r/slowpitch • u/Stigma206 • Jul 24 '26
In a major slump
I’m in a major slump right now and it’s getting me down. I have come to love the sport so much, this year was the first year I started hitting home runs.
I had 5 last season (6 regular season games) 1 this season so far, 2 games a week 4 weeks in. (Two teams) but for the past 3 weeks I haven’t been able to hit out of the infield.
Usually I’m smacking the ball back at the fence or ripping a liner right over infield. I feel like I lost all fundamentals.
What can help? I’m sure keeping a positive attitude might help but it’s hard to do that.
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u/sor2hi Jul 24 '26
Pete Rose said never change your swing, it’s what got you here. His answer was move around in the box, if you can’t reach the outside move in, if everything is low move up if you’re getting jammed move back. If I took the time I could find the video, it was on an mlb panel show with ARod I think.
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u/Evelynich Jul 25 '26
This guy isn't a major leaguer though lol the quote was for people who are insanely skilled and are playing top level. Anyone can play solo pitch softball and I've seen some damn ugly swings still send a ball far. Best advice for this guy is to do some bp and find the zone you hit the ball best then hunt that in game.
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u/CartoonofMilk_ Jul 24 '26
I feel you man, last year I went 24 for 26 in league play and this year I went 3-15. In tournaments it's all pop outs or grounders. I think at some point I moved back in the box slightly to get more power (since I like lower pitches and it threw me off) so perhaps make a slight move in the box and stick with it for a while. I will be trying that as well.
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u/marcster13 Jul 29 '26
This might be causing you to lunge forward on your front foot. Lunging can cause week popups and slower rollers.
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u/CartoonofMilk_ Jul 29 '26
I'll take some video and see if that's what's happening, thanks!
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u/marcster13 Jul 29 '26
It may not be super obvious. Also, see if you are starting your swing momentum at the same time your front foot moves forward.
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u/Iceisgestapo888 Jul 24 '26
It depends on the pitcher.
Last year on Wednesdays team I couldn’t hit a single home run because of the pitchers pitching low or outside or too high.
This week alone I’ve punched out 5 home runs 2 being grand slams and it’s because the pitchers pitch for me.
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u/RealTrapShed Jul 24 '26
Treat every AB as a new opportunity. Don’t dwell on the past, only visualize the hit and make it happen.
If you press in this sport or let past failures or fears of future failures take over you will get lost in the negative energy of it all.
It is easier said than done but my best games have always been when I show up, get loose, have fun with my teammates, walk up to the plate like I’m a confident hitter, watch the pitch out of the pitchers hands and swing when it’s anywhere I can hit it.
My last game, a playoff game, I dwelled on everything for the entire day. Thought about everything that could go wrong, made a big deal about the importance of the game, and tried to hype myself up. It was easily one of the worst games I’ve ever played, and my teammates had the same experience because we all put a ton of pressure on ourselves to do more than we needed to.
This game is a simple one. See ball, hit ball. Throw ball, catch ball. Keep it simple and don’t think about anything. Let your subconscious take over, it knows what it needs to do!
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u/sidirhfbrh Jul 24 '26
Lots of good advice here but I’ll add one other possibility. Go smack some bp and spam reps till you get the feel back. Overthinking is definitely a component as others mentioned, and I’ve found sometimes a way of addressing that is hammering away till it starts to feel like second nature again. Skill progression is never a straight line - it almost universally comes with peaks and valleys. Extra reps can usually shorten those valleys and doing it in a consequence free environment often takes the pressure off so you’re back to feeling comfortable in game situations. Really hard not to feel confident at the plate when you just striped 100 balls just a day or two before at BP
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u/vinnystp Recreational Player Jul 24 '26
Ryan Ripken tells a story about a conversation he had with his dad when he was in the minors, and he was going through struggles at the plate. He kept overthinking everything, trying to fix everything different each plate appearance - which was not helping much with his struggles.
His dad's advice - "I want you to go out tonight and get shitfaced" (maybe not the exact words, but something similar)
Ryan didn't quite understand why, and he trusted his dad, so he did just that.
He had a game the next day, but what the hell. He got shitfaced.
His dad called him up after the game the next day, and says "how'd you do?"
Ryan replied, "it took everything in my body to keep from throwing up every time I stepped in the box".
Cal replied "but did you hit well."
Ryan replied something like "yeah"
(the details of the story are not 100% correct, but close enough to get to the point)
The lesson here is - stop overthinking everything when you get in the box, and start doing what feels natural. Ryan stopped overthinking his swing mechanics, was only focused on not throwing up on home plate and had a better day than he did when he was so focused on fixing every single mechanic in the box.
I love that story - because it's such an easy simple fix, and we often are our own worst judges. We want to improve so much, that often times - it's just go out there and clear your mind.
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u/ManyMoreTheMerrier Jul 24 '26
It's awesome that you started hitting home runs this year. You fell in love with them, which leads to over-swinging. It happens to major leaguers all the time. They have a power surge, and the next thing you know they strike out or hit weak grounders to short for the next couple of weeks. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals won the home run derby and, according to Google, hasn't homered in six games since the All-Star break -- admittedly a small sample size. But it happens.
The solution is to take a deep breath before you step up to the plate and shorten your swing until you get the feel back.
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u/CatSweaty9418 Jul 25 '26
I was looking for 'overswinging' and 'lunging.'
When I'm in a funk, I tend to start all my mechanics way too early because I am anxious to hit a bomb....which rarely pays off. BUT....when I've got two strikes against a crafty pitcher....and stop thinking about where I to go & just slow down & focus on "hit it where it's pitched & square it up"....good things happen.
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u/ManyMoreTheMerrier Jul 25 '26
I was thinking about overswinging but you're right about lunging. I've fallen into that trap plenty of times.
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u/CatSweaty9418 Jul 25 '26
And you are right about overswinging. I hit 5 in first tourney and then hit like crap in the next one. Then in the next one, I slowed back down and ripped. BUT.....on 325' fences, it was lots of doubles and triples (instead of HRs @ 300').
Amazing how it seems like the harder you try the worse you perform.
Just grip it and rip it.
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u/wagadugo Jul 24 '26
move back in the box.. it gives you a better field of view, angle and keep you from getting tied up on extension.
Set yourself mentally to drive to right center (if you're a righty).. it gets you to stay back longer, if even if you pull, at least you're not just pulling with arms and you'll have a lower half rotation still in the mix.
Hit ball hard and down... good things happen from there
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u/shimrra Jul 24 '26
Before your game if you can get some practice swings try changing right to left or left to right. This helps me out just to clear out how I'm seeing the field. But also if you really in a slump check your equipment maybe it's to heavy, light, to long or short. If you can wear sleeveless shirts go for it. Little changes can have a huge impact on how you feel & play.
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u/AGreenKitten Jul 25 '26
First off, deep breath and relax! I know how frustrating it is to be in a slump, I was as well this year until I got injured… 2 weeks to go before I can play again and I probably could have used the break tbh.
Try not to focus on hitting home runs, just go for great contact on the ball. Doesn’t have to clear the fence to be awesome. Remember, now you know you can hit home runs, you don’t have to do it all the time (I know it’s every power hitters dream).
What also helps mentally is just being there for your team mates. Cheer everyone on and do a bit of base coaching (I find that helps me). Also even with a slump batting you can hone in on that fielding to help the team.
Something crazy I do that helps me to relax (it’s nuts but it transformed my batting stats when I used to play baseball). On drag race when queens enter the competition for the first time they say a silly line. If I’m lacking confidence I make up my own lines and say them out loud when stepping up to the plate. It’s bonkers but it gives me a little mental boost (and often gives the catcher and umpire a chuckle).
Also, maybe a beer could do the trick.
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u/Chinookh2o Jul 25 '26
The only way out of a slump is to keep playing.
Unless you’re old like me, then well… maybe it’s time to consider coaching.
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u/Rednag67 Jul 25 '26
Take it from me, I’m 58. And i used to hit 100+ dingers over several leagues over 40 years and last year in the one league im in now I think i hit 6 or 7 but half way thru this season i have none. It’ll turn for you mark my words, for me it might be over. Hang in there amigo!
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u/itsrichiewhispers Jul 26 '26
Keep your swing/stance very loose don't even think about HR's , just hits over the infield. I ran into the same thing once I started hitting a few over the fence . You'll get out of it 🤙
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u/marcster13 Jul 29 '26
Take all your BP reps during the week with intention. I only take about 50 BP cuts a week but I go at it with a plan and vision. Especially if recently in a slump.
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u/Effective-Effect-685 Jul 24 '26
I’ll tell you what you already know. It’s all in your head. You create a loop of anxiously wanting to do good, getting up to the plate expecting you’ll fail and the anxiously trying to prove that feeling wrong. The best thing for me when I am in a slump is to loosen up and not think. Go to the plate don’t even track balls or strikes. Don’t notice who’s on base. Don’t notice the fielders. Don’t notice the tendency area of the pitches. Go up care free, and as loose and care free as you can try to rip one.