Softball Hitting - Attitude for Success

By Provincial Women's Softball Association (PWSA)

A complete hitting plan emphasizes both the physical and the mental skills necessary to become a consistent hitter. With careful attention and regular practice, players can develop a fluid and powerful hitting stroke. Developing physical aptitude is one dimension of hitting, a second dimension is also essential–developing a positive hitting attitude. A good swing without a good attitude to direct it will produce poor results. To be effective, hitters must learn to regularly combine a proper batting stroke with a positive mental strategy.

A powerful swing needs a powerful attitude to guide it!

The goal of a positive mental strategy is to develop a hitter’s frame of mind. Such a mindset is the key factor that controls and releases all the explosive power of your hitting plan. This mindset is the hitter’s mental edge. Just as the development of the hitter’s physical skills require careful practice and repetition, mental skills require similar development. Before the game, during the game, each turn at bat, and with every pitch that is thrown, a hitter should seek to develop and strengthen his/her edge at the plate. Doing so will provide him/her with the greatest opportunity for success. There are simple and important keys for successful hitting. Each key unlocks more power for a super strong attitude.

10 Keys To A Strong Hitting Attitude

1) Prepare to play. Come to the park ready to play softball.

2) Eliminate distractions: Good hitters know to keep their attention tightly focused on the game.

3) Study the Pitcher: The opposing pitcher is an open book filled with valuable information that hitters can use. Watch the pitcher for clues that can provide advantages for the hitter.

4) Defeat fear: Fear of failure and the fear of being hurt are negative thoughts that can blind a hitter’s batting eye. The best way to handle fear is to control it. Direct a positive answer to each negative thought and put fear away.

5) Be confident: Confidence is a decision you make, it is not something you have to search after. Confidence is the ability to believe in yourself and to ignore everything that is contrary to your belief.

6) Get comfortable at the plate: A batting stance that is uncomfortable or awkward will diminish the hitter’s ability to concentrate. Eliminate physical tension in the arms and chest by avoiding unnatural hand, arm, and bat-angle positions. When a hitter executes the hitting plan correctly, he/she will be physically balanced and comfortable at the plate.

7) Relax: Breathe deep to aid relaxation. Proper breathing gets extra oxygen in the bloodstream and will help keep the hitter’s mind clear.

8 ) Concentrate on the pitch: Create tunnel-vision toward the pitch and omit all other stray thoughts. Zero in on the ball.

9) Attack the ball: Anticipate that each pitch will be in the strike zone. Think swing and react! If it’s a strike, pull the trigger and hit the ball hard. If it’s a ball, leave the barrel cocked.

10) Build on Success: Stay positive: each hitter should focus on what he is doing well. Be willing to make small adjustments, but only when necessary. Avoid making radical changes to your hitting plan as a way of compensating for the uncertainty or frustration hitters experience in a slump.