--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be afraid to hit the ball." description: "\"Don't be afraid to hit the ball.\" — Billie Jean King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg" --- # Don't be afraid to hit the ball. ![“Don't be afraid to hit the ball.” quote by Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg) > “Don't be afraid to hit the ball.” [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages confidence and decisive action when facing a challenge. **In simple terms:** Don’t fear taking the shot. Key Takeaway Act boldly without hesitation. Themes confidence sports decision making courage Mood determined encouraging Type motivational sports When to use this quote - competitive matches - training drills - career decisions Key Concepts Risk taking mental focus performance under pressure Questions to Reflect On - When did you let fear hold you back? - How can you balance caution with boldness? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-hit-249498/) [Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Don Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-afraid/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Hit Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-ball/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Volleyball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volleyball/) ## Related quotes > [Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/be-bold-if-you-re-going-to-make-an-error-make-a-doozy-and-don-t-be/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [“You're strong Nakahira-san. Someone who hits first does so because he's afraid of being hit. I'm a weakling and a coward, so I strike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yun-kouga/you-re-strong-nakahira-san-someone-who-hits-first-does-so-because-he/) [Yun Kouga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yun-kouga/) > [When we go in the ring we know we're going to get hit. We know we're not the ballet people. But if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kostya-tszyu/when-we-go-in-the-ring-we-know-we-re-going-to-get-hit-we-know-we-re/) [Kostya Tszyu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kostya-tszyu/) > [Never have a club in your bag that you're afraid to hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kite/never-have-a-club-in-your-bag-that-you-re-afraid-to-hit/) [Tom Kite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kite/) > [Fans never fall asleep at our games, because they're afraid they might get hit by a pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-raveling/fans-never-fall-asleep-at-our-games-because-they-re-afraid-they-might/) [George Raveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-raveling/) > [“You always, I notice, feel the same when you are under heavy fire - not so much afraid of being hit as afraid because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/you-always-i-notice-feel-the-same-when-you-are-under-heavy-fire-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [You can't think and hit the ball at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/you-can-t-think-and-hit-the-ball-at-the-same-time/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [I'm a guy that has the skills to hit the ball hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/i-m-a-guy-that-has-the-skills-to-hit-the-ball-hard/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [I started in for the ball but I just couldn't get it. I should have caught it because I was used to catching everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/i-started-in-for-the-ball-but-i-just-couldn-t-get-it-i-should-have/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [All I can do is do my best work, try to create the best kind of moment to moment reality that I can do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/all-i-can-do-is-do-my-best-work-try-to-create-the-best-kind-of-moment/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [Once you get to the plate, you have two options: You either quit, or you try to hit the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-uhlaender/once-you-get-to-the-plate-you-have-two-options-you-either-quit-or-you/) [Katie Uhlaender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-uhlaender/) > [I store my power right up until it's time to hit the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/i-store-my-power-right-up-until-it-s-time-to-hit-the-ball/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [If we control the ball, they pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-dunphy/if-we-control-the-ball-they-pay/) [Marv Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-dunphy/) > [You touch every other ball and, if you screw up, you only have one more person to back you up. You can't go hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-walsh/you-touch-every-other-ball-and-if-you-screw-up-you-only-have-one-more/) [Kerri Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-walsh/) > [I practically dedicate my life keeping the ball off the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-drsek/i-practically-dedicate-my-life-keeping-the-ball-off-the-floor/) [Alexandra Drsek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-drsek/) ## More by Billie Jean King > [I like to see what future generations are thinking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/i-like-to-see-what-future-generations-are-thinking-about/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/natural-talent-only-determines-the-limits-of-your-athletic-potential/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Don't worry about what people say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-worry-about-what-people-say/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I was always in the tennis business-from 1968. I was in tournaments and also on World Team Tennis teams as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/i-was-always-in-the-tennis-business-from-1968-i-was-in-tournaments/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/in-1973-women-got-59-cents-on-the-dollar-now-we-are-getting-74-cents/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Martina's gone with people who don't want to be out, and it drives her crazy because she'd rather be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/martina-s-gone-with-people-who-don-t-want-to-be-out-and-it-drives-her/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [They're not put on earth to be martyrs; they have to want to come out. It depends on your culture, where you work, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/they-re-not-put-on-earth-to-be-martyrs-they-have-to-want-to-come-out/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Trust and respect is something you earn, not something that is given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/trust-and-respect-is-something-you-earn-not-something-that-is-given/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [When we reach the point where the women athletes are getting their pick of dates just as easily as the men athletes, then we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/when-we-reach-the-point-where-the-women-athletes-are-getting-their/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/everyone-has-people-in-their-lives-that-are-gay-lesbian-or/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [A girl didn't get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/a-girl-didn-t-get-an-athletic-scholarship-until-the-fall-of-1972-for/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/women-get-the-attention-when-we-get-into-the-men-s-arena-and-that-s/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Men still get a lot more opportunity. It is still a big part of the old boy network. They have more companies they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/men-still-get-a-lot-more-opportunity-it-is-still-a-big-part-of-the/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [It's very important to take tennis to the people. For young people, they get to see the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/it-s-very-important-to-take-tennis-to-the-people-for-young-people/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [For me, losing a tennis match isn't failure, it's research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/for-me-losing-a-tennis-match-isn-t-failure-it-s-research/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) [Explore all 122 Billie Jean King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't be afraid to hit the ball.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billie Jean King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/billie-jean-king-3780_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball-3116005_3116005.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't be afraid to hit the ball.” — Billie Jean King", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Billie Jean King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't be afraid to hit the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-be-afraid-to-hit-the-ball/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```