What Really Causes Hitting Slumps? 25 Things That Can Ruin a Batting Average and a Baseball Season

Stopping a Hitting Slump That Can Ruin a Batting Average
By Jay Granat

Mark Teixeira, of The New York Yankees a great hitter with lots of runs batted in and a fine batting average is in a slump right now. David Wright, of the New York Mets just got out of one.

Over the years, baseball players of all levels struggling with hitting slumps have come to talk to me. Slumps can frustrate and impact major league players, college players, high school players and little league players.

Batting slumps can also create stress for parents, owners, athletic directors and
owners of teams. They can shatter a player's confidence, especially if they last for a long period of time.

The causes of hitting slumps are not always mechanical. In fact, many players with fine swings go through bad periods of hitting.

Last year, I gave a lecture to The New Jersey Pilots Baseball Team. I outlined the
causes of most slumps in that talk. It is very important for players, coaches and parents to understand the issues which can contribute to poor hitting by talented baseball players.

Here is a list of some of the major causes of batting downturns that I have seen over the years.
1. Being hit by a pitch
2. A physical injury
3. Choking or performing poorly in a big game.
4. Loss of confidence
5. Loss of focus
6. Failure to keep good records on pitchers
7. A breakdown in mechanics
8. An unwarranted change in mechanics
9. Feeling criticized by a coach
10. Feeling criticized by a parent
11. Burnout
12. Swinging at pitches out of the strike zone
13. Loss of patience
14. Alcohol abuse or substance abuse
15. Failure to recognize and understand your strengths and limitations
16. Inability to relax at the plate
17. Little or no training in the mental aspects of hitting
18. Lack of a clear approach when you step up to the plate
19. Anxiety in the dugout, on deck circle or batter's box
20. A vision problem which needs correction
21. An abundance of self-criticism
22. Perfectionism and unwillingness to try a new approach
23. Conflicting advice from coaches
24. Difficulty adjusting to play at a higher level
25. Stress, conflicts, family problems and personal problems off the field

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com. 101 Ways To Break A Hitting Slump and a Free Book is available at this link: http://www.stayinthezone.com/shop-stay-in-the-zone.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=21
Dr. Granat can be reached at 888 580-ZONE.

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