Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling: Passionate About Pitching and Putting
It was crystal clear to anyone watching the 2001 World Series that Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are passionate about pitching. These two co-MVPÕs raised goose bumps across the nation and around the world with their intensely electric appearances on the mound.
While fewer people witnessed their performance in the Celebrity Pro-Am at the 2002 Phoenix Open, those in attendance saw a similar fire in their eyes as that which shines forth when theyÕre on the mound. It is the competitive fire born of being a professional athlete: challenged to dig deep and trust the skills and mental toughness you have developed within yourself.
Even while sitting in the World Champion DiamondbackÕs dugout, far from any golf course, the mere mention of a golf game brings the same light to their eyes while grins of anticipation spread across their faces.
Johnson, a twelve handicap, says: ÒI enjoy golf very much. ItÕs actually been a passion of mine now for five or six years. I enjoy making that good shot: Being out 170 yards, choosing the right club, hitting it on the screws, and being 15 feet away from the pin.Ó He went on, ÒA lot of the same things come into play whether youÕre pitching or hitting golf shots. ThereÕs the challenge of trying to repeat that same move over and over again. I have to be consistent with my release point in pitching and you have to be consistent with the mechanics in your golf swing.Ó
Johnson even uses golf to prepare for pitching. Putting is an integral part of his pre-game routine: ÒItÕs my little niche into relaxing,Ó he said. ÒIt keeps my mind off what is about to happenÑbut my mind is not wandering, itÕs staying very focused on what IÕm doing with each putt.Ó
ÒIÕm very fortunate to have been blessed with the ability to throw a baseball,Ó Johnson continued, ÒAnd now my mental toughness is almost on the same level as my physical ability.Ó He continued, giving the following example of mental toughness on the golf course: ÒSay youÕve hit into the woods and have two choices: try the miraculous shot, and maybe stay in the woods, or punch out and have a direct shot at the green. If my scores are going to be lower than IÕm the one who needs to punch out, listen to the voice in my mind telling me I donÕt have that shot, and to play the shot I have.Ó
Acknowledging that prior to the 2001 World Series his post-season record was not stellar, and that some people were questioning his mental toughness, he said, ÒIn fact, it was an issueÑa topic of conversation.Ó What was his response to being the focus of such conversations? He improved. ÒWhat I did out there, well, I was very focused. I took my time. Whereas normally IÕm very fast, I allowed myself to really think about what do I need to do on this pitch to execute the pitch I want? You canÕt say enough for experience or being there. Regardless of whether you failed or succeeded, taking those situations and applying then the next time. What works for me may not work for somebody else and what works for somebody else may not work for me. ItÕs very important to learn as youÕre going through situations to help you the next time you face that situation.Ó
Continuing the description of his improvement, Johnson added, ÒItÕs about not giving inÑnot collapsingÑitÕs handling situations unlike other people. You can fail to win and that doesnÕt mean you collapsed. You can be totally prepared for a situation and not win. Allowing yourself the chance to succeed by being mentally and physically preparedÑknowing what you want to do and having a plan, are the tangibles that come with mental toughness. You donÕt want to get ahead of yourself. You want your mind and thoughts focused on executing whatÕs at hand. Applied to golf, that means you canÕt be putting before you get on the green. If youÕre ahead or behind yourself, or youÕre thinking negatively about whatÕs happening, thatÕs YOUR mind thinking that. ItÕs not helpful to just think I want to shoot 76, it takes thinking clearly and specifically about each shot that makes up that 76. It comes down to how much you want it. ItÕs going to be between your ears and in your heart. These are the two intangibles that separate the players up here [in the major league] and the player who wants to be up here.Ó
Playing in the present while using his heart and head is important to Schilling as well. He described it this way: ÒGolf and pitching are in a lot of ways exactly the same. A round of golf is measured shot by shot and the ability to focus on the execution of each shot. A baseball game is pitch-by-pitch affair. If I look at a game as a 27 out affair, then I can think, ÔWow, thatÕs going to be tough.Õ But if I do it pitch-by-pitch then itÕs better. Well, golf is an 18-hole affair, and if IÕm thinking about shooting well over the whole 18 holes then I lose focus on whatÕs going on in the moment. IÕve found that the best rounds of golf IÕve played, and the best games IÕve pitched have been when I could narrow my focus down to the moment. Thinking of nothing more than executing the shot or making the pitch at hand. ItÕs one pitchÑone outÑone inning at a time.Ó
Curt Schilling loves the challenge of golf too, saying: ÒGolf is mentally the toughest sport, no doubt about it. R.J. [Randy Johnson] and I play a lot and weÕre pretty similar golfers. My goal when we tee off is to beat him. Our rounds are kinds shaped by each other. Whereas neither of us is timid on the golf course there comes a time when course management is essential to scoring low. As the round goes along if I have to be aggressive, then to me thatÕs OK, I can do it. And thatÕs the thing I like about golf. It presents different mental challenges on every tee box.
Sounds easy, but how do you really do it?
ÒYou have to understand yourself mentally,Ó said Schilling. ÒYou have to work at it. The brain is like a muscle and you have to train it to think in a specific way.Ó Eighteen months ago Schilling started working with a sports psychologist, and when asked why, he said: ÒSimple. I wanted to get better. In my mind the work was going to offer something I didnÕt have, even though I wasnÕt sure what that was. I wanted to be as confident as I should be with my stuff and heÕs [the sports psychologist] really helped me with that.Ó
Continuing, he said: ÒIÕve learned to maximize my mental output. On any given day when pitching a game, I donÕt leave a stone unturned, and that preparation helps me feel confident in executing my game plan. The same is true in golf. If I stand over a shot and see myself shanking it, I will shank the ballÑor I can make myself perform and execute the right shot. But most people donÕt look at it that way. The ones who donÕt excel look at the glass half-empty, but IÕm the opposite. I set a goal and have a plan. From 150 yards out IÕm hitting my wedge and I know itÕs the right club for me and that IÕll be executing the shot, and IÕm going to be near the pin. In a bad situation most people think, ÔOh no, here we go again,Õ But the guy who succeeds never thinks that way. Golf is just like pitching, itÕs a game of mistake management. YouÕre going to make mistakes. You can look at a bad shot in golf as simply a bad shot and then focus on the next shot. You can decide that the last shot, or the last pitch, has no bearing on the next one unless you let it.Ó
ÒItÕs really simple,Ó continued Schilling, ÒDoing well is fun, no matter what youÕre doing. ItÕs not random and itÕs not luck. ItÕs focus, concentration, and execution. Understand your own ability and you have to be realistic, understand what you can and canÕt do.Ó
What both Schilling and Johnson consistently do is bring focused passion to both their pitching and their golf. They also share in common some valuable insights into the keys of mental toughnessÑon the playing field and on the golf course, and itÕs no wonder they shared the Most Valuable Player award during the 2001 World Series. And, no surprise, it appears they may well lead the DiamondbackÕs to another National League West Divisional Championship, and who knows, maybe even a second World Series ChampionshipÑNow, thatÕs passion with a purpose!
Property of Dr. Paula King, All Copyrights apply.
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