--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A curve ball is not something you can…" description: "\"A curve ball is not something you can pick up overnight. It took me years to perfect mine.\" — Bob Gibson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/bob-gibson-30584_ball_a-curve-ball-is-not-something-you-can-pi_2656871.jpg" --- # A curve ball is not something you can pick up overnight… ![“A curve ball is not something you can pick up overnight. It took me years to perfect mine.” quote by Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/bob-gibson-30584_ball_a-curve-ball-is-not-something-you-can-pi_2656871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/bob-gibson-30584_ball_a-curve-ball-is-not-something-you-can-pi_2656871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/bob-gibson-30584_ball_a-curve-ball-is-not-something-you-can-pi_2656871.jpg) > “A curve ball is not something you can pick up overnight. It took me years to perfect mine.” [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastering a skill requires years of dedicated practice; quick mastery is unrealistic. **In simple terms:** Skill takes time to develop. Key Takeaway Commit to long‑term practice. Themes perseverance skill development athletics patience Mood determined inspirational Type motivational educational When to use this quote - sports training - musical instrument learning - craftsmanship Key Concepts deliberate practice expertise Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you during long practice periods? - How do you measure incremental improvement? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow and discouraging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ## Related quotes > [Everywhere you go, mother nature's throwing some curve-ball at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-teti/everywhere-you-go-mother-nature-s-throwing-some-curve-ball-at-you/) [Joe Teti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-teti/) > [ \[A knuckleball is\] a curve ball that doesn't give a damn. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cannon/a-knuckleball-is-a-curve-ball-that-doesn-t-give-a-damn/) [Jimmy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cannon/) > [I'm the one with the wicked curve ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-m-the-one-with-the-wicked-curve-ball/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [Jack Nicklaus liked to curve the ball by opening or closing the clubface at address. I never felt I was good enough to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/jack-nicklaus-liked-to-curve-the-ball-by-opening-or-closing-the-2/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [Sometimes life throws you a curve ball…and you end up liking it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/sometimes-life-throws-you-a-curve-ball-and-you-end-up-liking-it/) Unkown > [“When life throws you a curve ball just give up, no need messing around with that off speed shit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-bowman/when-life-throws-you-a-curve-ball-just-give-up-no-need-messing-around/) Bradley Bowman > [Jack Nicklaus liked to curve the ball by opening or closing the clubface at address. I never felt I was good enough to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/jack-nicklaus-liked-to-curve-the-ball-by-opening-or-closing-the/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [I like to handle the ball in the pick-and-roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/i-like-to-handle-the-ball-in-the-pick-and-roll/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) > [In pick-and-roll situations, I feel like the NBA is all pick-and-rolls, so I want to be able to handle the ball in pick-and-rolls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/in-pick-and-roll-situations-i-feel-like-the-nba-is-all-pick-and-rolls/) [Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/) > [Baseball calls it a curve ball for a reason: you just don't know where some pitches will land. Your ace could get injured. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/baseball-calls-it-a-curve-ball-for-a-reason-you-just-don-t-know-where/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [Well I loved Little League; so all the memories are pretty fond but I broke my thumb. That wasn't a lot of fun. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/well-i-loved-little-league-so-all-the-memories-are-pretty-fond-but-i/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Vagisil. Any one of them will give you another two to three inches drop on your curve ball. Of course if the umps are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-harris/vagisil-any-one-of-them-will-give-you-another-two-to-three-inches/) [Eddie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-harris/) > [ You know, you can try and plan \[filming\] as much as you want, but you get there on game day and you get thrown… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/you-know-you-can-try-and-plan-filming-as-much-as-you-want-but-you-get/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [You're gonna get thrown curve balls left and right, and that's just the way it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/you-re-gonna-get-thrown-curve-balls-left-and-right-and-that-s-just/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [When we are young, we spend much time and pains in filling our note-books with all definitions of Religion, Love, Poetry, Politics, Art, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-we-are-young-we-spend-much-time-and-pains-in-filling-our-note/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Bob Gibson > [I owe the public just one thing - a good performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/i-owe-the-public-just-one-thing-a-good-performance/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [In a world filled with hate, prejudice, and protest, I find that I too am filled with hate, prejudice, and protest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/in-a-world-filled-with-hate-prejudice-and-protest-i-find-that-i-too/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [Nothing matters...until you care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/nothing-matters-until-you-care/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [When I knocked a guy down, there was no second part to the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/when-i-knocked-a-guy-down-there-was-no-second-part-to-the-story/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [Fishing is one of the greatest things that you can do, it has the power to relax you like nothing else and there's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/fishing-is-one-of-the-greatest-things-that-you-can-do-it-has-the/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [It is not something I earned or acquired or bought (the ability to pitch). It is a gift. It is something that was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/it-is-not-something-i-earned-or-acquired-or-bought-the-ability-to/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [“The basis of intimidation as I practiced it was mystery. I wanted the hitter to know nothing about me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/the-basis-of-intimidation-as-i-practiced-it-was-mystery-i-wanted-the/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [My pitching philosophy is simple. I believe in getting the ball over the plate and not walking a lot of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/my-pitching-philosophy-is-simple-i-believe-in-getting-the-ball-over/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [A great catch is like watching girls go by. The last one you see is always the prettiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/a-great-catch-is-like-watching-girls-go-by-the-last-one-you-see-is/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [I could be a real jerk on the days I was pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/i-could-be-a-real-jerk-on-the-days-i-was-pitching/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [Why do I jave to be an example for your kid? You be an example for your own kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/why-do-i-jave-to-be-an-example-for-your-kid-you-be-an-example-for/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [Believe me, I would much rather get three outs on three pitches than three outs on nine pitches, because that's going to make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/believe-me-i-would-much-rather-get-three-outs-on-three-pitches-than/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [When I was playing I never wished I was doing anything else. I think being a professional athlete is the finest thing a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/when-i-was-playing-i-never-wished-i-was-doing-anything-else-i-think/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [Why do I have to be an example for your kid? You be an example for your own kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/why-do-i-have-to-be-an-example-for-your-kid-you-be-an-example-for/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) > [When I gave up a grand slam to Pete LaCock, I knew it was time to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gibson/when-i-gave-up-a-grand-slam-to-pete-lacock-i-knew-it-was-time-to-quit/) [Bob Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) [Explore all 17 Bob Gibson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gibson/) ## More Ball quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/sometimes-in-midfield-it-s-nice-because-you-do-get-a-little-bit-more/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [After '8 Mile' came out and blew up, the ball has been rolling ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/after-8-mile-came-out-and-blew-up-the-ball-has-been-rolling-ever-since/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) > [I don't believe in moral victories. I don't think in pro ball they exist, and they shouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-don-t-believe-in-moral-victories-i-don-t-think-in-pro-ball-they/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [In Memphis we don't talk. We ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-we-don-t-talk-we-ball/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [I'm good with the ball, I can score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bergwijn/i-m-good-with-the-ball-i-can-score/) [Steven Bergwijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bergwijn/) > [The golf ball doesn't care about know how hard you're working, or how many hours you slept that night. It only matters, what speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/the-golf-ball-doesn-t-care-about-know-how-hard-you-re-working-or-how/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I have to chase down the most scientifically efficient way to get the golf ball in the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-have-to-chase-down-the-most-scientifically-efficient-way-to-get-the/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [I dislike the gym, but I'll chase a tennis ball all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-dislike-the-gym-but-i-ll-chase-a-tennis-ball-all-day/) [Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/) > [There's one ball on the field, and that ball is mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-mendoza/there-s-one-ball-on-the-field-and-that-ball-is-mine/) Salvador Mendoza Browse all 1,822 Ball quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A curve ball is not something you can pick up overnight. 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