PRO BLOGS: DURAHIT | June 9th
WHY ELITE HITTERS THINK DIFFERENT
By: Greg Brown
How developing the right mindset separates good hitters from great ones
Parents invest significant time, effort, and resources into their child’s baseball development, trusting coaches to teach skills so thoroughly that performance becomes instinctive. Yet on game day, when they watch their young athlete step into the batter’s box, they often focus on mechanics—is his stance right? Are his hands positioned correctly? While technique is undeniably important, there’s a hidden element that separates elite hitters from everyone else: how they think.
At The Florida Baseball Ranch, we’ve worked with hundreds of amateur players who possess solid mechanics but struggle to perform when it matters most. The difference isn’t always physical—it’s mental. Elite hitters don’t just swing differently; they think differently.
The Two-Brain Approach to Hitting
Legendary sports psychologist Dr. Ken Ravizza identified a critical distinction that separates elite hitters from everyone else. Professional and collegiate hitters operate with what Ravizza called a “two-brain approach.”
During practice, they engage their analytical brain—breaking down mechanics, studying video, and making technical adjustments. But when they step into the box during games, they shift to their instinctive brain—trusting their preparation and reacting naturally to what they see.
Most amateur players aged 12-18 get stuck trying to use both brains simultaneously during games. As Ravizza noted, “the opponent in baseball is not the team you’re playing against; the opponent in baseball is the game and the game presents two major obstacles – boredom and frustration.” When young hitters are thinking about their elbow position while trying to recognize a curveball at 75 mph, this mental juggling act kills their natural timing and reaction speed.
The solution? Teaching young hitters when to think and when to simply react.
The Power of Process Goals vs. Outcome Goals
Here’s where most families get it wrong: they focus exclusively on results. “Did you get a hit?” “What’s your batting average?” While outcomes matter, Dr. Ravizza consistently taught that elite hitters focus primarily on process goals during their development years—what he called “controlling the controllables.”
Process goals we teach (based on Ravizza’s principles):
- “I will see the ball out of the pitcher’s hand”
- “I will take a controlled, confident swing”
- “I will compete in every at-bat regardless of the result”
Instead of outcome goals like:
- “I need to get two hits today”
- “I have to raise my batting average”
- “I can’t strike out”
When young hitters focus on what they can control (their approach, effort, and preparation), the outcomes naturally improve. These types of goals help them compete with the pitcher rather than with themselves.
Understanding Your Mental State: The Signal Light System
Dr. Ravizza developed a simple but powerful way for young hitters to understand their mental state using traffic light colors:
Green Light: You feel confident, relaxed, and physically ready—this is your peak performance state. Everything feels smooth and natural.
Yellow Light: Something has changed—you’re feeling pressure, made an error, or facing adversity, but you can still compete effectively. You may feel some tension or uncertainty, but you’re still in control.
Red Light: You’re overwhelmed, angry, or panicking—you need to reset before continuing. Your heart is racing, your thoughts are scattered, and you’re not thinking clearly.
The key insight? Elite hitters don’t try to always stay in green (that’s impossible). Instead, they learn to compete well in yellow and know how to quickly get back to green when they hit red. Most young players panic when they’re not feeling perfect, but champions know how to perform effectively in all three states.
When a hitter recognizes they’re in the red, they have tools to reset: take a deep breath, step out of the box, refocus on their process goals, and trust their preparation. This awareness alone dramatically improves performance under pressure.
How Parents Can Support Mental Development
The conversations you have after games directly impact how your young hitter thinks in the batter’s box. Here’s how to reinforce the mental skills that matter:
Instead of: “You struck out three times today.” Try: “I loved how you competed in that last at-bat and fouled off those tough pitches.”
Instead of: “You’re in a slump—what’s wrong with your swing?” Try: “Every good hitter goes through tough stretches. What did you learn from your at-bats today?”
Instead of: “You need to get more hits to help the team.” Try: “I noticed you stayed focused on seeing the ball well today. That’s exactly what good hitters do.”
The goal is to reinforce process-oriented thinking and resilience, not just celebrate hits and criticize outs. When parents consistently focus on effort, approach, and mental toughness, young hitters develop the confidence to trust their abilities under pressure.
The Path Forward
Dr. Ravizza spent over 40 years proving that elite hitting isn’t just about perfect mechanics—it’s about training the mind to handle pressure, simplify complex situations, and maintain confidence through inevitable struggles. Your son or daughter already has more potential than they’re currently showing. The difference between good players and great ones isn’t just talent—it’s having the mental tools to access that talent consistently under pressure.
At The Florida Baseball Ranch, our hitting development programs integrate these proven mental skills with technical instruction because we understand what it takes to perform when it matters most. When young players learn the same mental approaches used by elite hitters, their physical skills finally have room to flourish.
These mental skills also transfer far beyond baseball. Young athletes who develop signal light awareness, process-oriented thinking, and the ability to compete effectively under pressure carry these qualities into school, relationships, and their future careers.
You and your hitter have the potential to think—and hit—like elite players. The question is: are they getting the mental training that has been proven at the highest levels of the game?
Ready to develop both the physical and mental sides of your young hitter’s game? Contact The Florida Baseball Ranch to learn about our comprehensive hitting development programs designed specifically for amateur players aged 12-18.
Remember to follow us on all social media and check out our website for upcoming Boot Camps and 1:1 Training with the FBR Coaches