Willie M

Hitting from the Neck Up

The eight mental points that have helped develop discipline and confidence

EVEN THOUGH THE art of hitting occurs in a fragment of time and relies predominantly on instinct and reaction, a hitter can prepare herself for a successful at bat with the proper mental approach.

Ted Williams calls it "hitting from the neck up" -- the mental side that often spells the difference between an average hitter and a good hitter and between a good hitter and a great hitter.

We believe that this philosophy has made tough outs out of everyone in our batting order. In the first season we implemented it (1997), our team B.A. jumped nearly 60 points and our home-run production soared from 7 to a record-breaking 40.

"Hitting from the neck up" can be broken down into eight segments:

1. Have a goal in mind every time you have a bat in your hands.

When hitting off a tee or in the cage, focus on your mechanics or anything else that you would like to improve, such as finishing high on your follow-through.

Never waste any potentially valuable swings by simply going through the motions. You can always find something to work on -- driving the ball to the right side of the diamond, advancing a runner, or lofting a fly ball to the outfield to score a runner on third.

Whatever the situation, you should always have a goal or a purpose in mind when hitting.

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses as a hitter.

One of the most important steps in becoming a good hitter is to learn what kind of hitter you should try to be. All hitters have strengths and weaknesses. Good hitters know what pitches they hit best and what kind of style they should adopt.

Some guys are power hitters. Others are single hitters. Both have a place in the lineup and a specific role.

The quickest way for a hitter to slump or fail is by striving to be something she isn't. She must listen to what his body is telling her.

I'm not suggesting that a smaller player should forget about hitting for power. It's simply that the guys who are good at it are usually built for it and have probably worked a long time at it.

Before you can become a complete hitter, you have to discover your strengths and your style, take advantage of them, and then work at eliminating your weaknesses.

3. Know the count and what it means to you.

We don't believe in guessing what the pitcher will throw, but to use the count to help you "sit" on certain pitches.

Early in the count, look for a pitch in your zone that you can really drive.

Lay off tough or nasty strikes that you may not be able to hit hard.

If you fall behind in the count, you must expand your strike zone somewhat to keep from getting caught looking.

When you're down in the count, it's important to concentrate on staying back just a fraction of a second longer and to shorten your swing, since the pitcher is more likely to throw something off-speed. Stay back but be ready to react quickly to the fastball if he throws it.

When the pitcher is behind 2-0 or 3-1, you can afford to be very selective and again look for a fastball in your zone.

If it's not a pitch you can hammer, you can afford to take it and still have a favorable count. Know the count and adjust your mental approach accordingly throughout your at bat.

4. Swing at strikes in batting practice.

Discipline should not be reserved for game time. Create it and cultivate it every time you take B.P. It's not easy to take pitches in B.A., but it is essential to anyone who wants to be the best hitter she can be.

Good hitting is a habit. Swinging at balls out of the strike zone in B.P. is a bad habit, leading inevitably to bad hitting.

5. Be willing to accept a walk.

This is related to number four. Good hitting involves minimizing outs and helping your team win. Walking accomplishes both. Walks not only create baserunners, but wear down the opposing pitcher.

Walking also shows the pitcher that you are disciplined and that she will have to throw you strikes. This will help you get a better pitch to hit.

6. Believe you can hit every pitcher you face.

Confidence is one of the most important things a hitter can bring with him to the plate. You always have to believe that you are better than the pitcher. Any time you overrate the pitcher or have the slightest bit of fear, you're as good as out.

Pitchers rarely make great pitches. Many batters put themselves out because of a mechanical problem or because they are not mentally ready to hit. They must bring a sense of confidence with them to the plate.

7. Study the pitch every chance you get.

Always watch the opposing pitcher warm up before the game. Get to know his release point and what pitches she likes to throw. The more you see of a pitcher before you step in against him, the easier she will be to hit.

If you're leading off the inning, get as close as you can to the batter's box to get the best possible look at the pitcher's warm-up throws. Little things like that can give you enough of an advantage to win the battle against him.

8. High batting averages do not necessarily equate with good hitting.

As Rod Crew puts it: "First and foremost, the good hitter does whatever it takes to help his team win ball games. That is why you go to the plate -- to help your team win."

Good hitters simply meet the ball harder and more often than other hitters. They do not get caught up in the numbers game and stats. They keep putting the bat on the ball and moving up the runners and bringing them in. That wins ball games, and the good hitters let the stats take care of themselves.

A strong body and a quick bat, reinforced with the right mental approach and a strong work ethic, will produce the clout at the plate that you need to score runs and win games.