--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Luck? Sure. But only after long practice…" description: "\"Luck? Sure. But only after long practice and only with the ability to think under pressure.\" — Babe Didrikson Zaharias" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/babe-didrikson-zaharias-18663_ability_luck-sure-but-only-after-long-practice-a_46531.png" --- # Luck? Sure. But only after long practice and only with the… ![“Luck? Sure. But only after long practice and only with the ability to think under pressure.” quote by Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/babe-didrikson-zaharias-18663_ability_luck-sure-but-only-after-long-practice-a_46531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/babe-didrikson-zaharias-18663_ability_luck-sure-but-only-after-long-practice-a_46531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/babe-didrikson-zaharias-18663_ability_luck-sure-but-only-after-long-practice-a_46531.png) > “Luck? Sure. But only after long practice and only with the ability to think under pressure.” [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success hinges on sustained effort and the capacity to maintain clear thinking in high‑stress moments. **In simple terms:** Practice + composure = luck Key Takeaway Hard work creates opportunity Themes Perseverance Mental resilience Skill development Performance under pressure Mood Focused Determined Type Motivational Reflective When to use this quote - Competitive sports - High‑stakes negotiations - Emergency response - Creative problem solving Key Concepts Deliberate practice Decision making Stress management Practical Applications - Coaching programs - Performance training Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate calm under stress? - What routines reinforce skill mastery? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-sports/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Motivational inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-inspirational-sports/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Under pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/under-pressure/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing you really have to practice is your ability. And this is something I do all the time. I try to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-brion/the-only-thing-you-really-have-to-practice-is-your-ability-and-this/) [Jon Brion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-brion/) > [Executive Intelligence , and its evaluation are very must about one's ability to think under pressure. Given the evolution of global business, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/executive-intelligence-and-its-evaluation-are-very-must-about-one-s/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [It really doesn't matter how long. If you practice with your (body), no amount is enough. If you practice with your head, two hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/it-really-doesn-t-matter-how-long-if-you-practice-with-your-body-no/) K. Anders Ericsson > [Surgical knowledge depends on long practice, not from speculations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcello-malpighi/surgical-knowledge-depends-on-long-practice-not-from-speculations/) [Marcello Malpighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcello-malpighi/) > [Three hours is a long practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/three-hours-is-a-long-practice/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [I say that habit's but a long practice, friend, and this becomes men's nature in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/i-say-that-habit-s-but-a-long-practice-friend-and-this-becomes-men-s/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It takes long practice, yes. You have to work. Did you think you could snap your fingers, and have it as a gift? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/it-takes-long-practice-yes-you-have-to-work-did-you-think-you-could/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/you-have-to-believe-in-yourself-when-no-one-else-does/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/a-good-coach-will-make-his-players-see-what-they-can-be-rather-than/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [You can't put a limit anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-anything/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/the-rewards-are-going-to-come-but-my-happiness-is-just-loving-the/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [The five S's of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-doherty/the-five-s-s-of-sports-training-are-stamina-speed-strength-skill-and/) [Ken Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-doherty/) > [If you only ever give 90% in training then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/if-you-only-ever-give-90-in-training-then-you-will-only-ever-give-90/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) > [The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-reese/the-hardest-skill-to-acquire-in-this-sport-is-the-one-where-you/) Eddie Reese > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) ## More by Babe Didrikson Zaharias > [I don't see any point in playing the game if you don't win, do you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/i-don-t-see-any-point-in-playing-the-game-if-you-don-t-win-do-you/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [I came out to beat everybody in sight, and that's just what I'm going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/i-came-out-to-beat-everybody-in-sight-and-that-s-just-what-i-m-going/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [The more you practice, the better. But in any case, practice more than you play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/the-more-you-practice-the-better-but-in-any-case-practice-more-than/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [If you win through bad sportsmanship that's no real victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/if-you-win-through-bad-sportsmanship-that-s-no-real-victory/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [Before I was ever in my teens, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. My goal was to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/before-i-was-ever-in-my-teens-i-knew-exactly-what-i-wanted-to-be-when/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [It's not just enough to swing at the ball. You've got to loosen your girdle and really let the ball have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/it-s-not-just-enough-to-swing-at-the-ball-you-ve-got-to-loosen-your/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [I don't seem able to do my best unless I'm behind or in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/i-don-t-seem-able-to-do-my-best-unless-i-m-behind-or-in-trouble/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [There are no shortcuts to good golf. The better players realize this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/there-are-no-shortcuts-to-good-golf-the-better-players-realize-this/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [As your golf improves, your concentration will improve with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/as-your-golf-improves-your-concentration-will-improve-with-it/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [That little white ball won't move until you hit it, and there's nothing you can do after it has gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/that-little-white-ball-won-t-move-until-you-hit-it-and-there-s/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [The formula for success is simple: practice and concentration then more practice and more concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/the-formula-for-success-is-simple-practice-and-concentration-then/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [A couple of hours of practice is worth ten sloppy rounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/a-couple-of-hours-of-practice-is-worth-ten-sloppy-rounds/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [Don't worry. Just leave everything in the hands of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/don-t-worry-just-leave-everything-in-the-hands-of-god/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [My philosophy? Practice, practice, practice and win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/my-philosophy-practice-practice-practice-and-win/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [Study the rules so that you won't beat yourself by not knowing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/study-the-rules-so-that-you-won-t-beat-yourself-by-not-knowing/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) [Explore all 34 Babe Didrikson Zaharias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Luck? 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