If I had a dollar for every time someone emailed me last week about how they can see the ball better out of the pitcher's hand...

...I'd have 5 bucks. Yup.

I counted all the emails I responded to last week, and I came across this question 5Xs, and my answer was the same.

"Keep a soft vs hard gaze on the pitcher during their wind up and keep your finger on the swing trigger."

One of them said, "no chance it's that easy."

Then I said. "Of course not, Dufus! You only have 400 ms to recognize the spin, speed and location of the pitch. I never said it would be easy. But it's how the elite of the elite hitters do it!!"

Okay, I didn't even call them a "Dufus". But I did say, "It's a skill they can learn on any device."

Break the rules...

If you can’t solve a problem, sometimes it’s because you’re playing by the rules.

Sometimes we fall short of our abilities as a hitter because we're trying to hit like someone else or apply the cookie-cutter mechanics of a micro-managing coach.

Modeling other players is valuable.

Being coachable is also valuable.

But sometimes, you gotta just say "yes, sir" to coaching, and then trust your gut and do your own thing when it's time to execute.

Don't be afraid to go against conventions to find your swing.

Go against the grain. Pursue the counterintuitive.

If all hitters followed the rules, there would be no Ichiro Suzuki, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Youkilis, Jeff Bagwell, etc.

Some swings you can't teach, but the mentality and mindset can be embodied.

Go break some rules today.

What's your approach?

See how others answered on Social.  Instagram | Facebook

Here's a hint: "99.9999999% of the time, the pitcher will throw the pitch they have the MOST command of, in this situation.."

Things I'd Like to Share:

Clip: Soft vs Hard Focus Explained.

Clip: Swing Trigger Explained.

From My Journal: On Hard Work - When you redefine hard work as something that is objectively, relatively, and uniquely true to you, built by elements within your control, involves resistance practice, and moves you towards the edge, it will be impossible for you to fail.

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