Conviction is probably the most influential C word in sport—maybe in life.
It’s not confidence, though the two are easy to confuse. Confidence is believing you can do something. Conviction is believing in what you’re doing, even when reality tells you differently. It doesn’t mean stubbornly refusing to change, either. There’s a major distinction between believing in yourself and refusing to accept you might be wrong.
I’m spending less time with players these days, but when I am in that space, I still see movements and methods through a technical lens. We never want to preach one-size-fits-all. Through cohesive technique, we try to find a method that maximises output—standing up under pressure.
Really, it doesn’t matter if your bat-face is open, square, or closed. If the bat-path is outside-to-in or straight down the line. Or if you play with a closed-down lead edge, or a weak top-hand that results in an open face at contact. What matters is whether your method works for you and whether you have the conviction to trust it.
Perhaps conviction is less about knowing you’re right and more about being prepared to act on what you believe, without the need for constant reassurance.
This applies well beyond sport. Sometimes you have to trust the decision you’ve made, the person you’re trying to become, or the direction you’ve chosen—even when progress is slow, and nobody else can see it yet.
Conviction is yours to own.
Where do you need a little more conviction?
Nick
