Ron Schmittling is a renowned Mental Performance Coach and author of Winning Starts Within and contributes articles frequently to Line Drive Media.

Ron is excellent at providing ideas, tips and training on how to improve “mental performance for fastpitch athletes!

In today’s post, Ron explains what confidence is exactly and what great players do to increase it for themselves… and how they techniques can work for YOU too!

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You can feel it before anyone says anything.

You’re in the box, but your mind isn’t quiet… you’re thinking:

• “I need a hit.”
• “Don’t strike out again.”
• “I have to come through here.”

Your swing feels tighter, your timing feels off and the harder you try the worse it gets.

That’s PRESSING.

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What Pressing Actually Is

Pressing isn’t a mechanical issue; it’s a mental shift from competing to controlling outcomes.

Instead of reacting, the athlete starts trying to force results.

The focus moves from:

“See it. Hit it.”

To:

“Don’t mess this up.”

That shift slows everything down.

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Why Pressing Hurts Performance

Softball is a reaction sport.

The best hitters:

• See the ball early
• Trust their swing
• React quickly

Pressing interrupts all three.

When athletes press, they:

• Think too much
• Swing too late
• Guide the bat instead of attacking

The result isn’t just a bad swing… it’s a hesitant one.

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The Moment It Starts

Pressing usually begins after:

• A couple bad at-bats
• A slump
• A high-pressure situation
• Feeling like you’re “letting the team down”

The athlete doesn’t lose ability, they lose freedom to compete.

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The Reset That Works

You don’t fix pressing by trying harder… you fix it by simplifying your focus.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Eliminate the Outcome

Before stepping in, remove the result:

• Not “get a hit”
• Not “drive in runs”

Replace it with:

• “Win this pitch.”

That’s it.

2. Commit to One Cue

Pick one simple, external focus:

• “See it early”
• “Middle of the field”
• “Fast hands”

Not three things…. not mechanics…

One cue.

3. Be Aggressive With Your Decision

Pressing creates hesitation.

Your job is to:

• Decide early
• Swing with intent
• Live with the result

Aggressive decisions restore timing.

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Why This Works

Confidence doesn’t return because you get a hit, it returns because you take control of your approach.

When the approach is clear, the swing follows.

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Your Challenge This Week

• Athletes: The next time you feel yourself pressing, shrink your focus to one cue and attack the next pitch.
• Coaches: When hitters struggle, simplify their focus instead of adding more instruction.
• Parents: Avoid outcome-based comments. Reinforce approach, not results.

Pressing doesn’t mean you care too much, it means your focus got too big. Shrink it back down—and compete again.

That’s the mental edge.

— Ron Schmittling/Line Drive Softball contributor

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Previous Articles:

• Mental Mindset: The Silent Skill That Builds Confidence (Apr. 6, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: The Most Dangerous Score in Softball (Mar. 9, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: Why Teams Tighten Up in Big Games (Feb. 23, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: How One Negative Thought Hijacks an Entire Game (Feb. 2, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: Why Confidence Disappears in Games (and How to Build It Back) (Jan. 19, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: Why “Just Relax” Is the Worst Advice in Softball (Jan. 5, 2026)
• Mental Mindset: The 5-Second Rule That Separates Winners from Quitters (Dec. 13, 2025)
• Mental Mindset: From Dropout Statistics to Champions… Why the Mental Game Can’t Wait (Nov. 24, 2025)

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WANT MORE?

The Mental Performance Diagnostic helps you pinpoint what’s holding you back—confidence drops, overthinking, slow recovery after mistakes, or inconsistent performance.

In 30–45 minutes, you’ll get a clear breakdown of your mental game and a focused action plan with tools you can apply immediately to perform better under pressure.

To book your session: CLICK HERE

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COACHES:

Want your whole team trained in these tools? I deliver 60-90 minute workshops where players and teams learn and apply these techniques immediately.

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AUTHOR BIO

THE MENTAL EDGE is written by Ron Schmittling, MPM—Certified Mental Performance Coach, NFCA Coach of the Year finalist, and author of Winning Starts Within and Into The Storm.

After more than a decade coaching and directing a national fastpitch program with a 100 percentage college placement rate, Ron now trains the mental side of the game, helping athletes stay composed under pressure, reset fast, and compete with clarity and confidence.

Here’s how to access Ron directly and via his info on social media:

• • E-mail: ron@coachronmpm.com

  • Online (website): coachronmpm.com

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachronmpm