As we step into the off-season, it’s crucial to understand that November, December and January are not just months on the calendar—they’re the foundation for greatness. These are the months where habits are built, and habits are what allow us to perform consistently and instinctively under pressure.
What Are Habits?
Habits are things we do well repeatedly without thought. They’re the building blocks of success, the invisible framework that allows elite hitters to shine when the game is on the line.
But here’s the truth: It takes 3,000 reps to build a habit. That’s not a myth; it’s science. And in baseball, the swing is broken down into seven key parts. To build solid habits for your swing, you’ll need:
7 parts x 3,000 reps = 21,000 reps.
It might sound daunting, but that’s the price of being elite. The off-season is the time to put in those reps—every swing, every drill, every moment of focus is an investment in your future success.
The 7 Parts of the Swing
- Stance/Load – Your foundation, where balance and readiness begin.
- Timing – Coordinating your swing with the pitcher’s release.
- Tempo – Maintaining a smooth rhythm and flow.
- Tracking – Following the ball’s trajectory from release to contact.
- Approach – Deciding where to attack the pitch and how.
- Contact – The moment of truth, where precision and power meet.
- Extension/Finish – Driving through the ball and completing the swing with control.
Each part of the swing is essential, and each requires 3,000 reps to solidify into a habit.
The Anatomy of a Habit
Every habit is made up of three key parts:
- Cue – The trigger that initiates the habit.
- Routine – The action you repeatedly perform.
- Reward – The benefit or feeling you get from completing the habit.
For hitters, the cue might be your stance in the batter’s box, the routine is your swing mechanics, and the reward is consistent, powerful contact with the ball.
But here’s the catch: just as it takes 3,000 reps to build a good habit, some people have built a habit of not building habits. These individuals avoid the work, skip the reps, and rely on talent alone. Those are the players who will end up buying the ticket rather than being the ticket at the college or professional level.
From Habits to Skills
Come February, March, and April, it’s time to convert those habits into skills. Skills are habits performed under stress. The difference is the environment: habits are built in controlled settings, but skills are tested in the heat of competition.
Think of it this way:
- Habits = Consistency without thought.
- Skills = Consistency under pressure.
The more intentional you are in the off-season, the better prepared you’ll be to handle the stress of live pitching, game situations and high-stakes moments.
Drill Spotlight: The Andrew Beattie Drill
To help you get started, here’s one of my favorite drills for building the Load portion of your swing. It’s called the Andrew Beattie Drill, named after professional hitting coach Andrew Beattie. This drill focuses on maintaining balance, rhythm, and explosiveness during the load phase.
Check out this video for a detailed breakdown:
The Work Starts Now
Here’s the reality: success isn’t about working hard—it’s about working smart and putting in the necessary reps:
21,000 reps are the price of admission to elite performance.Habits are built during the off-season. Skills are tested in the season.
If you want to compete at the highest levels, now is the time to commit. Start building your habits today.
The question is simple: will you be the ticket or will you buy the ticket? The answer lies in the work you’re willing to do over the next few months.
21,000 reps. You better get going.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.
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.
