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According to Gary Nock, a mentality tough athlete uses the 4 D’s to be successful. They are: Desire, Dedication, Determination, and Discipline.
Desire to be best possible hitter is important to the mental game. Desire makes a player uses his ability to the fullest while developing the willingness to learn from his experiences.
Ted Williams desire was for the people to acknowledge him as the greatest hitter who ever lived. He went on to hit 406 in season and hit 344 for his career. He was known as a student of the game. When the media question Williams about what he wanted to accomplish after hitting 406. He said simply learn more and keep improving.
A hitter with desire is never satisfied with his knowledge. He seeks answers to problems and is persistant in developing his swing. The player learns how to positively deal with his emotions, uses his mental game and learns from his failures. He is forever searching for new information to improve his game.
Positive Dedication. Dedication is a hitter’s lasting commitment to the principles in practice that make him successful. He is sticking with plans for success. Even through the most difficult circumstances.
I visited the California Angels Spring Training Camp, during Rod closest career. Arrived at the baseball complex about 7 AM one morning. It was a few hours before the team actually began there practice. Rod happen to be there hitting and rookie pitcher was throwing batting practice to him.
Rod was a left hand hitter and he began to work, he was hitting balls to the opposite field. Then took pitches and hit them up the middle and finally, working pitches that he wanted to pull. I was thrilled to see a Five-Time American League Batting Champion there before all the other players working on his game. It showed the dedication of a champion.
Dedication is desire and action that a dedicated player practices the right length. He is the last one to leave the field, shows up on off days and has the willingness to make his weaknesses, his strengths.
In his book “Winning”, Stewart Walker writes, “The mentality tough competitor recognizes that his own high expectations require and justify a high investment of self. Success requires dedication and it is justified through that success.”
Determination is the will to achieve success, without concern over the time and effort. It require self motivation and a willingness to achieve success. Many athletes want to be successful but lack the commitment for total achievement. The determine hitter sets goals, establishes a plan for success, and follows through until the goals are met.
Ted Williams said, “That hitting is the most the difficult skill in all sport. It requires hard work through proper practice to achieve a player’s hitting goals. A determine player practices his physical skills and as a support of a strong mental game.
Discipline requires action. It is learning, practicing, and giving an effort. When the player does not feel like. Success comes much easier on those days when the hitter is feeling mentality and physically fit. It is a sign of greatness, when a player a performs well but is it not the top of his game.
Discipline is staying in control under pressure. In taking responsibility for your emotions. Discipline hitters release the negative thoughts and replace them with positive images. The technique used to develop this principles of discipline will be discussed in greater detail later in the video.
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