| Baseball hitting slumps sometimes start because | | | | game is not going well, you can still contribute in |
| of a mechanical flaw in your swing and then | | | | many other ways and help your team with your |
| mentally, they can be an extremely difficult thing | | | | glove and your throwing arm. Isn't a great play in |
| for a player to have to go through. Let's look at | | | | the field that saves your team two runs as |
| the mental aspect. | | | | valuable as a hit by a team member that knocks |
| Keep baseball hitting slumps in perspective. Don't | | | | in two runs? To me they are the same. |
| ever lose sight of the fact that everybody goes | | | | Slumps are even tougher on younger players |
| into a slump now and then! You have to try your | | | | because they don't have past hitting successes to |
| best to accept baseball hitting slumps as a part of | | | | fall back on for reassurance. In other words, if a |
| the game, just as home runs, shutouts, stolen | | | | hitter has been extremely successful for five |
| bases, triples, etc. | | | | years, he should be able to deal with a 1 for 12 |
| A slump does not mean that all of a sudden you | | | | fairly well. On the other hand, if a player has only |
| have forgotten how to hit. If you're in a slump | | | | played for a year or two, he may think that the |
| but hitting the ball well and it's just not dropping in | | | | 1 for 12 is possibly a true indication of his hitting. |
| for you, try not to let it bother you. Baseball | | | | (And I hope it's not.) If you are into baseball |
| hitting quite often runs in streaks and possibly | | | | coaching, remind your player how you are not the |
| tomorrow you may hit three "bloops" that drop in | | | | least bit concerned because you already know |
| for you as hits. | | | | how well they can hit. Just a little comment like |
| Some Helpful Tips and Notes About Dealing With | | | | that can help your player tremendously. Showing |
| Hitting Slumps: (I very well realize this is much | | | | your player that you aren't overly concerned may |
| easier said than done) | | | | rub off on him and help him to relax. |
| Don't tense up and try your best to avoid the | | | | As a player, remind yourself that anybody who |
| common problem of pressing. If you press, it will | | | | has ever played the game for an extended period |
| only get worse and not better. | | | | of time has been in a slump and now it's your |
| Promise yourself you will not let the hitting slump | | | | turn. Once you get through this difficult period, it |
| have too much of a negative impact on you and | | | | will then be somebody else's turn. Nobody |
| you will not "carry" the hitting slump out to the | | | | escapes hitting slumps, not even the outstanding |
| field with you when the other team is up. | | | | hitters. |
| Remember that even if the hitting aspect of your | | | | Try to relax and don't be too rough on yourself! |