Ask any baseball player or coach about the importance of a good mental approach, and most will agree that it plays an enormous role in a player’s success.
When a pitcher is really confident and performing at their best, we talk about them being “in the zone” or “in the groove.”
Yogi Berra went so far as to say that “90% of the game is mental,” before famously adding “the other half is physical.”
OK, so his math isn’t perfect. But it’s easy to see what he was getting at—even if he was half kidding (and 90% serious).
True, you don’t throw the ball with your brain—but if how you think and feel isn’t helping your pitching performance, it’s hindering it.
The ability to stay calm and focused, make timely adjustments, and manage emotions are all key elements of success in sports. When a pitcher is able to stay relaxed and focused despite the pressure, they are more likely to perform at a higher level, both in games and during training.
The same goes for any sport—”mentally tough” athletes are the ones who succeed.
It’s even true in many other areas of life: If you can learn to control your thoughts, focus on the task at hand, stay positive, and most importantly trust yourself, you’ll be one step closer to achieving success.
But when it comes to pitching specifically, the mental approach is one of the most important elements for success. To become a better pitcher, you must develop the mental strength and focus that will enable you to pitch with confidence.
It’s not all mental—physical technique and form is extremely important, too. And you obviously need to be in good physical shape to be a great pitcher.
But developing a strong mental approach is what can set you apart from the rest. It’s the factor that will determine how successful you are in sports, and it’s something that every pitcher should evaluate in themselves and work on as appropriate.
Mental Training Techniques for Pitchers
Visualization
Visualization involves using your imagination to create a vivid picture of yourself throwing strikes or getting outs. This technique has been used by professional athletes for decades because it helps build confidence and focus on the task at hand. Visualization gives you an idea of what success looks like, which can help you stay motivated when faced with tough challenges during games.
Breathing Exercises
Another way that pitchers can train mentally is by doing breathing exercises before each game or practice session. Taking deep breaths helps relax your body and mind, allowing you to stay focused on the task ahead without unnecessary distractions or worries creeping in. Breathing exercises also help regulate your heart rate so that you don’t get too anxious before taking the mound.
Self-Talk
A third way to improve as a pitchers is to practice positive self-talk. This involves speaking positively to yourself both before and after games—even when things don’t go your way—in order to keep yourself motivated and focused on improving your skillset over time. Positive self-talk can be anything from reminding yourself of past successes to focusing on specific strengths that you bring to the table as a pitcher.
The Bottom Line
Pitchers need more than just physical strength and skill if they want to reach peak performance levels; they also need strong mental training techniques such as visualization, breathing exercises, and positive self-talk in order to stay focused and confident during games.
All athletes should strive for this level of focus if they want consistent success out—no matter what the sport. But pitchers in particular need to hone their mental game if they want to take their performance and success to the highest levels.
By practicing focus, visualization, positive self talk, and developing mental toughness, pitchers of all levels can perform like stars every time they step onto the mound.
