--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keep your head on the ball. You've got to…" description: "\"Keep your head on the ball. You've got to hit it first, then look where it goes. People get in trouble when they look for where the ball's going, and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/mike-trout-28780_ball_keep-your-head-on-the-ball-you-ve-got-to_1553076.jpg" --- # Keep your head on the ball. You've got to hit it first… ![“Keep your head on the ball. You've got to hit it first, then look where it goes. People get in trouble when they look for where the ball's going, and they haven't even hit it yet.” quote by Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/mike-trout-28780_ball_keep-your-head-on-the-ball-you-ve-got-to_1553076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/mike-trout-28780_ball_keep-your-head-on-the-ball-you-ve-got-to_1553076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/mike-trout-28780_ball_keep-your-head-on-the-ball-you-ve-got-to_1553076.jpg) > “Keep your head on the ball. You've got to hit it first, then look where it goes. People get in trouble when they look for where the ball's going, and they haven't even hit it yet.” [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on execution before outcome; act first, then evaluate results. **In simple terms:** Do the work before judging. Key Takeaway Prioritize action over speculation. Themes sports focus execution mindset Mood determined focused Type practical motivational When to use this quote - coaching sessions - project launches - skill practice - team meetings Key Concepts performance decision‑making feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - What task are you over‑thinking? - How can you shift to action? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I still swing the way I used to, but when I look up the ball is going in a different direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/i-still-swing-the-way-i-used-to-but-when-i-look-up-the-ball-is-going/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [I just have to come back tomorrow and try again, ... I have to look at the ball and keep swinging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-guerrero/i-just-have-to-come-back-tomorrow-and-try-again-i-have-to-look-at-the/) [Vladimir Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-guerrero/) > [If I lose the ball, I want to get on it as quickly as possible and make up for it, whereas before, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/if-i-lose-the-ball-i-want-to-get-on-it-as-quickly-as-possible-and/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [If I don't get the service or if I don't the ball in the box, where I want it, I start drifting into midfield.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruud-van-nistelrooy/if-i-don-t-get-the-service-or-if-i-don-t-the-ball-in-the-box-where-i/) [Ruud van Nistelrooy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruud-van-nistelrooy/) > [I once hit Quentin on the head with my ball and chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiaki-kuriyama/i-once-hit-quentin-on-the-head-with-my-ball-and-chain/) [Chiaki Kuriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiaki-kuriyama/) > [Hyypia rises like a giraffe to head the ball clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/hyypia-rises-like-a-giraffe-to-head-the-ball-clear/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [I know I can play, but people who haven't seen me and look at me on a football pitch think, 'He's tall, and he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-know-i-can-play-but-people-who-haven-t-seen-me-and-look-at-me-on-a/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [At no point have I stepped on to the pitch thinking I am scared to head the ball, even when I had that mask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/at-no-point-have-i-stepped-on-to-the-pitch-thinking-i-am-scared-to/) [Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/) > [It's been a part of my game that I've worked on a lot because before I went to Forest I couldn't head the ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/it-s-been-a-part-of-my-game-that-i-ve-worked-on-a-lot-because-before/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [The dirty work is so important. 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As a kid, who can turn down chips and candy? But I'm getting better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/as-i-get-older-every-year-i-m-eating-better-as-a-kid-who-can-turn/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [The first couple of years in the minors were tough for me. My numbers were there, but being away from home so young was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/the-first-couple-of-years-in-the-minors-were-tough-for-me-my-numbers/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [I was always told that if people don't want a picture with you, or they don't want an autograph from you, that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/i-was-always-told-that-if-people-don-t-want-a-picture-with-you-or/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [I think people keep baseballs in their cars, just to be prepared in case they see me. 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I wanted to be a history teacher like my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/as-a-kid-i-had-this-ultimate-goal-to-be-a-teacher-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [Technology is ruled by two types of people: those who manage what they do not understand, and those who understand what they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/technology-is-ruled-by-two-types-of-people-those-who-manage-what-they/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [The first professional game of your career is obviously the biggest, but you still get the jitters, you still get the adrenaline rush before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/the-first-professional-game-of-your-career-is-obviously-the-biggest/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [The adrenaline is pumping before or during a game - you're excited, you're anxious. 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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": "Keep your head on the ball. 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