Entries by actualize studio

4 Keys for Pitching Success

The start of spring training  signifies the beginning of a new baseball season is upon us.  Pitchers and catchers of all ages, and levels, are starting to “dust off the cobwebs” so to speak, from months of not competing.

The Power of Language

There is a Japanese proverb which says the tongue is 3 inches long, but can take down a man 6 feet tall. Our words, spoken and unspoken, are incredibly powerful. One of my pet peeves when it comes to the language pitchers use is how they respond to the question, “when are you pitching”? The majority of pitchers at any level, will respond by saying, “I am throwing” tomorrow. It drives me crazy.

Perception and Performance

I have talked with many pitchers over the years who admit to me they always try to be perfect on the mound. By that, I mean they want every pitch to be located with precision, every play to be made behind them, every call to go for them.

Silencing the Inner Critic

Sometimes the greatest enemy we compete against during competition is not our opponent, but the thoughts bouncing around in our own mind. I would dare say that when you look back at your best performances and your worst performances, the biggest difference between the two was the variation in the way you talked to yourself.

Mind Wandering

How often do you find yourself in the midst of an activity, no matter what it is, only to find your mind wandering away from the present moment? Perhaps you’re on the mound pitching, but your mind is thinking about something else. Maybe you are with your wife, or girlfriend, watching a movie, but you are thinking about your next start. Our minds do wander from time to time, it happens to us all.