Proving that Head Games WORK

This lesson can be applied to every part of the game: pitching, hitting, and fielding. Near the end of this season, I worked with a pitcher who had experienced a lot of success in previous years,  but was having a terrible current season.  He immediately embraced Head Games.

He called after his next start to give me the results of his first outing–a nine inning complete game,  allowing only one run on four hits, with nine k’s and a low pitch count.  In his career, due to location problems, he walked too many, had a high pitch count early, seldom going past the fifth or sixth inning, and had never worked both sides of the plate.  Since consulting with him by telephone,  he began to locate extremely well, making quality pitches and going deep into the games.  A hard thrower, he didn’t realize that it was possible to consistently keep the ball down.

The formula for this remarkable turnaround?    There are a number of things that I taught him, but foundational to great location is using the eyes, or guidance system to lock in on the target at the point of release. With the eyes under control,  a consistent follow through will insure an accurate release point.  Unless the eyes are focused on the target,  the body cannot determine the exact, intended location.  An effective tip for even greater accuracy is to have your catcher cross a small fluorescent piece of tape in the mitt.  This causes the eyes to shift to a more narrow focus.  Choose to use Head Games!  The success stories continue to pour in.

HOW BIZARRE, HOW BIZARRE!

Two struggling college hitters called me recently.  They had been coached to think “yes, yes, no” when awaiting pitches.  The yes, of course, was to swing; the no, to take.  During this same time, a struggling pro player called who was taught that he should begin counting backwards from 100 when he entered the on deck circle and continue that mental counting at the plate.

The players in both cases were assured that if they followed this advice that they would be in the “zone”.  NOT!!  Both of these methods include language, which is left brain.  To be in the zone, a player cannot be thinking at all.  A focus only on the ball insures right brain play, and success.  Using simple HEAD GAMES techniques will elevate you into the highest possible level of performance.