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4 Tips to Improve Your Softball Batting Mentality

If you’re told you swing like a girl, you can take the compliment, because softball batting is no easy feat. From Monica Abbott-like windups and Jennie Finch level rise balls to everything in between, softball players must step in the batter’s box with courage and confidence every time.

What if you don’t feel courageous and confident every time? That’s ok. Hitting can be a nerve-racking part of the game for athletes of any level. It’s completely independent, exposed, raw. It is you alone at the plate with the pitcher, both players having opposing goals and only one will succeed.

There’s a lot of pressure stepping into the batter’s box; you could be the hero of the day or the final out in a must-win game. Whether the pressure is internal or external, at some point every player has felt that weight.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Mental and physical preparation eases the nerves and reminds you to have fun again. Here are four practical mental adjustments to regain your confidence before you next step foot in the box.

Calm, Cool, and Not Mad

At some point you probably heard a coach or parent tell you to “get mad” before going to bat. Chances are they said this to encourage you to swing harder or more frequently, but it’s not anger that helps. Instead, it’s the physical byproducts of the emotion that need to be tapped into.

The brain responds to this high-stress situation by choosing the “fight” option of the fight-or-flight response. The brain signals the body to make physiological changes, accelerating your heartrate, increasing blood flow to your arms and legs, and narrowing your focus, preparing your body to strike with all its energy when the time is right. However, too much anger clouds judgement and reaction causing mistakes.

Instead, use the time on deck to increase the adrenaline constructively. Time the pitcher with practice swings, visualize the exact hit you need, and pump yourself up, but don’t rely solely on an emotion to get you ready.

Focus on the pitch, not the pitch count

It’s easy to get flustered by the pitch count. With two strikes, there’s pressure to swing at the next pitch. If it’s a strikeout, at least you tried. The opposite is true on a 3-0 count. Why swing if there’s a chance to get on base with a walk?

Your responsibility at the plate, regardless of pitcher accuracy or umpire consistency, is to swing at strikes and wait on balls. Sometimes that looks like patience, not automatically swinging after the 2nd strike; other times it’s fouling off pitch after pitch, battling for a solid hit. No one but you decides when to swing.

Know your purpose

To limit hitting jitters, understand the goal for your at-bat. Just like fielding, each player has a role in the batter’s box based on their skill set. If you’re a power hitter, bombs away. If you’re a fast runner, beat the throw to first base. The inning, number of outs, and location of baserunners determine where and how the ball needs to be in play. Always look for your coach’s signs before stepping to the plate, so you and your teammates can work together.

Lean into your natural abilities as a batter. Power hitters, step into the box with the confidence that you can hit the ball hard. Optimize your lower body and torque to increase the ball’s velocity off your bat. Sprinters, consider slap hitting and work on bunting; the faster you are, the better your chance to beat an infield throw to first base. Perceptive batters, know how to read the defense and land your hit in their gaps on the field. Remember: not every player will excel at every aspect of batting; find what you do best and train in that. Above all, keep in mind you’re not on your own; coaches are there to guide you.

Practice makes improvements

Practice doesn’t make perfect; it makes improvements and builds confidence. The more comfortable you are with your swing and form, the more confident you will be at the plate. Practice and muscle memory development lead to more assured and effective batters.

Repetition is key to building muscle memory. Regular visits to a batting cage grant extended hitting time typically unavailable during team practice. Start with the speed you typically see during games; then, spend time in slower and faster speed cages. Slower speeds provide more reaction time, great for addressing specific problems like footwork or bunting stance. Faster speeds require quicker decision making, determining a ball vs. strike and when to start your swing for those good pitches.

A great way to build courage is to experience more live batting. Whenever possible, practice against a teammate or friend; you’ll both benefit from real-time reactions. The more you face other pitchers, the less intimidating it’ll be batting during games.

Tried and true, tees help isolate smaller sections of your swing and improve hand-eye coordination. Effective tee drills include hitting with one arm at a time, location change (outside, inside, high, and low pitches), and addressing footwork. Also, use golf ball-sized wiffle balls for hand-eye coordination training. (It’s harder than you think.) Working parts of your swing benefits the overall movement, giving increasing self-confidence at the plate.

Conclusion

The uncertainty of every at-bat can be nerve-racking if you feel ill-prepared and under practiced. While there’s no overnight fix, time, dedication, and repetition are a pathway to a successful softball career.

The best way to strengthen your batting is to learn what works for you. No two players are the same, so no advice is one-size-fits-all. Keep trying and adapting adjustments until you’ve mastered your swing. It’s possible when you believe in yourself.

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