---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just have to make sure that I am…"
description: "\"I just have to make sure that I am controlling the strike zone and my swing is on time so I give myself the best chance for having success.\" — Tommy Pham"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg"
---

#  I just have to make sure that I am controlling the strike…

![“I just have to make sure that I am controlling the strike zone and my swing is on time so I give myself the best chance for having success.” quote by Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg)

> “I just have to make sure that I am controlling the strike zone and my swing is on time so I give myself the best chance for having success.”

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success comes from controlling the strike zone and timing the swing.

**In simple terms:** Control the zone and swing timing for success.

Key Takeaway

Focus on precision and timing.

Themes

sports performance discipline

Mood

determined focused

Type

motivational technical

When to use this quote

- baseball
- golf
- tennis
- any skill sport

Key Concepts

motor control strategic focus

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you improve timing? What drills help?

A Different Perspective

External factors like luck still affect outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Controlling Strike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlling-strike-2692021/) [Having Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-success/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Strike Zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strike-zone-280695/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Swing Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swing-time-2692023/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Zone Swing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zone-swing-2692022/)

## Related quotes

> [ \[Reading Swing Time\] made me a feel a little bit like when I used to read David \[Foster\] Wallace. Like, "I can't play that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/reading-swing-time-made-me-a-feel-a-little-bit-like-when-i-used-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [I think a good book is one you can lose yourself in and find yourself in, and that's what I did with 'Swing Time.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-think-a-good-book-is-one-you-can-lose-yourself-in-and-find-yourself/)

[Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/)

> [The main thing you want to look at is, am I swinging at strikes and am I putting good swings on the balls within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/the-main-thing-you-want-to-look-at-is-am-i-swinging-at-strikes-and-am/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I've just got to keep myself in the strike zone, try to look for a specific pitch. If they don't do that, just walk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-ve-just-got-to-keep-myself-in-the-strike-zone-try-to-look-for-a/)

[Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/)

> [America overflows with specious "victims" demanding redress for spurious grievances. However, one genuinely oppressed minority is getting overdue relief. Beginning with spring training in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/america-overflows-with-specious-victims-demanding-redress-for/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [At the end of the day, all we're trying to do is get the hitter off balance. Get him in a position where he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/at-the-end-of-the-day-all-we-re-trying-to-do-is-get-the-hitter-off/)

[Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/)

> [I just keep my game plan the same and try to just go out there and be efficient and attack the strike zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kazmir/i-just-keep-my-game-plan-the-same-and-try-to-just-go-out-there-and-be/)

[Scott Kazmir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kazmir/)

> [Don't try to strike everybody out ... stay back and just focus on the catcher's mitt, just throw the ball low in the strike zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ubaldo-jimenez/don-t-try-to-strike-everybody-out-stay-back-and-just-focus-on-the/)

[Ubaldo Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ubaldo-jimenez/)

> [There's only a certain percentage of the strike zone that you can do extra-base hit, barrel damage with the ball. Just because it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/there-s-only-a-certain-percentage-of-the-strike-zone-that-you-can-do/)

[Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/)

> [It's an ongoing process of reinterpreting the strike zone in accordance to the rulebook. The umpires, I think, are doing an excellent job of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-alderson/it-s-an-ongoing-process-of-reinterpreting-the-strike-zone-in/)

[Sandy Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-alderson/)

> [I got into a bad habit of dropping my elbow and pushing the ball to the plate instead of getting on top of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/i-got-into-a-bad-habit-of-dropping-my-elbow-and-pushing-the-ball-to/)

[Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/)

> [Number one, from a tackling standpoint, we teach strike zone hits, and we want to hit absolutely as hard as we can in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quinn/number-one-from-a-tackling-standpoint-we-teach-strike-zone-hits-and/)

[Dan Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quinn/)

> [Typically, being under the strike zone with the sinker isn't a big issue. I need to be a little bit higher with the strike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/typically-being-under-the-strike-zone-with-the-sinker-isn-t-a-big/)

[Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/)

> [A lot of hitters stay away from the plate, some are close up, some are forward, some are back. The thing about hitting is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-musial/a-lot-of-hitters-stay-away-from-the-plate-some-are-close-up-some-are/)

[Stan Musial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-musial/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

## More by Tommy Pham

> [Strikeouts are part of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/strikeouts-are-part-of-the-game/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I enjoyed my time as a Ray. My teammates helped me open up and have fun as a professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-enjoyed-my-time-as-a-ray-my-teammates-helped-me-open-up-and-have/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [As a team, when you're swinging at strikes and not helping the pitcher... you help out the guy behind you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/as-a-team-when-you-re-swinging-at-strikes-and-not-helping-the-pitcher/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I know I'm being an above-average, elite player in the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-know-i-m-being-an-above-average-elite-player-in-the-game/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I'm a very good fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-m-a-very-good-fighter/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [If Mike Matheny ever went up to me and said, 'Hey, you are in,' I was never caught off-guard as far as preparation. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/if-mike-matheny-ever-went-up-to-me-and-said-hey-you-are-in-i-was/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [When my career is said and done, I don't want to have any regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/when-my-career-is-said-and-done-i-don-t-want-to-have-any-regrets/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I'd rather be told the truth than a good lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-d-rather-be-told-the-truth-than-a-good-lie/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I don't do Muay Thai, Kung Fu and box for no reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-don-t-do-muay-thai-kung-fu-and-box-for-no-reason/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I want to contribute in all aspects of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-want-to-contribute-in-all-aspects-of-the-game/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I had fans in Venezuela throw things at me on the field because I was performing so badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-had-fans-in-venezuela-throw-things-at-me-on-the-field-because-i-was/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I feel the more I play, the more I get better - just to go out there and keep playing, keep learning regarding my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-feel-the-more-i-play-the-more-i-get-better-just-to-go-out-there-and/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [That's the name of the game: preventing runs and scoring runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/that-s-the-name-of-the-game-preventing-runs-and-scoring-runs/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I show up, and I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-show-up-and-i-work/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [It ain't like I had a dad out there to play catch with me or throw me batting practice. I'm proud of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/it-ain-t-like-i-had-a-dad-out-there-to-play-catch-with-me-or-throw-me/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

[Explore all 99 Tommy Pham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

## More Best quotes

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/)

[Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/)

> [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

[Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/)

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

[Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I just have to make sure that I am controlling the strike zone and my swing is on time so I give myself the best chance for having success.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tommy Pham"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-controlling-the-strike-zone-and-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-controlling-the-strike-zone-and-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/tommy-pham-6234_best_i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-contr_1885644.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I just have to make sure that I am controlling the strike zone and my swing is on time so I give myself the…” — Tommy Pham",
                "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": "Tommy Pham",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I just have to make sure...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-controlling-the-strike-zone-and-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-just-have-to-make-sure-that-i-am-controlling-the-strike-zone-and-my/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
