A Slider Slump Buster...Like all things in this great game, baseball is a game of failure. You can’t argue it. Even Hall of Famers seemed like they couldn’t do anything right for a short periods of time in every season. So why should we be any different?
As a pitcher, you will have days when your body would rather be doing something different. The competitor in your mind accepts Any and All challenges when you get called on to take the mound.
Unfortunately, the body has a mind of it’s own.
It doesn’t take much to recognize that your Slider is not doing what you expect of it. So how do you combat this problem?
Here are 7 Ways to BUST Out of a Slider Slump
Slider Slump Buster #1
Relax
First and foremost, RELAX! Don't Panic! It's not the end of the world. If you are a competitor, you will find a way to win. Plus, body language is everything. It is a natural instinct for your opponents to smell fear. So how you carry yourself in the times of adversity is a very valuable commodity to both you and your team.
So when the hitter sees you are frustrated with yourself based off of your performance, he will eventually get the upper edge. Good pitchers always bring their poker face with them to the mound.
Slider Slump Buster #2
Don't Rush
Like the one above, to go along with don’t panic, DON’T RUSH!!! This is the worst thing to do as a pitcher. Speeding up your delivery, ruins your rhythm and really, really, slows your arm down. Rushing your delivery to throw a Slider is absolutely disastrous!!!!! Everything breaks down.
When you speed up your body, your arm doesn’t catch up. And the end result of the pitch is never good. The lower half of your mechanics which moves first, is the foundation of your delivery. When this is off kilter, so will be the effectiveness of your pitch.
As for the Slider, when you are unable to stay behind the baseball and throw it downhill, the best case scenario is that it misses the strike zone.
Worst case scenario for a bad Slider….?
Let’s not go there.
How do you to correct the Jumpiness? Step off of the mound.Regroup, Breathe, Visualize. Find a rhythm that is comfortable to deliver the Slider when you know that you will be mechanically sound.
Then get back at 'em!!!
Slider Slump Buster #3
Toy With Your Grip
Some days the ball will just feel different in your hand. That’s how the game goes. The true pitching warriors do not let this affect them. They improvise.
Say your failsafe, go to Slider Grip feels uncomfortable. It make be as simple as adjusting the pressure in your fingers. It may be necessary to rotate the ball just a notch off from your regular grip. Or you may need that In Case of Emergency grip. For me, I just turned the horse shoe of the ball around the other way. The Bizarro Grip. However, it worked. Every now and then we have to mix things up and experience things from another perspective.
Pitching is no different.
Slider Slump Buster #4
Simplify
Don’t Think, it Hurts the Team.
The fictitious legend, Crash Davis couldn’t have said it any better. When ball players try to do too much, the eventually end up doing less than they are capable of performing. For pitching, it can really go south quick. Back to basics is always the best route to take when you are in a struggle.
Like I mentioned above, it’s a matter of finding your mechanics. A breakdown or an unnecessary movement in your delivery can negatively affect your pitches. Talk with your catcher and your pitching coach to see what is causing the ineffectiveness.
Also, strive to know your own mechanics well enough in order to correct the flaw yourself. The best of the best in the game are the ones that can make the adjustments from pitch to pitch. When you can make the adjustment, and simplify your delivery, it will enable to…..
Slider Slump Buster #5
Downhill, Downhill, Downhill
This is not only a mechanical perfection, it is also a mindset. When you think Downhill you are going to throw Downhill. When you throw the Slider Downhill, you will be Dominant. No questions asked.
As for how the mindset goes, when you are relaxed and in control of your body, you will pitch without resistance. Your mind will tell your body what to do and the body will be able to comply.
Breathing and visualization prepare the mind for the body to execute at a peak performance level. When the mind is occupied with doing things a more difficult way, the results will negatively speak for themselves.
Slider Slump Buster #6
Trust Your Catcher, Trust Yourself
When your catcher gives you the sign for the Slider, this means that he knows this is the right pitch in the right spot….and you are the one throwing it. When you have doubts about pitch calling, keep in mind that your catcher has the best seat in the house for knowing what is going on with hitters.
He knows what frustrates them, he is right next to them to read their body language, he can see what nagging injuries are bothering them...HECK, he may even know what they had for lunch.....These factors all add up to the psychology of pitch calling.
Having a good catcher that you can work well with never gets enough acknowledgment in this game. The solid catcher will eliminate a lot of the thinking for you. So all you have to do is execute. This positive human connection can be just enough to change a mindset for the better. Thus, eliminating any doubts. When your catcher believes in you, very quickly, you will soon be believing in yourself.
Slider Slump Buster #7
Keep Throwing It!!!
You cant give up on yourself, You cant give up on your team. You will have days that you just may have to scrap a certain pitch, and others where your have to find a way to make it work.
With the aid of the catcher brings in the battery, he will let you know when you have to keep throwing the Slider. When you have days its not comfortable you have to keep chugging along. Since no pitcher wants to make a mistake, this forces your to focus more.
Let's Recap
the 7 Slider Slump Busters
and put them into ACTION
Where does the Slider have to be Located?
DOWN
Where do you have to release the Slider?
Out in Front
What is the Mindset to Throw the Slider?
Downhill
Alright, now that you have been refreshed with the bullet points for success,
Let’s Make it Happen.
0-1 count, your catcher puts down the sign for a Slider. You know that you have to throw it correctly. You gather yourself, Deep Breathe In, Exhale, and throw it down hill. It missed in the dirt. Not a problem. No damage done. 1-1.
You actually did yourself a favor by changing speeds and changing eye levels on the hitter. 2 pitches later, 1-2 count, the catcher calls for a Slider again. You feel a bit more comfortable. Now keep in mind your mental checklist to not throw the ball up and over the plate. You just miss down and off the zone. Not bad. 2-2.
You are feeling better with the Slider. Next pitch, your catcher puts down fastball, you shake him off, you want another Slider. Now you are back ready to rock with it. You can feel the strikeout coming. Your catcher feels the vibe. He sees that it is getting better and sees your confidence building.
So let’s go with the Slider.
You throw it right where you want it, start it on the outer half of the plate, hitter thinks fastball, swings fastball, See Ya Later, as the ball disappears down and away for the the barrel of the bat.
Sometimes, it only takes one good one to get you back on track…...never give up on yourself.
Keep Dominating!!!
About the Author
Brad has also authored the AudioBook,
7 Reasons Why YOU Should Throw a Slider.
If you haven’t done so already, you can Download the AudioBook Here
