Episode 16 - Visualization

Visualization is a powerful tool to help you prepare to compete in baseball. It is used at advanced levels of baseball, but is rarely taught to high school and youth players. Visualization is essentially playing baseball in your own mind. Done effectively, it prepares you to step on the field and directly impacts muscle memory and the mind-body connection, which is so important in baseball. There are two types of visualization in baseball. Visualizing a situation - like standing in the batter’s box or on the mound. This is done with as much breadth and detail as possible. The player tries to totally create the entire scene in his head - using all senses, sight, sound, smell, taste and feel. The second type of visualization is performance-based, where the player actually visualizes the act of hitting the ball, throwing the pitch or fielding the ball. This is more narrowly focused visualization that directly links vision with muscles. Both are important tools to help players improve mental toughness.