Keep This in Mind As You Read

A 90-mph fastball reaches home plate in about 400 milliseconds—about the same time it takes the average person to blink. But in reality, you don’t have all 400 milliseconds. The fact is, you only have the first 200 milliseconds. That’s how much time it takes the ball to travel from the delivery to around the half-way point. Sports science research has definitively shown it takes at least 200 milliseconds for your eyes to see the ball, send the signal to the brain, recognize its speed and anticipate pitch patterns, and decide whether to swing or not. If the command is to swing, it takes at least another 200 milliseconds for the swing to be executed. If your mind is occupied with other things—overanalyzing mechanics, worrying about the situation, or second-guessing your timing—you’re already too slow and your mechanics are already compromised. (See more about this in detail at Basic Hitting Facts here on the website).

 

Has This Happened to You?

As you step into the batter’s box, you grip the bat tightly in your hands. The pitcher is staring you down. Your mind races—checking the count, thinking about what the pitcher threw last time, and reminding yourself to keep your elbow up. Then, in the blink of an eye, the pitch is coming. You swing, but you’re late - Strike one... It's probably happened more than you’d like to admit.

 

And here’s why: you were trying to do too many things at once. Multitasking is a myth, and in baseball, it can cost you the game.

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Multitasking is Really Task Switching

A lot of people believe they can multitask. You might think you can listen to music, text your friend, and do homework at the same time. But in reality, you’re just switching between those tasks, not doing them all at once. You are really Task Switching. Your brain doesn’t process information simultaneously; it bounces back and forth from one thing to another, making you slower and more prone to mistakes. And when you’re at the plate, even the smallest delay can mean the difference between crushing a fastball into the gap and swinging through a pitch you should’ve driven.

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Multitasking Reduces Productivity

Numerous studies have shown that multitasking reduces productivity by as much as 40 percent. That’s because every time you switch between tasks, your brain takes time to adjust. Imagine you’re doing math homework while watching TV. You’re not solving problems and watching the show at the same time; instead, your brain is jumping back and forth, forcing you to reorient yourself each time you switch. The same thing happens in baseball. If your mind is flipping between   tasks,  thinking   about   your   stance, the count, and predicting what the pitcher might throw, you’re not fully locked in on the one thing that truly matters: seeing the ball and responding appropriately.

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Simplify and Focus

Great hitters eliminate distractions and simplify their focus. They don’t let their minds wander or get bogged down with unnecessary thoughts. When they step into the box, their only job is to pick up the ball early, recognize the pitch, and respond accordingly. They’re not running through a mental checklist of mechanics or worrying about what happens if they strike out. They are in the moment, fully committed to one task at a time.

 

Imagine a major-league hitter facing a dominant closer in the ninth inning. The stadium is loud, the pressure is high, and the pitcher has an arsenal of nasty pitches. If that hitter lets his mind drift—thinking about the last at-bat, worrying about the count, or trying to guess the pitch—he’s done. But if he locks in on one simple goal—trusting their training—he has a much better chance of making solid contact.

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This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. Preparation is key, but it needs to happen before you step into the box. In the on-deck circle, that’s the time to think about what the pitcher likes to throw, how he’s attacked other hitters, and what your plan should be. But once you step up to the plate, it’s time to shut off the noise and trust your instincts.

 

Let’s bring it back to your own experience. Maybe you’ve had days where you felt completely locked in—where the ball seemed bigger, your swing felt effortless, and you weren’t overthinking every little detail. That’s what happens when you focus on just one thing. Your brain isn’t scattered, so it processes the information faster, allowing you to respond without hesitation. On the flip side, if you’ve ever had a game where you felt overwhelmed, late on every pitch, or stuck in your head, chances are you were trying to juggle too many thoughts at once. You weren’t present; you were mentally task switching.

 

What's an Easy Way to Train Yourself to Focus? ​

Start by simplifying your approach. Before stepping into the box, take a deep breath and pick one focus point—maybe it’s tracking the pitcher’s release point, or simply reminding yourself to stay relaxed. Trust that all your preparation will take over naturally. The more you can narrow your focus, the faster and more efficiently your brain will process the game in front of you. In scientific terms, this is Hick's Law in play.  Hicks Law states: “The more choices there are, the longer it will take to make a decision.”  Therefore, when response time is critical, keep the choices to a minimum. Narrow your focus.

 

This same principle applies to fielding, pitching, and every other aspect of baseball. A shortstop who thinks about three different things while trying to make a play is more likely to boot the ball than one who is simply focused on fielding cleanly and making a strong throw. A pitcher who worries about mechanics mid-delivery is less likely to throw a quality strike than one who commits to hitting his target. The best players keep things simple. They don’t try to do too much. They lock in on one goal and execute.

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Brief examples:

Hitting

During practice, players should train their minds just like they train their bodies. When taking batting practice, don’t think about mechanics, pitch recognition, and timing all at once. Work on one thing at a time. If you’re focused on tracking the ball, let that be your only focus. If you’re working on driving the ball to the opposite field, don’t let your mind wander to your stance or grip. The more you simplify your approach, the sharper your focus will be when it really matters.

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Catchers

A catcher behind the plate has one of the most mentally demanding jobs on the field. If they try to think about framing a pitch, throwing out a runner, calling the next pitch, and where the umpire is positioned—all at the same time—they risk losing focus on the most important job: catching the ball. A great catcher knows how to prioritize. First, they receive the pitch. Then, they respond based on the situation. If their mind jumps ahead to throwing before securing the ball, mistakes happen—missed strikes, passed balls, or botched throws.

 

Coaching

Yes, coaches can also easily fall into the multitasking trap. Trying to analyze a player’s swing, monitor the team’s energy, and manage game strategy all at once. When they spread their attention too thin, they risk missing crucial details and making poor decisions. A great coach understands the importance of prioritization and delegation. By trusting assistants to handle specific responsibilities, they free themselves to focus on the bigger picture. In practice, they emphasize preparation. During a game, they rely on that preparation and shift their attention to strategic adjustments, ensuring that every decision is made with clarity and confidence.

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Conclusion

So, the next time you, or if you’re a coach, step onto the field, challenge yourself to eliminate the noise.  Don’t worry about five different things at once. Pick one focus and commit to it. Trust yourself, trust your preparation, and stay in the moment. Multitasking might seem like a good idea, but in baseball—and in life—true success comes from giving one task your full attention. If that task happens to be squaring up a 90-mph fastball, you can’t afford to be even a millisecond late.​

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For more in-depth training on all mental skills and physical training, email Coach Helke. Free initial consult can be done in-person or virtually.

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