Hitters are taught to narrow the width of the plate from 17 inches to the middle 10 inches, and expand back out to 17 inches when there's 2 strikes in the count. They recycle their approach in each at bat usually with the minimal idea that each pitch is their pitch, and expect fastball and adjust to the curve.
On Deck Circle
It's important to understand that you get your hits here before you ever get into the batter's box.
Begin by reinforcing your slot position swing muscle memory with the MP30 Training Bat (see Jaime Cevallos' Swing Mechanic MP30 blog post).
Now proceed with mental prepping your pre-pitch Timing Activation (see Timing Activation blog post), desensitize your nervous system (see On Deck Drill To Desensitize The Nervous System blog post), and lastly before heading to the batter's box -do a quick depth perception drill by looking at your fine centering-soft centering reference points*.
NEXT
Repeat before the 1st pitch and after each sequential pitch...the following...
Outside box or half and half if league rules allow:
Night Game… Close eyes for 5 seconds for improved vision (See Retina/Vision Trick blog post)...You may have to remind your 3rd base coach that you'll be doing this.
Situational Awareness:
Know outs and base runners' locations and then look to 3rd Base Coach
IN BOX:
Pre-Pitch Recycling Timing Activation (See Recycling and Timing Activation Blog Posts if needed).
Once completed...
Start getting in rhythm with the pitcher, initiate small c knuckle of hand movement (see KEEPING YOUR HEAD STILL IN YOUR SWING FROM THE START blog post) and pre-Oxygenation phase:
Gently shift your weight from back to front repeatedly over your center point (40-60) and draw a small c with your knuckle as you are fine centering and soft centering visually. Continue the rhythm rocking breathing in through the nose going back and breathing out through a slightly open mouth going forward. This keeps the jaw relaxed and prevents teeth clinching which can lead to blurred vision. (Key emphasis is to do this simultaneously with a controlled, calculated rhythmic weight shift.)
Begin Oxygenation phase ( see Oxygenating Your Blood With Breathing During an At Bat and Its Importance in Hitting blog), complete Fine Centering-Soft Centering (Focus on Pitcher’s Cap logo & then re-focus visually to the Release Point (Avoid being hypnotized by watching the Pitcher’s Windup)*, and start stride/launch sequence.
*See Dr. Bill Harrison's Slow The Game Down blog post for fine centering-soft centering pitch tracking...
From Pitcher's Cap Logo to Timing of the Release Point:
Identify pitch and velocity
Begin Tracking Mentally…Yes, Yes, Yes, YES* or Yes, Yes, Yes, NO.
You either pull the trigger or you don't, but if you do pull the trigger...
(At contact during your slot position swing in the blocking phase with a firm front side, squeezing the handle in the palms helps add more power as a result of an additional neuromuscular response used in conjunction with compressed organs in the oxygenation/breathing process)
Post Hit:
In the dugout, enjoy the congratulations and the pats on the back.
Then, reward yourself with a cup of water. Funny as it sounds...you should do this.
(behavioral conditioning)
On Deck Drill To Desensitize The Nervous System
Desensitizing the nervous system by using breathing techniques followed with slaps and pats* from toe to head will have a positive effect towards achieving relaxation which improves focus, quiets the mind, and prepares the hitter to be aggressive and confident when he faces the pitcher. Additional on deck prep steps include using your timing activation affirmation along with muscle memory work with a MP30 Training Bat, quick depth perception drills, and fine tuning your dynamic visual acuity with fine centering and soft centering reference points...all are reinforced here in the on deck circle. After this, you're ready "to see the ball; hit the ball".
*The "pat down" technique is a better pre-at bat technique than "tapping" or the acupressure T.A.T. technique...both of which are good techniques, but are better practiced in a different time and place than in the on deck circle...at least from my experience.
Oxygenating Your Blood With Breathing During an At Bat and Its Importance in Hitting
Oxygenating your blood with 3 deep breaths during pre-pitch soft centering-fine centering will improve your dynamic visual acuity, and exhaling half of your 3rd deep breath and timing the holding of it as you shift your focus from the pitcher’s emblem on the front of his cap to his release point in the final phase of soft centering-fine centering enables a clearer focus on the type of pitch followed with clearer pitch tracking. As a side benefit of holding the breath*, which compresses the internal organs, will cause a neuromuscular strength gain at contact.
*For those that don’t know it, the breath can be held up to 7 seconds before focus becomes blurry. This shouldn’t concern the hitter, as the pitch should go from release point to contact point in 2/10s of a second…unless the pitcher’s specialty is the Eephus pitch or the Folly Floater.
TIMING ACTIVATION
The Timing Activation must be repeated often to take root in the subconscious mind. Once ingrained, this technique will become second nature.
A Timing Activation contains spiritual and epigenetic thoughts along with powerful affirmations. Recycling, in baseball, softball, golf, tennis, and many other sports, has been around for more than twenty years, but I've found that adding a couple of important principles that have worked in my life as well as others has made a significant difference in the recycling impact on performance.
During recycling, which can be done in seconds, you'll be giving thanks to a HIGHER BEING. Along with gratitude, your ultimate goal of playing for something greater than yourself does separate yourself from the average player. Perhaps you have noticed doors do seem to open with this approach. It certainly has from my experience. Just as important, if you love GOD, then you should also love yourself. Scientists as well as those involved in Epigentics are presenting further proof that love is powerful and can alter a genetic make up. Therefore, re-wire yourself to a better career with love yourself thoughts.
For baseball and softball:
As stated earlier the Timing Activation in the Recycling routine contains powerful affirmations of developing yourself into a better hitter than you currently. You will be able to “gear up” with an aggressive belief that every pitch is your pitch to hit.
Recycling Example:
An example of a personalized Timing Activation for a major leaguer playing in the A.L. would be...
I love power hitting American League All-Star third baseman that is bettering mankind and baseball ME. Every pitch is MY pitch (to hit). (I) Expect fastball and adjust to the curve. Praise GOD. Trust GOD IN ALL THINGS.
A California HS hitter could use...
I love line drive hitting California HS All-State second baseman bettering mankind and baseball ME. Every pitch is MY pitch. Expect fastball and adjust to the curve. Praise GOD. Trust GOD IN ALL THINGS.
The Timing Activation can be amended and structured for each hitter’s level and league that he/she plays in. It is used in practice at hitting stations and during a game where it is repeated each at bat before the first pitch in an at bat and following each sequential pitch as part of the recycling process.
THE ABOVE CONDITIONED HITTING RESPONSE CAN BE DONE WITHOUT THINKING ONCE IT BECOMES HABIT FROM MULTIPLE REPS IN PRACTICE
