5 Tips for More Hits

Make a Better Read - Know the situation and pick up as many cues about the pitcher as you can before you step into the box.  Does she have more speed than movement?  What pitch is her bread and butter?  Does she work more up and down or in and out or all of the above?  Is she throwing the first pitch over the plate or trying to get hitters to chase?

Have a Routine - Watch the best hitters in the world and you'll see that they approach the box and get into the box the same way every time (much like how a basketball player goes through the same routine before shooting a free throw shot).  Without a routine, which starts from the time you done taking your signal and lasts until the time you're ready to start your swing, you're lost.  Giving yourself a routine will help put you in the right frame of mind for maximum softball hitting success. Without it, your mind will be more likely to wander to random, unnecessary and unhelpful thoughts and can make you uncomfortable.  The last thing you want to be in the box is uncomfortable!

Ball, Ball, BALL - The whole point of swinging the bat is to hit the BALL.  Focusing or thinking about anything else while you swing or prepare to swing is only a distraction.  Clear your mind of every thought possible when hitting.

Stay Smooth (stroke don't "hit") - You see it all the time…hitters trying so hard to hit the ball hard.  You can just see their shoulders, arms, and hands tense up.  Often times they're so wound up they pull their head out of a position from which they can actually see the ball.  Stay smooth.  Stay within yourself.

Let it Happen - You probably already know that the more you try to hit that home run, the less likely you are to hit it.  You hear coaches say it all the time, "Stop swinging for the fence.  Make solid contact."  Much of hitting is mental.  You body performs best when you relax and "just do" instead of think.  Let your body do what you've been training it to do.  If you've put in the time and effort in practice to improve your swing…if you've gone through that routine we talked about earlier and prepared yourself to clear your mind and focus your well, focus…you don't need to try.  Just hit the ball.

If you haven't practiced your swing much and/or if you didn't read the pitch coming in right, there's not a whole lot you can do in the split second you have to make up for that so don't waste time, focus, or energy worrying about it.   Hitting usually doesn't work well when you're trying to get big hits or hoping you'll hit laser shots to the perfect spot on the field.  It's works best when you're comfortable and confident (remember this when trying to choose a bat!) and, as mental game expert Dr. Tom Hanson says…playing freely (without worry, anxiety, or other mental interference).