Aspects of Mental Fortitude in Baseball

Baseball along with all other sports, demands not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Building confidence is one main aspects of being successful in baseball. This can be done using numerous tactics. The particular section that I focused on in "The Mental Game of Baseball" had to do with visualization techniques.

By practicing with visualization techniques, you form good habits

Typically, visualization is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about baseball. This was especially true for me. I never really thought of visualization as an important aspect of the game and treated it as a strange and taboo gimmick more than a real, working practice. I also believed that I didn't possess the time and energy to practice a new skill because of school work and other activities, especially when I thought it was going to be a waste of time. Dorfman and Kuehl would say the opposite of me. They claim that visualization is an actual method of practicing successful baseball habits and will improve performance. Both authors say that if you see and feel yourself playing the way that you want to, it can be as rewarding as it is relaxing and can be practiced anywhere at anytime. (148) I tend to have trouble locating problems in my swing. Dorfman and Kuehl's writing has really helped me so far by allowing me to visualize my swing the right way before actually performing it. Using

Success in games is a result of practicing visualization

One of the many techniques for successful visualization is replaying past effective performances. By replaying the right things that you have done, you can make these successful attributes of your playing habitual and repeat the right things, as well as dismiss the wrong things. "See and feel yourself performing just the way that you wish to. Do it again-and again. Keep your attention directed to this practice as you would want to keep your attention during the real practice." (148) In my practices, I keep the mental images of me doing things the right way in mind, so I can successfully perform in games and strengthen my skills as a baseball player.

Would you agree with Dorfman and Kuehl that visualization is more than just a gimmick?

Dorfman, H. A., and Karl Kuehl. The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance. Lanham, MD: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.