I am a peak performance kinesiologist. I wanted to start a discussion on the mental side of hitting.
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I think most Posters on here would like to talk about that particular subject but I'm not to sure about the part of your advertising here.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
Move them to the proper forums
quote:I am a peak performance kinesiologist. I wanted to start a discussion on the mental side of hitting.
It's been claimed that 90% of hitting is half-mental. From a kinesiological perspective, can this be validated?
quote:It's been claimed that 90% of hitting is half-mental. From a kinesiological perspective, can this be validated?
Yes! I use muscle testing to determine if one or both hemispheres of the brain are switched on or switched off relating to a statement, thought or action. If you want to see a short video of how I use muscle testing to do this go to www.youtube.com and type in Hemispheric Kinesisology.
quote:Originally posted by YoungGunDad:
I think most Posters on here would like to talk about that particular subject but I'm not to sure about the part of your advertising here.
Just my opinion.
I just joined and only posted my website because many baseball players are not aware that programs that deal with the mental side of hitting and pitching exist. Please accept my sincere apologies.
So what is the "mental" side of hitting? Is it "reading" a pitch? Being prepared to unload on a ball? Having a "presence" at the plate? Where does this discussion go?
The mental side of hitting is usually not an issue....the mental side of NOT hitting is where it gets interesting. 
Since the brain controls all movement in the physicsl body my approach deals with the hemispheres of the brain. Hitters experience performance problems because one of both hemispheres of the brain will switch off when they are in the batters' box. It when the hemispheres of the brain switch off that a batter will be called out on strikes or swing at a very bad pitch.
quote:Originally posted by floridafan:
So what is the "mental" side of hitting? Is it "reading" a pitch? Being prepared to unload on a ball? Having a "presence" at the plate? Where does this discussion go?
The secret is very simple and that is to remain relaxed in the batters' box. Eaiser said than done. When a hitter is relaxed, both hemispheres of his brain function at maximum capacity and since the brain conltols all physical movement in the body that is when you achieve peak performance.
I am going to take a different tack with this discussion.
I am big believer in hitters are "trained" to hit. I know, what an obvious statement. However, most people really don't think about how and when kids learn.
I can remember many a little league game with parents yelling "a walk is as good as a hit." A true statement, but what is the message that they are passing on to an 8-12 year old? The kid is sitting there, not wanting to make a mistake, not wanting to strike out and what does he do? He freezes. After a while this becomes part of his learned behavior, if I don't swing maybe I will walk. Or alternatively, maybe I will wait until I have 2 strikes and take a swing then.
I go back to my years of coaching, I tried to instill in kids, that hitting was fun. Go up there take a hack, if you hit the ball hard you accomplished something. The message was fundementally different, the game is tough enough, why let kids worry about making a mistake when it is suppose to be fun.
Moving foward several years latter, my son has taken that basic premise to his college level game. His purpose when he steps into the batters box is hit the ball hard. He has learned the numbers of the game better and become more selective, but he still goes up with the "I am going to knock the cover off the ball attitude." It is a simple philosophy, but if you make too much of the game you loose the joy with that failure starts to get the better of you.
So much for in-depth "psycho nonsense."
I am big believer in hitters are "trained" to hit. I know, what an obvious statement. However, most people really don't think about how and when kids learn.
I can remember many a little league game with parents yelling "a walk is as good as a hit." A true statement, but what is the message that they are passing on to an 8-12 year old? The kid is sitting there, not wanting to make a mistake, not wanting to strike out and what does he do? He freezes. After a while this becomes part of his learned behavior, if I don't swing maybe I will walk. Or alternatively, maybe I will wait until I have 2 strikes and take a swing then.
I go back to my years of coaching, I tried to instill in kids, that hitting was fun. Go up there take a hack, if you hit the ball hard you accomplished something. The message was fundementally different, the game is tough enough, why let kids worry about making a mistake when it is suppose to be fun.
Moving foward several years latter, my son has taken that basic premise to his college level game. His purpose when he steps into the batters box is hit the ball hard. He has learned the numbers of the game better and become more selective, but he still goes up with the "I am going to knock the cover off the ball attitude." It is a simple philosophy, but if you make too much of the game you loose the joy with that failure starts to get the better of you.
So much for in-depth "psycho nonsense."
Its no secret I am from the school of hitters are born. It starts there, and snowballs into greater success or ultimate failure if the ability to adjust is lacking.
Mental approach to me means mental preparation, but the trigger is still a physical response, and some do it better than others.
Some simple and crude examples are this:
Assume the player has the required physical aspects, such as solid hand-eye and twitch muscle capability. He also has the power, the short to-long follow technique downpat. It all comes down to approach.
Say the pitcher knows anything downtown will be launched into orbit. The ultimate goal of the pitcher becomes junk and location, and an out-of-zone fastball to keep things honest.
What does the hitter do? What does the cerebral hitter do?
This is why MLB looks for pole-2-pole power, using the whole field, ability to turn on a fastball(mistake pitch), and so on.
You can teach mental approach, but the hitter needs the physical gifts to pull off all those adjustments, 1/3 of the time.
The easy way out is too sit on the junk.
Mental approach to me means mental preparation, but the trigger is still a physical response, and some do it better than others.
Some simple and crude examples are this:
Assume the player has the required physical aspects, such as solid hand-eye and twitch muscle capability. He also has the power, the short to-long follow technique downpat. It all comes down to approach.
Say the pitcher knows anything downtown will be launched into orbit. The ultimate goal of the pitcher becomes junk and location, and an out-of-zone fastball to keep things honest.
What does the hitter do? What does the cerebral hitter do?
This is why MLB looks for pole-2-pole power, using the whole field, ability to turn on a fastball(mistake pitch), and so on.
You can teach mental approach, but the hitter needs the physical gifts to pull off all those adjustments, 1/3 of the time.
The easy way out is too sit on the junk.
There is a very good book called The Mental Game of Baseball by HA Dorfman. Book gives many case studies of MLBers who need help with the mental or confidence side of their game. Even high level pros can lack confidence and doubt their abilities.
The book gives many examples on how to overcome the mental part of the game.
Negative thoughts lead to negative results and visa versa whether hitting, pitching or fielding. The book gives ways to handle the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
I think overcoming the mental challenges of baseball makes a player reach his full talent potential.
e.g. My son comes into to pitch with the bases loaded late in a game with a one run lead. Proceeds to hit the batter with the first pitch he threw. After the game I asked what happened. He tells me that while warming up on the mound all kept saying to himself was "don't hit this batter, don't hit this batter." Classic situation as described in the book.
A good read for all baseball players (and parents).
The book gives many examples on how to overcome the mental part of the game.
Negative thoughts lead to negative results and visa versa whether hitting, pitching or fielding. The book gives ways to handle the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
I think overcoming the mental challenges of baseball makes a player reach his full talent potential.
e.g. My son comes into to pitch with the bases loaded late in a game with a one run lead. Proceeds to hit the batter with the first pitch he threw. After the game I asked what happened. He tells me that while warming up on the mound all kept saying to himself was "don't hit this batter, don't hit this batter." Classic situation as described in the book.
A good read for all baseball players (and parents).
For me, the mental part of hitting is defined with a word fillsfan used above, "confidence".
MY DEFINITION OF CONFIDENCE;
Take a naturally athletic player. Show them proper methods. Reinforce the teaching of sound mechanics with hours of quality repetition in a variety of conditions and you develop, "confidence". NOW your mentally prepared to hit!
Seems like a lot of stuff to go through just to be successful approximately 3 out of every 10 attempts, huh. Just imagine what we would have to go through if the physical part of hitting wasn't so easy.
chuckle....snicker....chuckle...
MY DEFINITION OF CONFIDENCE;
Take a naturally athletic player. Show them proper methods. Reinforce the teaching of sound mechanics with hours of quality repetition in a variety of conditions and you develop, "confidence". NOW your mentally prepared to hit!
Seems like a lot of stuff to go through just to be successful approximately 3 out of every 10 attempts, huh. Just imagine what we would have to go through if the physical part of hitting wasn't so easy.
chuckle....snicker....chuckle...
quote:Originally posted by fillsfan:
There is a very good book called The Mental Game of Baseball by HA Dorfman. Book gives many case studies of MLBers who need help with the mental or confidence side of their game. Even high level pros can lack confidence and doubt their abilities.
The book gives many examples on how to overcome the mental part of the game.
Negative thoughts lead to negative results and visa versa whether hitting, pitching or fielding. The book gives ways to handle the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
I think overcoming the mental challenges of baseball makes a player reach his full talent potential.
e.g. My son comes into to pitch with the bases loaded late in a game with a one run lead. Proceeds to hit the batter with the first pitch he threw. After the game I asked what happened. He tells me that while warming up on the mound all kept saying to himself was "don't hit this batter, don't hit this batter." Classic situation as described in the book.
A good read for all baseball players (and parents).
Dorfman's book is an excellent read and I think a player must avail himself of all resources to help him reach his full potential. There is also an excellent book available at amazon.com titled Mastering The Mental Side Of Pitching. It explains how the hemispheres of the brain influence how well or poorly you pitch and how stress affects the physical body during the pitching motion.
Also, your son was focused on not hitting the batter, instead of throwing strikes, and that's why he hit the batter. Your body will focus on whatever you are focused on. Is the glass half empty or half full?
OK2Go, and I agree with the repetition idea. I believe a player gets better, or improves his game, over the winter when he properly does something hundreds or thousands of times. If a hitters gets
7000-10000 quality swings in, under the supervision of good coaches, between November and February he is improving his swing and gaining confidence.
7000-10000 quality swings in, under the supervision of good coaches, between November and February he is improving his swing and gaining confidence.
quote:Originally posted by OK2Go:
For me, the mental part of hitting is defined with a word fillsfan used above, "confidence".
MY DEFINITION OF CONFIDENCE;
Take a naturally athletic player. Show them proper methods. Reinforce the teaching of sound mechanics with hours of quality repetition in a variety of conditions and you develop, "confidence". NOW your mentally prepared to hit!
Seems like a lot of stuff to go through just to be successful approximately 3 out of every 10 attempts, huh. Just imagine what we would have to go through if the physical part of hitting wasn't so easy.
chuckle....snicker....chuckle...
I don't know if there is such a thing as a "naturally athletic player," because when we come out of the womb we don't know how to do anything. Everything we know was learned from someone or some experience we had.
I agree with you about "hours of quality repetition in a variety of conditions." The one thing I would add is the use of imagination for the variety of conditions. When you use your imagination you are going to access the same information from your subconscious mind as if you were doing it.
For instance, when you are at batting practice imagine that it's the bottom of the 9th and the winning run is on third and that CC Sabathia is pitching to you. Take your swing and see what happens. If you hit a good one, chances are you will hit a good one during a "real" situation. (I realize the pitches aren't coming 95 miles per hour, but it doesn't matter because your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference) If you hit a good one move to another pressure game situation and repeat the process.
Please remember that confidence is a mental trait and using you imagination is one way to give yourself a mental workout during batting practice which will help you mentally prepare for an upcoming game.
quote:Originally posted by fillsfan:
OK2Go, and I agree with the repetition idea. I believe a player gets better, or improves his game, over the winter when he properly does something hundreds or thousands of times. If a hitters gets
7000-10000 quality swings in, under the supervision of good coaches, between November and February he is improving his swing and gaining confidence.
Please read the response to OK2Go dated December 13,2008.
quote:Originally posted by OLDSLUGGER8:
Its no secret I am from the school of hitters are born. It starts there, and snowballs into greater success or ultimate failure if the ability to adjust is lacking.
Mental approach to me means mental preparation, but the trigger is still a physical response, and some do it better than others.
Some simple and crude examples are this:
Assume the player has the required physical aspects, such as solid hand-eye and twitch muscle capability. He also has the power, the short to-long follow technique downpat. It all comes down to approach.
Say the pitcher knows anything downtown will be launched into orbit. The ultimate goal of the pitcher becomes junk and location, and an out-of-zone fastball to keep things honest.
What does the hitter do? What does the cerebral hitter do?
This is why MLB looks for pole-2-pole power, using the whole field, ability to turn on a fastball(mistake pitch), and so on.
You can teach mental approach, but the hitter needs the physical gifts to pull off all those adjustments, 1/3 of the time.
The easy way out is too sit on the junk.
I agree about the physical attributes. However, "It is not what you are doing, bur where you are doing it." For instance, you take a player with the best hitting attributes and abilities and have him lead off in the first inning. Mentally there is no pressure and maybe 3 out of 10 at bats he will get a hit. Put that same player in the game bottom of the 9th with the winning run on third and his performance will be predicated on how he handles that situation mentally. Whatever is going on mentally for that player will dictate how well or how poorly he performs in that situation.
(You must also understand that the pitcher is having to deal with the same pressure situation as the batter)
quote:Originally posted by ILVBB:
I am going to take a different tack with this discussion.
I am big believer in hitters are "trained" to hit. I know, what an obvious statement. However, most people really don't think about how and when kids learn.
I can remember many a little league game with parents yelling "a walk is as good as a hit." A true statement, but what is the message that they are passing on to an 8-12 year old? The kid is sitting there, not wanting to make a mistake, not wanting to strike out and what does he do? He freezes. After a while this becomes part of his learned behavior, if I don't swing maybe I will walk. Or alternatively, maybe I will wait until I have 2 strikes and take a swing then.
I go back to my years of coaching, I tried to instill in kids, that hitting was fun. Go up there take a hack, if you hit the ball hard you accomplished something. The message was fundementally different, the game is tough enough, why let kids worry about making a mistake when it is suppose to be fun.
Moving foward several years latter, my son has taken that basic premise to his college level game. His purpose when he steps into the batters box is hit the ball hard. He has learned the numbers of the game better and become more selective, but he still goes up with the "I am going to knock the cover off the ball attitude." It is a simple philosophy, but if you make too much of the game you loose the joy with that failure starts to get the better of you.
So much for in-depth "psycho nonsense."
I agree with everything you said. I believe the last thing a child should be told before he enters the batters' box is "Do your best." If the child strikes out simply say, "You did your best and that is all you can ask of yourself." If the child gets a hit, the next time he is in the dugout tell him, "You should be very proud of yourself."
Little League children are in what is referred to as the "egocentric stage" of their development. They are incredibly vulnerable to everything they hear. An excellent book that might help explain this phenomenon is available at amazon.com called Mastering The Mental Side Of Hitting.
There is also another great book that will help you communicate with children (as well as adults) available at amazon.com. It is called How To Talk So Kids Will Listen, And Listen So Kids Will Talk.
hkrelax - your first two posts started out a little rocky but since then have been excellent. You can be a positive force here on the hsbbweb and I'll also consider visiting your website.
Question - bottom of the ninth, two outs, guy on third base with tying run. Assume both the pitcher and the hitter are using every mental tool in the book and are both operating with 100% confidence and mental visualiizations in that situation. Which one wins? Do we just go back to the tried and true baseball percentages at that point and predict the hitter will have about a 30% chance to succeed?
Obviously, it is unlikely that two players would ever be so equally matched mentally so someone who might brush off the mental side training might in fact be placing themselves at a disadvantage.
Question - bottom of the ninth, two outs, guy on third base with tying run. Assume both the pitcher and the hitter are using every mental tool in the book and are both operating with 100% confidence and mental visualiizations in that situation. Which one wins? Do we just go back to the tried and true baseball percentages at that point and predict the hitter will have about a 30% chance to succeed?
Obviously, it is unlikely that two players would ever be so equally matched mentally so someone who might brush off the mental side training might in fact be placing themselves at a disadvantage.
I watched the YouTube video, and I must say I am deeply skeptical.
You claim you can detect a "weak muscle response" when the subject is under emotional stress, by applying downward pressure on the outstretched arm. Looked to me as if you just pushed harder on the arm when you wanted to claim a weak muscle response.
You also claimed to be able to detect something about the brain hemisphere by touching either side of the head. Not sure what you were detecting there. It seemed very Spock-like.
You also claim that "the body remembers everything ever done to it." I'm not sure what that really means either.
Don't take this wrong - I enjoy talking about the mental side of hitting. But I was completely unconvinced about your theory of hemispheric kinesiology.
You claim you can detect a "weak muscle response" when the subject is under emotional stress, by applying downward pressure on the outstretched arm. Looked to me as if you just pushed harder on the arm when you wanted to claim a weak muscle response.
You also claimed to be able to detect something about the brain hemisphere by touching either side of the head. Not sure what you were detecting there. It seemed very Spock-like.
You also claim that "the body remembers everything ever done to it." I'm not sure what that really means either.
Don't take this wrong - I enjoy talking about the mental side of hitting. But I was completely unconvinced about your theory of hemispheric kinesiology.
Please note that what you saw was an excerpt. The DVD Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life is 90 minutes long and is much more comprehensive than the excerpt. It explains the conscious and subconscious mind; the critical factor; critical factor bypass; the egocentric stage of developent; muscle testing; the right and left hemispheres of the brain; stress; synthesizing events; how brain dominance adversely affects what we do whether its swinging a bat or throwing a baseball.
Unfortunately Hemispheric Kinesiology will not resonate with everyone. I sincerely appreciate your feed back.
Unfortunately Hemispheric Kinesiology will not resonate with everyone. I sincerely appreciate your feed back.
quote:Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
hkrelax - your first two posts started out a little rocky but since then have been excellent. You can be a positive force here on the hsbbweb and I'll also consider visiting your website.
Question - bottom of the ninth, two outs, guy on third base with tying run. Assume both the pitcher and the hitter are using every mental tool in the book and are both operating with 100% confidence and mental visualiizations in that situation. Which one wins? Do we just go back to the tried and true baseball percentages at that point and predict the hitter will have about a 30% chance to succeed?
Obviously, it is unlikely that two players would ever be so equally matched mentally so someone who might brush off the mental side training might in fact be placing themselves at a disadvantage.
When we are dealing with the mind we are dealing with something we cannot see. Although I cannot see a player's mind, I can see what kinds of experiences that mind is creating.
For instance, if a player can only bat .200 in a season, I have to assume that he has information stored in his mind that supports him in doing that or he would be doing something else.
I also agree with you that it is highly unlikely that both pitcher and batter will be in the same place mentally. Whoever is the most relaxed will get the upper hand because when you are relaxed your brain functions at maximum capacity and that is when you experience peak performance.