By Hallie Wilson

The loneliest a softball player can feel is when she is struggling. At that time, the ball looks like it's the size of an aspirin and there seems to be a softball-sized hole in the barrel of the bat. With constant pressure to succeed in a sport in which you are destined to fail, avoiding a slump is impossible. 

The word slump means something different to every athlete. Some of my teammates refuse to utter the word, while others swear that they are in a slump after only two tough plate appearances. 

Whether it’s for 15 at-bats or 15 games, an offensive drought always feels never-ending. However, the reality is they all end.

Mentality

As I have evolved into the hitter I am today I am constantly reminded how self-inflicted slumps are on players. Through growing pains and refining my mechanics, I now recognize that the only real variable is my mentality. There will always be a pitcher 43 feet away and nine defenders on the field. The game is consistent and hitters have to find a way to be consistent too.

Some hitters find consistency in their routine and breathing, while others find comfort with an empty mind and allowing muscle memory to take over. The key to identifying a mentality and approach that works for you is to recognize the times when you are “in the zone” and not assume that is the norm.  

It is fun to believe that going 10 for 14 on a weekend is expected and that it will happen again the weekend after, but the reality is that even the best falter. Take notice of what your routine, pre-pitch thoughts, mind, and breathing are doing while you are succeeding and try to replicate that every time you enter the box. 

When Things Go South

Even when athletes stay consistent with preparation and approach it is inevitable that a slump will happen. As an athlete and coach, it is natural to panic and assume that something is broken and to want to change or fix mechanics. While some players might benefit from a tweak here or there, the reality is that we play a game of numbers. We subject ourselves to a game in which we hit a round ball with a round bat with 9-to-1 odds and still we expect success every single time. 

The key is to find a way to make the slump as short as possible by controlling the controllables. My approach when I’m struggling is to set a goal for each at-bat that is smaller than getting a base hit.

I start with my eyes by setting a goal to swing at only strikes. Then I move to timing and lastly solid contact. My goal is never result or statistics oriented, because I know that if I can get those three things right eventually the base hits will come. 

Process Over Statistics

Coaches love to preach about the “process” and the word resonates differently with everyone. Hitters have to be able to accept that a slump is a key part of the process for becoming the best. We all love having a high batting average and a lot of RBIs, but in order to achieve those things consistently we have to be able to separate frustration with negative results from the process.  

It is normal to begin to feel the pressure to succeed as your stats begin to drop. During college, I struggled greatly against the same pitcher three years in a row. By my senior year, the pressure was suffocating. In hindsight, every bit of pressure I felt was self-inflicted: I mentally took myself out of the game before it even began because I knew she was going to throw.

This pitcher had my number throughout college, and now I can see how much better I am for it. That slump and feeling of pure defeat was a key part of my process and evolution into the player I am today. Without those repeated failures, I would not be able to isolate my result-oriented frustrations from the process. 

Persistence & Attitude

The worst part of a slump is the continual failure at something you love. Working hard every day on your craft with little to no success can crush your self-confidence and at times test your will to continue on with the sport. 

It is in these moments that there’s an opportunity to define who we want to be as teammates and softball players. It is easy to be a good teammate when things are peachy; it is easy to stay engaged on defense and in the dugout when you are 3 for 4 on the day. Use the tough times to dig deeper instead of letting a slump beat you. Remind yourself of the small goals and focus on other things you can contribute to the team. 

The reality of a slump is that no matter how you did in the last at-bat it has no bearing on how you do in your next. You never know when or how you will break out of it. Sometimes the slump-buster is an infield single, a bleeder base hit, or a sacrifice bunt. Stay consistent with your attitude and mindset no matter how you’re performing. You should be the same teammate during the slump as you are after.  

And if you’re really stuck in a slump just remember this:

"When I’m in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me. Then I bust out.” -Mookie Wilson

Hallie Wilson is entering her fourth year as a utility player for the USSSA Pride and is a former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at Arizona.