Last week, we discussed why building habits is far more effective than relying on hope. Now let’s break down how to build habits that last and ensure your offseason work translates into success when it matters most.
The Anatomy of a Habit
To build a habit, you must understand its structure:
- Cue: The trigger that initiates the habit.
- Routine: The behavior or action performed.
- Reward: The benefit gained from completing the action.
Most hitters spend nearly 48% of their time in the winter focusing on their routine—repeating their load, working on their swing. Another 48% is spent on the reward—hitting the ball hard and seeing results. That leaves only about 2% of their time spent on the cue.
And here’s the problem: pitchers control the cues in games. They change pitch types, speeds, and locations. If you don’t learn to adjust to those cues, your habits won’t hold up under pressure.
To build true habits, hitters must focus on all three elements—especially the cues—so they can adapt and succeed in real-game situations.
Deliberate Practice: The Dentist Analogy
Habit-building isn’t just about showing up and swinging a bat. It must be as deliberate as a visit to the dentist. When you go to the dentist, you’re not there for casual conversation. You expect a professional to examine your teeth, identify problems, and provide a strategy to fix them. You want precision, professionalism, and purpose.
The same level of focus is required in the batting tunnel. Just taking random swings off a tee isn’t deliberate practice—it’s going through the motions. Without a plan, you’re not building habits that can sustain you in high-pressure situations.
What Does Deliberate Habit-Building Look Like?
- A Clear Goal – Know what you’re working on before you take your first swing. Is it tempo? Bat path? Tracking?
- Purposeful Reps – Every swing should have intent. It’s not about quantity; it’s about quality.
- Feedback & Adjustment – Like a dentist with X-rays, assess your progress regularly and adjust your approach as needed.
Build, Don’t Hope
This winter, shift your focus from hoping to building:
- Commit to a daily routine that challenges both your body and your mind.
- Discipline yourself to show up and give your best, even on days when you don’t feel like it.
- Pay attention to the cues you’ll face in games and practice responding to them.
- Repeat these actions tens of thousands of times until they become second nature.
When spring arrives, you don’t want to step into the batter’s box relying on hope. You want to walk up with confidence, knowing you’ve built the habits that will lead to success. Hope is fleeting, but habits are lasting.
This winter, make the choice to be deliberate. Build over hope, because in baseball—and in life—building is the only winning strategy.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today.
If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.
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.
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