I wanted to get input from this group on getting a player to "relax" at the plate when he is trying too hard while at bat. Often I see players that hit great in scrimmages and batting practices but in game situations "overswing."

What I call "overswing" is trying to physically over hit the ball or kill the ball. Indications of this are where they change their swing and overload or use to much upper body (arms) trying to kill it instead of going to the plate relaxed and looking for the ball they can handle and use their normal smooth quick swing where the legs are the source of power.

I think of this as simply trying to hard but I'm curious how some of you get the player to settle down. Just saying "relax" doesn't get the message across.

Don't know if this applies in your situation but many times coaches barking instructions
(do's & don'ts) at a kid during his AB gets the kid thinking too much and trying too hard. For starters get the kids to work on some control breathing exercises...

Yes, you're going down the right path for what I'm looking for. I think too often the players are looking to hit a home run of overhit instead of "not thinking" and just watching for a ball they can handle.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueDog:

quote:

.....and use their normal smooth quick swing where the legs are the source of power.

You can relax all you want, but, with this swing, it won't work....

Why are you so against using your legs in the swing? try putting a tight belt around your legs, and then try hitting one out. You wont. Your biggest muscles are in your legs, therefore, if you use your legs for power, you wil hit the ball farther! It's that simple! Every single top level hitting instructor uses this method!

quote:

Originally posted by KcKid2599:
Why are you so against using your legs in the swing? try putting a tight belt around your legs, and then try hitting one out. You wont. Your biggest muscles are in your legs, therefore, if you use your legs for power, you wil hit the ball farther! It's that simple! Every single top level hitting instructor uses this method!

While BlueDog and I disagree slightly on the source of a hitter's power (he says the center, I say the hips), I agree that it's NOT the legs.

It may be possible to hit a ball using a leg-driven, bottom-up swing, but it's not what the best hitters in the world do.

All the parts have to work in uninison---

Ok,ok ... I thought I was being clear but I'll try again. I agree it's not all legs and as TRhit accurately pointed out "all parts have to work in unison." Perhaps a balanced swing is more in line with what I should have said.

When a player is tense often the tension is more in the hands and arms. But what I'm trying to get out of this are tips for the mental side of hitting, specifically how to help a player relax before stepping in the box.

Roll-it-up, What I alway's used was the timing method.
Meaning don't get set to hit to early!!
Keep the bat moving back and forth towards the pitcher,
arms and hands loose.
Use it for timing, and when the pitcher is set.
The batter get's set.
That way the batter is not all tensed up waiting for the pitch.
Try it see if it works.
EH

quote:

Originally posted by Roll-it-up:
When a player is tense often the tension is more in the hands and arms. But what I'm trying to get out of this are tips for the mental side of hitting, specifically how to help a player relax before stepping in the box.

I think the key is the same as with throwing; focus on what you WANT to do (visualize success) rather than focus on HOW to do it (don't think about mechanics).

By the time you're up at the plate, your mechanics better be ingrained or you're in trouble.

As a result, all you can do is get the thinking part of your brain out of the way (because it's the source of problems like the yips) and just let your body do what it knows to do.

IOW, see the ball, hit the ball.

A good resource is the book by H.A.Dorfman titled "The Mental Keys to Hitting." Good book and easy read.

BlueDog - Don't take this wrong, but that last post was the best post I have ever seen you post.

Seriously....what does Lance Berkman think of in the box.....[ ] that's right nothing. I read an article about Jason Lane and his struggle at the plate which has him battling for a spot on the roster now. You know what it was, thinking. Thinking about his average, what the coach thinks, why he is batting where he is in the order......etc.

So maybe the key to the mental part of hitting is just zoning in on the pitcher and look for the ball or as you said quit thinking.

Or perhaps the key to "mental hitting" is knowing what you want to do when you step into the box--isnt the on deck circle there for the hitter to get prepared

The best item I've ever found for mental hitting is the Quality at Bats CD by Steve Springer. Listen to this a few times and you will get lots of good insights.

Per Springer "...Put Q's next to your name in the lineup card on a daily basis and at the end of the year, your numbers will be where you want them to be..."

I know this thread is old but I just wanted to share my opinion with all of you on the CD mentioned here (quality at bats). I have found it to be the most useless CD / Video I have ever bought for my son. It gives you very little in the way of information. As I said, just my opinion.

Most kids that try to overswing in game situation just lack the discipline to keep an approach. Instead of focusing on doing what will help the team, they try to hit homeruns or whatever to help their individual stats.

This is essentially what the Springer CD says. Don't focus on stats, do focus on team, visualize prior at bats against pitcher, be disciplined, focus on the inside of the baseball to drive the ball and avoid the weak ground balls that result from overaggressiveness, anticipate pitches (with less than 2 strikes) based on watching the game situations, be confident and want to hit in clutch situations, forget about bad at bats, constantly make adjustments, etc.

DW, what other info are you looking for? You felt so strongly on this that its your first post?

TR, if you are waiting to get into the on-deck circle to get yourself mentally ready, you have missed 7 other opportunities, since your last at bat, to learn something that may help your next.

Like most baseball products, there is no one method or instructor that satisfies everyone. Find what you like and use it, although IMHO, there is probably at least one thing you can learn from every coach and or instructional tool that you might not have known before.