Warrior's Mindset: The Batter

Everything on this page is a Ground Up coaching cue. Our suggestion It is a way to keep young hitters thinking simply, not a promise of more hits.

1. Pick one job

Before every pitch, decide the one thing you are trying to do. For most at-bats it is simple: hit a hard line drive up the middle. One clear job beats a head full of reminders.

2. Hunt one zone

Pick one part of the plate to look for and be ready to swing at it. Younger hitters: look middle. Older hitters can choose middle-in or middle-away, based on the pitcher and the count. If the pitch is not in your zone early in the count, let it go.

3. Size up the pitcher from the dugout

Watch the warmups and the hitters before you. Is this pitcher fast, medium or slow? Fast means start your load a little early. Medium means on time. Slow means wait and start a little later. Share what you see with teammates.

4. Count mindset

Before two strikes: be aggressive and hunt your pitch in your zone. With two strikes: protect the plate, widen your zone a little, shorten up and use the whole field. Putting the ball in play is a win.

5. Stay loose and moving

Tight hands and a frozen body make it hard to be on time. Keep a little rhythm in the box: easy grip, soft knees, a small movement while the pitcher gets ready.

6. Flush and breathe

Between pitches, use the Plan, Flush, Breathe, Go routine and the hitter's step-out: step out, one slow breath, “Clear Eyes, Full Heart,” step back in.
Think of your focus like the sun. Thoughts about the last pitch, the score or the crowd are clouds. They drift by, and the sun is still there. You do not have to fight the clouds; just let them pass.Practice the breath at practice too, during tee and toss rounds, so it is automatic in a game.

7. Failure is normal

Even the best hitters in the world make outs most of the time and strike out plenty. An out does not decide who you are. Flush it and compete on the next pitch.

8. Coach's corner

At practice, call out what the hitter is hunting before each round: “middle-away, less than two strikes,” or “two strikes, protect.” Do this in live BP and front toss at practice only; pregame stays tee and soft toss. Praise a good plan and a committed swing, not just the result.

Lessons from an old warrior: Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi (about 1584 to 1645) was a Japanese swordsman, painter and writer, remembered as one of the greatest swordsmen in Japan's history [British Museum]. Near the end of his life, in 1645, he finished The Book of Five Rings, a book about strategy and training, and wrote the Dokkodo, a short list of 21 personal rules for self-discipline [Musashi primary sources guide]. For us, the warrior idea is about discipline, focus and calm, never about hurting anyone. Below are a few of his ideas in our own words, used as historical inspiration, with how we apply them in the box. The baseball applications are Our suggestion.

• Do nothing that is of no use. At the plate: a simple swing and one plan. Drop the extra wiggles and the long list of thoughts.
• See what the eye alone misses. At the plate: read the pitcher. Notice the speed, the arm slot and what he throws when he is ahead, not just the ball.
• Train every day. At the plate: tee swings, dry swings and breaths at practice add up. Nobody gets good in one day.
• Keep a calm, steady mind. At the plate: big moment or not, same routine, same breath, same swing.
• Let go of what you cannot control. At the plate: the umpire, the score and the last at-bat are clouds. Control your plan, your effort and your attitude.

More for coaches

Use these cues with the pregame script, the station menu (count rounds), and the postgame script. For swing and glove mechanics, use the batting and fielding cues in practice. On the mound, see the companion page: Pitcher’s Mindset: The Tactician.