--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before every game I used to go out and…" description: "\"Before every game I used to go out and shot the same shots over and over and over. In the summer time I spent a lot of time just shooting. So really it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/larry-bird-8994_balls_before-every-game-i-used-to-go-out-and-s_1362770.jpg" --- # Before every game I used to go out and shot the same shots… ![“Before every game I used to go out and shot the same shots over and over and over. In the summer time I spent a lot of time just shooting. So really it just came natural. Whether it's a tie game or down by 1 or up by five, it was always the same shot. So I always felt comfortable with the ball in…” quote by Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/larry-bird-8994_balls_before-every-game-i-used-to-go-out-and-s_1362770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/larry-bird-8994_balls_before-every-game-i-used-to-go-out-and-s_1362770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/larry-bird-8994_balls_before-every-game-i-used-to-go-out-and-s_1362770.jpg) > “Before every game I used to go out and shot the same shots over and over and over. In the summer time I spent a lot of time just shooting. So really it just came natural. Whether it's a tie game or down by 1 or up by five, it was always the same shot. So I always felt comfortable with the ball in my hands because it was in there a million times before.” [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated practice builds muscle memory, making performance reliable under pressure. **In simple terms:** Practice makes actions feel natural. Key Takeaway Practice consistently to build confidence. Themes confidence practice performance consistency Mood focused confident Type motivational practical When to use this quote - sports competition - public speaking - musical performance - emergency response Key Concepts muscle memory skill acquisition pressure handling Questions to Reflect On - How does repetition affect confidence? - When might routine hinder adaptability? A Different Perspective Practice alone cannot guarantee success without strategic adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Summer time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer-time/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I used it in a shot where Richard Burton goes down the hall to get a gun in a closet. And I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/i-used-it-in-a-shot-where-richard-burton-goes-down-the-hall-to-get-a/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [For this game, we shot it just like it as if it was a film so there wasn't that much different from doing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-maran/for-this-game-we-shot-it-just-like-it-as-if-it-was-a-film-so-there/) [Josie Maran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-maran/) > [Sometimes I have to find my shot or find the shots I'm comfortable taking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juancho-hernangomez/sometimes-i-have-to-find-my-shot-or-find-the-shots-i-m-comfortable/) [Juancho Hernangomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juancho-hernangomez/) > [By 2012, my game was shot. You're sitting on your chair watching players' leagues below you play shots you can't. That destroyed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/by-2012-my-game-was-shot-you-re-sitting-on-your-chair-watching/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Sometimes it's hard to be aggressive in looking for your shot if shots aren't going in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/sometimes-it-s-hard-to-be-aggressive-in-looking-for-your-shot-if/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [You look at today, it's a different situation. You have a game that has been transformed into a game where almost every shot is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/you-look-at-today-it-s-a-different-situation-you-have-a-game-that-has/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [1 shot at love, another one for freedom/ 1 shot, 2 shots regardless I'm succeeding/Even though we chiefin we grateful that we breathin/ Tryna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian/1-shot-at-love-another-one-for-freedom-1-shot-2-shots-regardless-i-m/) [Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian/) > [Shooting is really the easiest facet of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/shooting-is-really-the-easiest-facet-of-basketball/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [I think sometimes I'm more fond of doing the research for the character because you learn so much. Sometimes shooting is really difficult because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bai-ling/i-think-sometimes-i-m-more-fond-of-doing-the-research-for-the/) [Bai Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bai-ling/) > [As for my shooting, I really think that what I've done since I was little really paid off. That's become one of my weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuta-watanabe/as-for-my-shooting-i-really-think-that-what-i-ve-done-since-i-was/) [Yuta Watanabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuta-watanabe/) > [I think some people get just locked into 'this is the way it has to be,' and they're afraid of messing something up. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/i-think-some-people-get-just-locked-into-this-is-the-way-it-has-to-be/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [Let me just keep shooting and see if it keeps going in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/let-me-just-keep-shooting-and-see-if-it-keeps-going-in/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [I always messed around a little bit growing up, just shooting with my left hand, but now I'm actually getting real work in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-always-messed-around-a-little-bit-growing-up-just-shooting-with-my/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [As a three shooter, seeing one go through the net, that's all you need to just be shooting it confidently again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/as-a-three-shooter-seeing-one-go-through-the-net-that-s-all-you-need/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [When you're initially making music, you're kind of just shooting at the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/when-you-re-initially-making-music-you-re-kind-of-just-shooting-at/) [Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/) ## More by Larry Bird > [If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/if-there-was-a-payment-to-the-bank-due-and-we-needed-shoes-she-d-get/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I just shoot until I feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-just-shoot-until-i-feel-good/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [If you tell a teammate you're ready to play as tough as you're able to, you'd better go out there and do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/if-you-tell-a-teammate-you-re-ready-to-play-as-tough-as-you-re-able/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Basketball has been my life and I worked at it so hard because I enjoyed it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/basketball-has-been-my-life-and-i-worked-at-it-so-hard-because-i/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I did. I did expect them to work hard every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/when-i-was-a-player-i-didn-t-expect-my-teammates-to-play-the-way-i/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I've always been interested in jobs in the NBA. But I've been in this for 20 years and it might be time to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-jobs-in-the-nba-but-i-ve-been-in-this/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [You can make all the excuses you want, but if you're not mentally tough and you're not prepared to play every night, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/you-can-make-all-the-excuses-you-want-but-if-you-re-not-mentally/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [“I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-ve-got-a-theory-that-if-you-give-100-percent-all-of-the-time/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-have-always-been-confident-in-my-skills-and-once-the-game-got-going/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. You've got to keep pushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-don-t-think-that-once-you-get-to-one-level-you-can-relax-you-ve-got/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [You never make any of the shots you never take. 87% of the ones you do take, you'll miss too. I make 110% of my shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/you-never-make-any-of-the-shots-you-never-take-87-of-the-ones-you-do/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [The best player I ever played with was Dennis Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/the-best-player-i-ever-played-with-was-dennis-johnson/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-mean-the-greatest-athletes-in-the-world-are-african-american/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Strength is not nearly as important as desire. I don't think you can teach anyone desire. I think it's a gift. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/strength-is-not-nearly-as-important-as-desire-i-don-t-think-you-can/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Basketball was always a game to me. One of the greatest things in life for me was to be able to play what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/basketball-was-always-a-game-to-me-one-of-the-greatest-things-in-life/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) [Explore all 76 Larry Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) ## More Balls 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/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [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 don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [And if we seem nutty to you and if we seem like an odd ball to you, just remember one thing. The mighty oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-turner/and-if-we-seem-nutty-to-you-and-if-we-seem-like-an-odd-ball-to-you/) [Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) Jerry Glanville Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before every game I used to go out and shot the same shots over and over and over. 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