What Are You Thinking?

What Are You Thinking?

Major league baseball players often place weights on their bats while in the “on deck” circle preparing to go to bat. The philosophy is that the bat will be lighter without the weights, therefore their swing will be faster and better able to hit a fastball.

Data analysis showed that there is zero correlation between those using weights and those not using weights in terms of hitting effectiveness, and even those who sometimes use weights and sometimes do not, show no variation.

Not all habits and symbolism are helpful. I’m religious, but I’ve always found a basketball player making the sign of the cross before a free throw (foul shot) to be ridiculous and even disrespectful, and of course, there’s no correlation there, either, with effectiveness.

At high levels of performance, it’s what’s in your mind that makes the difference, in sports and in business (and in life). That’s why I hate golf (too much work) but love to watch professional golfers during the final round of a tournament. Their physical ability is controlled by their minds and their ability to deal with the pressure of the moment successfully. Only the greatest among them (Snead, Palmer, Niklaus, Woods) have been able to consistently accomplish this.

True champions don’t use symbolism or mythology. They’re able to focus their minds to perform at the best level under the most pressure. It’s as simple, and as difficult, as that.