Posted by: Ernest Solivan (info@hk-technology.com) on Fri Mar 30 12:19:57 2007

> How come I hammmer the ball in BP but in a game I can't hit? Sometimes in a game I kinda freeze when he pitches, I don't get my feet and legs in a good hitting position, therfore no hips, all arms, my arms extend too early, plus I miss the ball entirely?
> But sometimes I get good mechanics and sometimes I don't. Is there anyreason why? Is it because I'm not focused or because I haven't practiced this swing enuff to have it automatic to me?
> What can I do to rid this problem?

The problem is stress! When stress is present in a hitter's body it causes one of both hemispheres of the brain to weaken or switch off. Since the brain controls all movement in the body, the batter's mechanics freeze up. When you are at batting practice there is not stress. The result is you hammer the ball. When you get into a real game situation up comes the stress and you and your mechanics freeze up.

One solution is when you are in batting practice imagine that you are facing a pitcher that usually strikes you out. That's because your subconscious mind cannot distinguish between something real or imagined. When your body can hammer the ball in batting practice imagining that a really good pitcher is pitching to you, when you get into a real game situation you will be able to hammer away.

There is also a website that offers a program for the mental part of pitching at www.hk-technology.com. They offer an 86 minute DVD that explains why you may struggle with your hitting at times and a 30 minute CD titled Becoming A 400 Hitter.