Understanding the difference between intuitive and intrusive thoughts can significantly impact a hitter’s performance and overall development.
Intuitive Thoughts
Being intuitive means having the ability to understand or know things without needing proof or evidence. Intuitive thinking involves going with one’s first instinct and making quick decisions based on automatic cognitive processes.
This type of thinking is best developed during our Assessment Phase from August to October. During this phase, my hitters experiment with various techniques to discover what works best for them. They might try different load styles like a hand drop load, high leg, or toe tap in my Hitting Lab.
The goal is to foster athleticism, which I define as the ability to succeed even without knowing exactly how.
This phase encourages them to become critical thinkers who understand their bodies and minds, allowing them to make rapid adjustments and avoid becoming robotic in their movements.
Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts, on the other hand, are unwanted, involuntary, and often disturbing thoughts or images that enter the mind. These thoughts typically arise during performance when confidence is lacking. Confidence, in my view, is knowing you can accomplish something because you’ve done it before.
To combat intrusive thoughts, I create high-stress scenarios in my Hitting Lab using tools like a Tanner Tee and baseballs that simulate facing a pitcher with an above-average fastball and off-speed pitches. My philosophy is that training should be tougher than the actual test. Hitters who are well-trained will respond to intrusive thoughts with the appropriate adjustments and fundamental skills.
Development Phases
– Assessment Phase (August-October): Experimenting with new techniques to find out what works.
– Engagement and Build Phase (November-January): Building habits and strength.
– Empowerment and Conversion Phase (February- April): Converting habits into skills.
– Application and Maintenance Phase (May-July): Applying and maintaining the skills developed throughout the year.
Regular, quality training minimizes the frequency and impact of intrusive thoughts, enabling hitters to perform confidently and instinctively under pressure.
- Can you describe a time when you trusted your first instinct while playing baseball? How did it turn out?
- What new techniques or skills have you tried recently? How did experimenting with them help you understand your abilities better?
- How do you handle unwanted or negative thoughts during a game? What strategies do you use to stay focused?
- In what ways has training in stressful scenarios helped you perform better during actual games?
- Can you think of a moment when your confidence came from knowing you had practiced and succeeded before? How did that confidence impact your performance?
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C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.
