What makes a great hitter, a great hitter? Almost all great hitters have an excellent mental approach to hitting. They have the ability to hit all types of pitchers and pitches and can make adjustments during the game. Being able to stay calm, clear, and focused no matter what the situation is, allows them to be successful in crucial situations. A great hitter can read several factors and then implement a plan of action for their at bat. Below are some suggestions to help a hitter use mental strategies to improve their at bats:

Great hitters control the at bat by:
1. Staying calm and focused under pressure – keep a clear head and stay relaxed
2. Having good bat discipline – attack good pitches early in the count, stay off of bad pitches, utilize their strengths
3. Have an attack mentality – confidence to hit anything on or near the plate, up there to hit, not walk
4. Use their eyes to focus in on the center of the ball
5. Can judge and hit a variety of speeds and pitch locations
6. Can make adjustments to pitchers and umpires – change where they stand, adjust their timing, stay clear minded
7. Use routines to help them stay focused

In the dug out:
1. Study the pitcher’s tendencies – what are her go to pitches, what does she throw to get ahead, when she is behind, what is her waste pitch when she is way up in the count, what doesn’t she have control of, how and when does she use a change up?
2. Pay attention to the umpire’s strike zone – high, low, wide, or tight? Do they like to call strike three?
3. Get bat, helmet, and gloves ready to be on deck – this should trigger your at bat focus.
4. Understand the game situation

On deck:
1. Clear head, visualizing what you want to do in your at bat – where do you want to hit?
2. Focus in on the pitcher and take FULL practice cuts with BAT SPEED to time the pitcher
3. Show confidence in your body language, facial expressions, and the way you swing the bat
4. Be prepared to help tell any runner’s coming home whether to slide or stay up

Getting the sign:
1. Look at the coach and make sure you understand the sign – watch the whole sign
2. Step into the box with confidence – stand tall
3. Control your facial expressions and body language

Stepping into the box:
1. Use a routine implementing mental and physical actions
2. Clear your head – take a deep breath to relax
3. 1 or 2 key words – see center, drive center, attack center
4. Use your eyes to focus in on the pitcher and the center of the ball
5. Read, react, and commit to your swing
6. TRUST your swing

Between pitches:
1. Step out, clear your head – mentally and physically release a bad swing or a bad call by umpire
2. Take a strong powerful practice cut, show confidence
3. Check for a sign
4. Step back in with a plan according to the count, however do not decide to swing until you read the pitch

PLAYING THE COUNT

First pitch approach 0 – 0 count:
1. Be prepared to attack a pitch on the middle of the plate
2. Look for a pitch you know you can drive – attack curve, screws that are on the plate
3. Stay off a pitch that you pop up – rise, change

Ahead in the count 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1
1. You control the at bat
2. Look for pitches that you like to hit or anything on the middle of the plate
3. Stay off high and low pitches, especially on the corners

One strike approach 0-1, 1-1, 2-1
1. Expand your zone and be ready to hit pitches on the corners
2. Still stay off high pitches unless you hit them for power
3. Be prepared to hit pitches at the knees, stay off if below knees

Behind in the count, two strike approach 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2
1. Widen your zone – hug the plate and shorten your swing a little
2. Attack anything close to the plate especially inside and outside pitches
3. Stay off pitches above the chest and by ankles
4. Goal is to put the ball in play, make the defense make a play

ADJUSTMENTS
Adjustments depend on each individual batter and what they are able to do with their timing.

Some possible suggestions:
Inconsistent umpires – batter has to expand the zone + be ready to attack early in the count
Fast pitcher with not much movement – move back in the box
Fast pitcher that stays inside – move back in the box and back off the plate
Slow pitcher – up in the box

Rise ball pitcher that is in the zone with avg to slow speed – move up to hit it before it jumps
Rise ball pitcher that is in the zone with a lot of speed – move back, more time to see it
Rise ball pitcher that is out of the zone – move back and take a ball
Drop ball pitcher that is in the zone and slow – move up so you can hit it
Drop ball pitcher that is too low – move back and take the ball, make the pitcher come up, be patient

Curve ball pitcher that stays out most of the time – hug the plate and move up in the box
Pitcher that uses the change up as their go to pitch, 2 or 3 to each batter – move up and look for the change

Pitcher with a good mix – identify the pitch they use to get a strike and make the adjustment to hit that pitch but you have to be prepared to swing at it early in the count especially if they have good control