SCROLL
Mindful Hitting
​​
Create Consistent Timing and Bring More Awareness to Your swing
ABOUT
Being mindful is about awareness. As hitters, we need to be conscious of our body throughout the swing, a task that is much easier said than done. I believe that the most crucial aspects of hitting are the load and timing, as the load constitutes the initial movement of our swing and timing dictates whether our body has a chance to do what it is trained to do or not. If these two pieces aren't consistent, mechanics tend to break down.
​
In group seminars and hitting sessions, the goal is to provide athletes with a concrete understanding of timing and what a strong load feels like for each individual hitter. Once hitters comprehend the significance of timing and how it establishes the foundation of the swing, athletes can better grasp why their swing succeeds or breaks down. Often, hitters are simply informed that they are late, or face other surface level issues in their swings without a true understanding or feel for the reasons behind these problems. Once they grasp how to properly evaluate their timing, athletes can more easily adjust their own swings, developing a better feel for their bodies.
​
I frequently pose questions to hitters to help them understand the feel of their swing. If hitters are consistently given instructions without understanding, they will never fully take ownership of their swing, fostering dependency on others. The goal is to help athletes develop their own thoughts and feelings about their swings, enabling quicker adjustments during games. ​Most all hitters are late to some extent, which is why the game of baseball is so hard. Yet the idea of timing is sort of thrown around as if no one really has a distinct answer of how to be on time consistently. In the big leagues, successful hitters know how to synchronize with the pitcher, seeking specific points to match up. This is the focus of our discussions and hitting sessions.
​
These concepts are applicable to any mechanics that hitters are currently working on, as the intention is not to change a player's swing but to assist them in achieving consistent timing and to increase swing efficiency. With improved timing comes heightened awareness, leading to greater success.
Services
Group Seminar
Hitting seminar focused on timing and load. Understanding how to get on time consistently with our load is key to creating a more efficient swing and gives us the ability to make quicker adjustments. If you are interested in a seminar please reach out for details and scheduling.
Serving King and Pierce County.
​
Community (Beta Testing)
Nostr is a new form of social media where we will be hosting a Hitting Mastermind community. This will be an open forum to discuss hitting, ask questions and try new ideas at no cost. To try it out, download Damus from the Apple store or Amethyst from Google Play, create an account and search for "HittingMastermind" in the community section.
Group Seminar and Hitting
This option is for a group that wants to take swings after the seminar on timing and load, to get a better feel for the information. Additional hitting sessions are always an option. For questions and details please send an email.
Serving King and Pierce County.
​
Text Services
Have a hitting question? Need a drill, or just want to chat about your swing? Try a text service for 10 cents ($.10) per message. You will receive a response within 24 hours.
​
(360) 226-6675
Instructor
Brady Steiger
Brady is a former professional athlete who spent two years in the New York Yankees organization. He graduated from South Kitsap High School and went on to play at Washington State University, Sierra College and Lewis Clark State. Brady has been coaching baseball and fitness for over 10 years. His passion is helping athletes achieve their goals by distilling difficult concepts into easy to understand information so athletes can perform at their highest level.
Book Recommendations
The Way of Baseball: Finding Stillness at 95mph - by Shawn Green
This book is a fascinating read for any player aspiring to succeed at the next level. Shawn Green shares his journey through the ups and downs of Major League Baseball, including doubts, hard work, friendships, setbacks, and successes. He delves into the mental side of the game, explaining how he transformed hitting into a form of meditation. By finding stillness amidst the chaos, he learned to truly connect with his swing and block out negative thoughts. This exploration of mindfulness and focus is invaluable for athletes looking to enhance their performance.
The Art of Learning - by Josh Waitzkin
In 'The Art of Learning,' Josh Waitzkin shares his journey from becoming the youngest Grandmaster in chess to winning a world championship in Tai Chi. This book transformed my perspective on failure, illustrating how Waitzkin turned every mistake and loss into a valuable learning experience. As athletes, especially hitters, the ability to learn and adjust quickly without being overwhelmed by failure is crucial. Waitzkin's insights helped me reframe failure as an opportunity for growth, When you take this approach, your mental game takes a giant leap forward.
​
The Inner Game of Tennis - by Timothy Gallwey
This book explores the mental game of tennis, focusing on the concept of two selves. Self 1 is the ego, constantly comparing you to others and criticizing your performance, while Self 2 is the instinctive self that simply acts. If Self 2 were always in charge, achieving a state of 'being in the Zone' would come naturally. Athletes often find these two selves in conflict, with Self 1 dominating and creating doubt and overthinking. Tim Gallwey guides athletes across all sports on how to quiet Self 1, allowing their natural athleticism to flourish free from comparisons and mental barriers. This is a must-read for any athlete who struggles with letting their mind interfere with their performance.
Mindfulness in Plain English - Bhante Gunaratana
It may seem unusual to include a book about meditation here without direct references to sports, but as athletes progress to higher levels, their thoughts can become more complex and chaotic, and the pressures they face in both sport and life increase. Meditation offers a way to clear those thoughts and find stillness, which can be beneficial not only in life but also on the field. Being able to return to your breath and stay present during high-pressure moments can give you an edge over players who are nervous and overwhelmed. I know I played with a lot of fear growing up, and meditation would have helped in those situations. This is one of the best and simplest books on meditation I have read, providing a great starting point for anyone interested in taking that first step.
​​
The Mindful Athlete - by George Mumford
"George Mumford worked with championship NBA teams, including the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, as well as legendary athletes like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. His role was to help players enhance their mental game at the highest level of sports. Mumford taught them about meditation and the importance of maintaining a clear mind, as a clouded mindset can lead to poor performance. When athletes are fully present and enjoying the process of competition, they can achieve a state of flow, often referred to as being 'in the zone.' This state allows for incredible displays of athleticism and performance. Overall, the book emphasizes how mindfulness can transform not only athletic performance but also the athletes' approach to their sport and life.
​​
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable - by Tim Grover
This book serves as a gut check for any athlete seeking to understand the work ethic of the top one percent. Tim Grover, who trained legends like Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade, shares his experiences working with the best athletes in the world and what truly separates them from the rest. Grover introduces concepts like 'cleaners,' 'closers,' and 'beginners' to illustrate different levels of commitment and performance. Just when you think you're working hard, this book puts things into perspective, showing what it really means to give your all in your sport. If you're willing to embrace the challenge, you'll gain a deeper understanding of relentless dedication and what it takes to reach the highest levels of achievement.
Want to leave a tip? We accept Bitcoin!
