David “Big Papi” Ortiz retired in 2016 as one of the best baseball players in Boston Red Sox history. Papi was known for his exceptional at-bats, hitting over 540 home runs in his career. Each time Papi approached the batter’s box, he rested his bat against his legs, spat on his right hand, and clapped. This ritual placed Papi among a group of exceptional athletes, performers, and public speakers who all engage in pre-performance rituals. These rituals aren’t limited to the rich and famous: Over 45% of people report performing a ritual before completing a stressful task. But a zany, irrational ritual can’t actually improve performance, can it?