Peak Pitching Performance Linked To Proper Frame Of Mind

On my journey to professional baseball just a few years ago, there wasn't much talk about the mental aspects of pitching. Aside from H. Dorfman's "The Mental Game of Baseball" (at right) and "The Mental ABC's of Pitching," both outstanding books on mental preparation for the game, most mental components of the game had to be learned on a trial-and-error basis.

Today, however, there's a proliferation of outstanding pitching advice specifically tailored to the mental attributes of successful pitching. On my LetsTalkPitching.com Baseball Forum, for example, I have an entire discussion category devoted to the mental aspects of pitching. It's headed up by Dr. Tom Hanson, a sport psychologist.

I hope you'll stop by and utilize it. It's free.

One of the most important aspects of becoming a successful pitcher is to develop a routine. Now I'm not talking about a physical routine here. I'm talking about a mental routine. One of the things I did before a game performance was close my eyes and visualize success. I saw myself throwing strikes, having fluid mechanics, releasing the baseball out in front, throwing through the catcher's glove., etc.

It helped quite a bit.

Now I know working on the mental side of the game of baseball is not entirely glamorous. After all, we're living in a results-driven society, and in mental training, the results aren't as easily apparent as, say, working out in the weight room.

However, I strongly encourage you to work on the mental side of pitching as you work on the physical aspects. You'll be amazed at how much you'll improve. Maybe not over night, but certainly down the road.