The on deck circle is one of three very important phases of your game day hitting routine. Some say it is the most important phase. Coaches compared the on deck circle to starting blocks in a track event, or the huddle in a football game. Either way, it is an extremely important part of your preparation as hitter, once the game begins.

Hitting begins in the dugout (Phase 1), continues into the on-deck circle (Phase 2) and into the box (Phase 3). Almost every hitting coach feels the same about one point: Thinking and planning occur during Phase 1 and Phase 2, but never during Phase 3. The batters box should be a non-thinking zone. Ken Ravizza, the noted sport psychology instructor for USA Softball and the California Angels tells us that when you step between those four lines, marking the batters box, you clear your head of all thoughts, except "see the ball - hit the ball".

Rogers Hornsby, the hall of famer from the thirties, who was one of the top hitters of all time, spent valuable time studying the pitcher from the dugout and equal time with his pre-pitch routine in the on deck circle. When he stepped into the box, his only thought was "I feel sorry for the pitcher."

You should study the pitcher in the dugout, learn her routine, her strikeout pitch, and especially how often she throws the off speed. Look for any tips that might tell you when a specific pitch is coming. Most pitchers tip their pitches. Be observant.

Then develop a routine for the on deck circle. Make it a consistent routine that allows you to relax and prepare both mentally and physically to face the pitcher. Visualization could be part of your preparation both in the dugout and in the on deck circle.

When you step in the box, you should be relaxed, free of thought and ready to react. You want to be totally focused on one thing - seeing the ball and executing. The batters box should be a tension free "No Thinking Zone." Yogie Berra, the Yankee all-star said it best "How can I hit and think at the same time?".

Two of the USA’s top Olympic hitters have specific routines they go through in the on deck circle. Kim Maher, a former All-American at Fresno State is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game today. Maher holds the Women’s Nationals home run record as well as numerous other national hitting records. Maher served as the cleanup hitter for the USA Team in the 1996 Olympics. Her best advice to a hitter is to not think yourself at of your at bat. She says she is definitely a "see the ball - hit the ball" hitter. Her on deck routine consists of a break down of her mechanics into four parts: the step, pivot, contact point, and follow through. She does this drill 4-5 times, then does a 3 tap drill, where she triggers and steps onto the front foot lightly, three times. She does this to reinforce her short stride. Then she closes her eyes and visualizes herself hitting the ball hard. She is then ready to step into the box.

Sheila Douty, a former UCLA All-American, is unquestionably the best clutch hitter in the USA offensive arsenal. Douty has won many games for team USA including the semi-final game against China in he Olympics when she hit a 6th inning two run homer to win the game. She hit fifth for the 1996 Gold Medal Team and led the team in RBI’s.

Douty has a set routine in the on-deck circle. She runs through her situation checklist first, then she re-checks the pitchers release point. She reminds herself to keep her weight back and will even use the tap drill to work on her stride with weight back. She also uses the fence drill to keep her hands in. If time allows, she will take 2-3 swings adjacent to the fence to keep her swing compact. Douty focuses only on the pitchers release point when she enters the box and tells herself to "see the ball - drive the ball." She stresses that it is important to keep your mind clear in the batters box.

If you listen to Ken, Kim, and Sheila, and you have the confidence of Rogers Hornsby, you should be no less than a .300 hitter.

My advice to each player is to develop a strategy for hitting. Start in the dugout, continue into the on-deck circle and ultimately into the box. Hitting is really three things; confidence, discipline, and repetition.

The great hitters are confident as well as disciplined. They have developed a consistent routine that allows them to study, rehearse, focus and release. They trust their preparation, training, and skill. They step into the box believing they are better than the pitcher and knowing they are going to have a great at bat.