Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect, Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
November 2, 2009 by Dave Hudgens
Filed under Baseball Instruction, Featured
Winners are made in practice. Everyone says, “You have to practice like you play,” but very few know what that really means, and even fewer do it. Practicing like you play is quality practice, and it takes mental toughness to practice with that knid of intensity and desire. Watching Greg Maddox and Roger Clemens practice their pitching between starts, you can see their intensity and concentration. When they throw a bad pitch, they do not have the attitude, “It’s okay; it’s only practice.” Instead, Maddox and Clemens both respond like they do in a game; they get upset. When they do not execute a pitch the way they want to in a game, they adjust, refocus, and get it right. This is also exactly how they behave when they practice.
In practice, you should push yourself to do it right, again and again. You pust pressure on yourself to be consistent, because that is what it takes to be great. You cannot hit one or two balls hard out of 10 swings and call yourself successful. Great players are able to repeat their mechanics and approach consistently, day in and day out. You do not make the Hall of Fame in any sport by having one great year. You are a Hall of Famer by performing at a high level for many years. Consistency starts with good practice habits.
Nate Barnett on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 10:40 pm
And no more current example than tonight’s Yankees championship. It always amazes me how much time goes in to practice at the professional level. In a sport that is won and lost by inches, you got it right Dave about practicing your craft well and consistently.