It is November. That means it is time for my hitters to start building strength and habits until the end of January. This year has been a game-changer for all of us. If you want 2021 to be great for you, it will all come down to what you know and what you do—starting right now. Think habits.
What is a habit? A habit is something you do well repeatedly without thought. This is important because many young hitters mistakenly believe that talent is the ceiling, when actually it is the floor.
Why do you need habits? The reason you need habits is because you don’t want to waste your time and energy trying to figure out what to do while you’re at the plate getting ready to hit. Remember, it takes .4 seconds to .5 seconds for an average fastball to leave the pitchers hand and cross home plate? And when the ball is within 30 feet of home plate, it is impossible to see it.
How do you create habits? You develop habits by repeatedly executing drills by the thousands of reps. Commitment and discipline are two words you must convert into action if you want to build good habits this winter. Commitment starts as a promise made to yourself for yourself. Discipline is doing what needs to be done even when you don’t want to do it.
There are seven parts of the swings. It takes 3,000 reps per part to build a habit. That’s 21,000 reps you need to execute by the end of January if you want to have a great spring season on purpose.
- Stance/Load
- Timing
- Tempo
- Tracking
- Approach
- Contact
- Extension/Finish
My best good habit is journaling daily. I have been adding one thing I learn each day to the notes section of my iPhone because I believe that success leaves clues. I am able to learn a lot about myself by reviewing my notes from the past.
My worst bad habit is texting and driving. Texting and driving is stupid, which makes me stupid. I define stupidity as knowing the right thing to do, but not doing it.
I hope you have a productive November.
To help keep your skills sharp, we have introduced a new type of Skill Build—our Virtual Skill Build, where I can help you develop hitting skills anytime, anywhere using anything. Check it out.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.
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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