| What is a mental approach and what is the right | | | | purpose and trying to accomplish things? Once |
| frame of mind? You often hear about the mental | | | | again, give me 10 minutes of quality hitting with |
| approach to the game. But some people don't | | | | purpose and not 20 minutes of hooking the ball |
| understand what this means. It simply means how | | | | foul with no idea of what you are trying to do. |
| you think about the game before actually playing | | | | These are all small things that carry over into a |
| the game. Let's explore it. | | | | game. It all begins at this stage of the game. |
| Before you even reach the field there is a | | | | Practice the right way with purpose and you will |
| preparation that takes place. It all starts in | | | | go into the game with the right frame of mind. |
| practice and even on the drills you are doing | | | | What about the right approach to the game? The |
| before the game. You often hear 'the right frame | | | | mental approach to the game starts with |
| of mind'. Well, it applies to all aspects of baseball. | | | | preparation. This means doing your homework |
| As far as practice, it simply means that you are | | | | and knowing the opposition. What kind of pitcher |
| going about your business with a purpose in mind | | | | is throwing today? Is it a sidearm lefthander or an |
| and doing it efficiently. Let's take an example. You | | | | over the top righthander that throws 95 mph? If |
| are about to do tee work to help your swing. Do | | | | it's a sidearming lefthander, than maybe in batting |
| you just put the tee up and start hacking? Or do | | | | practice I will visualize the sinking fastball on the |
| you work on the areas that you need to, like | | | | outside corner and really work hard on shortening |
| hitting the ball the other way off the tee with you | | | | up and just trying to stroke the ball the other |
| visualizing the outside pitch? You need to have a | | | | way. If it's a hard throwing flame thrower than |
| purpose to what you are doing. | | | | maybe my batting practice today will be on being |
| And when you practice, utilize the time to practice | | | | short to the ball and trying to be a little quicker.Do |
| the right way. I would rather have 10 minutes of | | | | you see what I mean? |
| quality, purposeful practice than 20 minutes of | | | | Now you are having purpose the right frame of |
| practice with no idea of what you are trying to | | | | mind, or simply, the right mental approach to the |
| work on. | | | | game. By combining the right mental approach |
| Same thing goes for batting practice. Are you in | | | | with the right drills and practice, you will be well on |
| the right frame of mind? Are you just wailing | | | | your way to vastly improving your game. |
| away at the pitches. Or are you hitting with | | | | |