulders play an intricate part in facilitating the swing path. From an initial resting state, the batter should move his shoulders backwards towards the catcher indicating the loading phase. Upon release from the loading phase the shoulders will guide the swing path of the bat and determine where the bat makes contact with the ball. Some might say that the strength of the shoulders can leverage the overall velocity of one’s swing.

Simple concepts of balance can be applied to a swing to analyze the role of the shoulders. If the back hip of a hitter is collapsing and driving inward, we know that the shoulders must open towards the pitcher in order for the hitter to maintain balance.

• Hips

Power is accumulated in the hips, and the more explosion a batter has from the hips, the deeper the flight of the ball off the bat will be. In order to produce this power, the shoulder and the hips must work together even though their movements can be considered antagonistic. When a batter begins to leave the loading phase and stride towards the ball, the rotation of the hips should be the first thing in a hitter’s swing. The rotation of the hips will create a separation between the hips and the shoulders and allows the shoulders to act much like a rubber band. A common flaw that some hitting coaches teach is that the shoulder and hips rotate together, but that will not produce a high velocity swing.

The Desired Swing

In order to better understand the fundamentals of a better baseball swing, it can better be broken down into four steps. These steps break down the major components that should be evident in any good hitters swing.

Step one: The load

The purpose of an effective loading step is to harness energy to release into the baseball. This can typically be done by shifting your weight to the inside part of your back foot. It does not make much of a difference if your heel rises or not. That is more of a personal preference. At the end of the loading step, your back foot, back knee, and back hip should all be in the same plane.

Step 2: The Step

The correct step helps us to properly time the pitch trap the weight in our body in preparation for the launch. During this step, the hands are still back with a steady head waiting on the incoming pitch. The importance of this leads into the rest of the swing. Failure to execute a proper step may disorient your ability to judge the speed or location of the ball. The step should be short and composed.

Step 3: The Launch

The purpose of the laugh is to unleash the power harnessed during the first two steps of the swing. The hands are not the first thing to commit in this step. This is a common misconception. Allowing the ball to travel deep into the hitting zone will allow for better contact and greater power. The hitter will drive the knob of the bat towards the ball, pulling with your bottom hand to guide the barrel. The launch also is where the hips explode and set the tilt of the body. The front foot becomes open at this point.

Step 4: Contact and Extension

The purpose of contact and extension is to hit the ball hard somewhere and extend your power through the ball. The hitter’s backside will be completely rotated and the front foot angled. The top hand will be palm up at this point and be pushing the bat through the baseball. This completes the motion to maintain balance during the swing. Extension is used to further release energy into the ball.

Of course, practice makes perfect with most things, but not so much with baseball. As we are reminded, the best players fail 7 out of 10 times at the plate! With these fundamental steps and proper use of key body parts you will be on your way to hitting the baseball hard and far in no time.