--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not a bad ball if I can hit it." description: "\"It's not a bad ball if I can hit it.\" — Roberto Clemente" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/roberto-clemente-15888_bad_it-s-not-a-bad-ball-if-i-can-hit-it-2220_2220641.jpg" --- # It's not a bad ball if I can hit it. ![“It's not a bad ball if I can hit it.” quote by Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/roberto-clemente-15888_bad_it-s-not-a-bad-ball-if-i-can-hit-it-2220_2220641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/roberto-clemente-15888_bad_it-s-not-a-bad-ball-if-i-can-hit-it-2220_2220641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/roberto-clemente-15888_bad_it-s-not-a-bad-ball-if-i-can-hit-it-2220_2220641.jpg) > “It's not a bad ball if I can hit it.” [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ball is good if you can make contact and play it well. **In simple terms:** Success is about execution, not perfection. Key Takeaway Focus on making the hit. Themes sports performance mindset Mood determined optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - practice sessions - game situations - coaching advice Key Concepts skill confidence execution Questions to Reflect On - What defines a “good” ball for you? - How can you improve your swing? A Different Perspective Ignoring the quality of the ball may overlook external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-ball-3382650/) [Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/) [Ball Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-hit-860743/) [Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) ## Related quotes > [If I would be happy, I would be a very bad ball player. With me, when I get mad, it puts energy in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/if-i-would-be-happy-i-would-be-a-very-bad-ball-player-with-me-when-i/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I always tell myself to bat the full day, and if there is a ball to be hit, just hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/i-always-tell-myself-to-bat-the-full-day-and-if-there-is-a-ball-to-be/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [Of course, in pro ball, they never hit the quarterback in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-namath/of-course-in-pro-ball-they-never-hit-the-quarterback-in-practice/) [Joe Namath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-namath/) > [When I was in Vojvodina, it is not possible to describe. If you play one bad ball, one little mistake, they are, 'Oh, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusan-tadic/when-i-was-in-vojvodina-it-is-not-possible-to-describe-if-you-play/) [Dusan Tadic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusan-tadic/) > [Coming out of college I thought, I'm pretty good, I guess.' But once you're out there - it's a lot faster. The ball's being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/coming-out-of-college-i-thought-i-m-pretty-good-i-guess-but-once-you/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Some players just have the natural stroke that you throw them in the lineup and all of the sudden they turn on a ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/some-players-just-have-the-natural-stroke-that-you-throw-them-in-the/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [The first rule of baseball is to get a good ball to hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/the-first-rule-of-baseball-is-to-get-a-good-ball-to-hit/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [Find out where the ball is, get there; hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranjitsinhji/find-out-where-the-ball-is-get-there-hit-it/) [Ranjitsinhji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranjitsinhji/) > [Casey didn't easily forgive a guy who got doubled up on a hit-and-run play. He didn't see any reason why the runner couldn't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/casey-didn-t-easily-forgive-a-guy-who-got-doubled-up-on-a-hit-and-run/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [To be a good hitter you've got to do one thing - get a good ball to hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/to-be-a-good-hitter-you-ve-got-to-do-one-thing-get-a-good-ball-to-hit/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [One time he (Cool Papa Bell) hit a line drive right past my ear. I turned around and saw the ball hit his ass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satchel-paige/one-time-he-cool-papa-bell-hit-a-line-drive-right-past-my-ear-i/) [Satchel Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satchel-paige/) > [Don't let the ball hit you. Catch it or get out of the way. And if you get out of the way, that's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-machado/don-t-let-the-ball-hit-you-catch-it-or-get-out-of-the-way-and-if-you/) [Manny Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-machado/) > [The key step for an infielder is the first one, but before the ball is hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-key-step-for-an-infielder-is-the-first-one-but-before-the-ball-is/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [On any ball hit to center field, let's just let it roll to see if it might go foul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/on-any-ball-hit-to-center-field-let-s-just-let-it-roll-to-see-if-it/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [The key step for an infielder is the first one, to the left or right, but before the ball is hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-key-step-for-an-infielder-is-the-first-one-to-the-left-or-right/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) ## More by Roberto Clemente > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all I had to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-ballplayer-who-gave-all-i-had-to-give/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [A country without idols is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/a-country-without-idols-is-nothing/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a baseball player. This is something I think about. The more I think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-wanted-to-be-a-baseball-player-this-is/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-am-convinced-that-god-wanted-me-to-be-a-baseball-player/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [The Dodgers told me a big bonus was no good, and they said other players would resent it. Better for me to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/the-dodgers-told-me-a-big-bonus-was-no-good-and-they-said-other/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [But some people act like they think I live in the jungle someplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/but-some-people-act-like-they-think-i-live-in-the-jungle-someplace/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [The farther away you writers stay, the better I like it. You know why? Because you're trying to create a bad image of me...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/the-farther-away-you-writers-stay-the-better-i-like-it-you-know-why/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [A nation without heroes is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/a-nation-without-heroes-is-nothing/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Brooklyn was a famous team. I wanted to play for the Dodgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/brooklyn-was-a-famous-team-i-wanted-to-play-for-the-dodgers/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [God wanted me to be a baseball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/god-wanted-me-to-be-a-baseball-player/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/pitch-me-outside-i-will-hit-400-pitch-me-inside-and-you-will-not-find/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I used to watch Monte Irvin play when I was a kid. I idolized him. I used to wait in front of the ballpark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-used-to-watch-monte-irvin-play-when-i-was-a-kid-i-idolized-him-i/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [There's no difference between me and you. 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