--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I became a good pitcher when I stopped…" description: "\"I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.\" — Sandy Koufax" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg" --- # I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them… ![“I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.” quote by Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg) > “I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.” [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pitcher improves by focusing on making batters hit the ball rather than miss, shifting strategy to control and confidence. **In simple terms:** Control the game by inviting contact. Key Takeaway Focus on precision over avoidance. Themes sports strategy confidence control skill Mood strategic confident Type sports coaching When to use this quote - baseball coaching - athlete mindset - skill training Key Concepts pitching technique mental focus performance optimization Questions to Reflect On - How does this affect batter behavior? - What drills develop this mindset? A Different Perspective May risk hits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-sports/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [A guy that throws what he intends to throw, that's the definition of a good pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/a-guy-that-throws-what-he-intends-to-throw-that-s-the-definition-of-a/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The minute I stopped trying to find the right person, and started trying to become the right person...the right person came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-minute-i-stopped-trying-to-find-the-right-person-and-started/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter how good the pitcher, she is still hit-able in more than one way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-warren/no-matter-how-good-the-pitcher-she-is-still-hit-able-in-more-than-one/) Kiersten Warren > [It's great for another young guy, another good pitcher to match up against. But like I've said many times, it doesn't really matter who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/it-s-great-for-another-young-guy-another-good-pitcher-to-match-up/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [Generally in the Little League you're up against a good pitcher who throws like hell. What does the coach say? Get a walk. Isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/generally-in-the-little-league-you-re-up-against-a-good-pitcher-who/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [The reason I think I'm a good pitcher is I locate my fastball and I change speeds. Period. That's what you do to pitch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-maddux/the-reason-i-think-i-m-a-good-pitcher-is-i-locate-my-fastball-and-i/) [Greg Maddux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-maddux/) > [When I tried to play something and screwed up, I'd hear some other note that would come into play. Then I started trying different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimebag-darrell/when-i-tried-to-play-something-and-screwed-up-i-d-hear-some-other/) [Dimebag Darrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimebag-darrell/) > [When I first started out, I was trying to write stories about nurses and lawyers and a lot of people I didn't know anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-first-started-out-i-was-trying-to-write-stories-about-nurses/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I thought I should try something relatively inexpensive, relatively contained, relatively small. I started working on a feature, a film I'd still like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ferguson/i-thought-i-should-try-something-relatively-inexpensive-relatively/) [Charles Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ferguson/) > [To my knowledge, I was the first guy really to do what I do. And then later on different comedians started trying doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/to-my-knowledge-i-was-the-first-guy-really-to-do-what-i-do-and-then/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I felt like I got more comfortable on 'Idol' when I just started being myself and not trying to be what I thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-dioguardi/i-felt-like-i-got-more-comfortable-on-idol-when-i-just-started-being/) [Kara DioGuardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-dioguardi/) > [I started trying to write songs when I was 8 or 9 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sondre-lerche/i-started-trying-to-write-songs-when-i-was-8-or-9-years-old/) [Sondre Lerche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sondre-lerche/) > [I put a lot of pressure on myself to figure out what to say and, lately, I've started trying to work through things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gunn/i-put-a-lot-of-pressure-on-myself-to-figure-out-what-to-say-and/) Steve Gunn > [I started trying to write when I was in second or third grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-started-trying-to-write-when-i-was-in-second-or-third-grade/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [I think I started out trying to be very objective about the flow of the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rado/i-think-i-started-out-trying-to-be-very-objective-about-the-flow-of/) James Rado ## More by Sandy Koufax > [People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/people-who-write-about-spring-training-not-being-necessary-have-never/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/if-there-was-any-magic-formula-it-was-getting-to-pitch-every-fourth/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [There is among us a far closer relationship than the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we are bound together not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/there-is-among-us-a-far-closer-relationship-than-the-purely-social/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I can't picture people talking about me 50 years from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-picture-people-talking-about-me-50-years-from-now/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don't have to ask anyone or play politics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-game-has-a-cleanness-if-you-do-a-good-job-the-numbers-say-so-you/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [A guy that throws what he intends to throw, that's the definition of a good pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/a-guy-that-throws-what-he-intends-to-throw-that-s-the-definition-of-a/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [It's better to throw a theoretically poorer pitch whole-heartedly, than to throw the so-called right pitch with feeling of doubt-doubt that's it's right, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/it-s-better-to-throw-a-theoretically-poorer-pitch-whole-heartedly/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/show-me-a-guy-who-can-t-pitch-inside-and-i-ll-show-you-a-loser/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I've got a lot of years to live after baseball and I would like to live them with the complete use of my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-ve-got-a-lot-of-years-to-live-after-baseball-and-i-would-like-to/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I don't think I've ever seen anybody with quicker hands than Soriano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-anybody-with-quicker-hands-than-soriano/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I don’t know if cortisone is good for you or not. But to take a shot every other ball game is more than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-don-t-know-if-cortisone-is-good-for-you-or-not-but-to-take-a-shot/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The only time I really try for a strikeout is when I'm in a jam. If the bases are loaded with none out, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-only-time-i-really-try-for-a-strikeout-is-when-i-m-in-a-jam-if/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-better-player-than-willie-mays/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I think it's incredible because there were guys like (Willie) Mays and (Mickey) Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-were-guys-like-willie-mays-and/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [If I could straighten it out (his golf swing), I'd be pitching at Dodger Stadium tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/if-i-could-straighten-it-out-his-golf-swing-i-d-be-pitching-at-dodger/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) [Explore all 20 Sandy Koufax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sandy Koufax" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-trying-to-make-them-miss-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-trying-to-make-them-miss-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/sandy-koufax-27928_athlete_i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-t_133663.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit…” — Sandy Koufax", "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": "Sandy Koufax", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I became a good pitcher when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-trying-to-make-them-miss-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-trying-to-make-them-miss-the/#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 } } ] } ```