How Much Should You Practice To Be Great?

[@TW-ji8to]

The real answer is there is no answer. Those who seek greatness and love what they do won’t stop at a number

[@arvoh.7834]

Repetitiveness is key

[@James40000]

Actually, practise with purpose. All the love and repetition means nothing if you train badly.

[@mr.o8004]

That’s the truth

[@RCfromtheNYC]

Well said! 👍🏼

[@ddog2094]

100% My G. I love working hard and this channel makes me feel like I have a bunch of brothers that believe in me!!

[@MH-Tesla]

Great video. Very well thought out. Practice is only good IF you can mentally trust yourself in a game. Practice perfectly more than everyone, but stand in the batter's box and worry about striking out, or over think, don't trust your preparation... then you're still going to fail. This game is 90% mental and the other half if physical.

[@stannelson4414]

A lot of coaches need to hear this, too.

[@duckfan2448]

Allen Iverson has entered the chat and be like we talking about practice?

[@robertkidnley93]

We really talking about practice

[@duckfan2448]

@@robertkidnley93 not a game but practice

[@chrisceykovsky]

Second time watching this video - 1st when released and then today. Agreed 100% with you then (I'm a dad with a hard working son) and agree 125% these days. It's amazing the tiny breakthroughs that add up each day, week, month and so on. Good coaches talk a lot - may not be talking to your kid, but if your kid is listening, they're learning. All the tiny details add up - and so far the coach(es) that we lean on - don't hesitate to respond to questions with video provided and kid/parent is confused....even if the kid is no longer on their team.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks so much!!

[@clintcolberg8700]

There are plenty of sports medicine studies that show that specialization makes someone less likely to play at division one or professional levels. Multiple sports help develop multiple muscle groups and movements that aid in the athletes main sport. Specialization leads to more injuries and a higher burn out rate. This has all been scientifically proven. If you want to play any sport at a high level then become a multi-sport athlete.

[@1977TA]

The first thing any aspiring player needs to do is identify their flaws then erase them by learning the proper mechanics. If you are practising with flawed mechanics it won't matter how many hours you spend in the batting cage or fielding ground balls. Remember its quality, not quantity that matters. Taking 10 good swings in practice is better than taking 25 bad swings. I know a lot of guys that tell me they spend hours in the batting cage every day and they keep going until they are worn out and have blisters on their hands. Sure its an endurance workout however they are doing more harm than good. You never want to practice anything while you are fatigued. That is how bad habits are formed. It is worth saying that practice is only as good as your mechanics. Before you worry about how much you should be practising make sure you have identified what you are doing wrong in your swing, throwing motion, and fielding etc. You want to practice with the correct mechanics and always remember quality over quantity.

[@nealwohltmann5642]

I've met so many kids in there early 20 that played just one sport through high school and into college and hated it. One guy told me the happiest day was when he tore up his pitching arm elbow. he said he lost his scholarship but now he get to focus on classes and party.

[@ejwiksten3770]

I understand focusing on classes and hanging with your friends or family or no longer having the stress of sports. But being happy to finally get to focus on getting drunk every weekend seems pretty sad to me.

[@robertkidnley93]

@@ejwiksten3770 it's called being a kid bro I joined the navy at 17 got out at 22 and I feel like I missed out on alot

[@bmore3401]

Thank you for sharing your info with us hearing from someone who’s done it, you have answered so many questions for the casual person. Here’s my like. You a real one.

[@fr.davidtelemond2426]

My major gripe as a former player in high school was that I was never taught the real mental aspects of playing competitive sports. This is as important as learning the fundamentals of a particular sport. After my playing days were over I came to realization that playing competitive sports requires an athlete to basically have a split personality. What this means is that when on the playing field or court you must have a certain level of "contempt" for your opponent that does not go beyond the rules of the sport example being not injuring or harming a player. When off the field you must be a "gracious" athlete or being a good sport. In my observations what makes a truly great athlete is that they have the ability to turn on and off their split personality like a light switch. This is not a very easy thing to do.The problem with this is that the socialization skills we are taught as youngsters by our parents and teachers are antithetical to the mental skills that one needs to be a great athlete. You can have a young athlete be very proficient at playing the sport of their choice but doesn't have a good understanding of the mental aspect of the game, which over time is the most important aspect of the sport. Example being he or she is a good athlete but they do not have the "killer instinct." This is why I truly beleive to teach a young developing athlete the true mental aspects of playing a sport which is the mastery of having a "split personality" is pyscho/socio-pathological. This is the "dirty little secret" that all enlightened coaches keep from there players, because it is not normal. This comes to the big question, is competitive sports a form of sociopathology?

[@TheRealBatBoyAlive]

Probably the most underrated MLB player in my opinion

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheritrix5733]

Why? He had terrible stats

[@aaronross3728]

He was actually very highly rated. He just sucked in the league. (No offense Matt.)

[@theplugcharlie7483]

@@aaronross3728 baseball players know when they suck, it’s ok. He sucked

[@ronnibellino]

@@theplugcharlie7483 Dude was hurt 95% of his career.

[@WZ99-]

@@theplugcharlie7483 just because he didn’t perform at the mlb level. Can’t take away that he was a professional ball player. Dude had talent and played at highest level lol

[@Generate_Sports]

I hit off the tee everyday during its nice out for about 100 swings

[@jimmyalfonsin9397]

I’ve been hitting every day and hoping that my work will pay off

[@tinypoolmodelshipyard]

Hitting every day and getting your swing down to 2nd nature is the key. You can practice fielding or throwing every other day/ 3 times week, but hit timing and smoothness of swing benefit from every day practice.

[@1977TA]

Make sure you are taking 10 to 25 good swings every day. Practice won't pay off if you are using a bad technique. A lot of players think their swing is good and are unaware of what they are doing wrong. Never assume your swing is not flawed. Recording your batting practice on video is a good way to identify flaws.

[@whokitkat]

Practicing hitting everyday does not only train your body mechanics but your suttle anticipation (eye training) of recognizing the spin on balls and types of pitches. I had my son practice BP from 9-13 years old and a rough estimate of about 90,000+ hits/swings to date. we would hit over 1200 balls a week (during the season). During the winter we would hit 500 balls inside with Skils sponge ball for hand eye coordination using 1 inch practice bats to regulation size length and weight bats. I keep mentioning to him that he is not only training his swinging mechanics but improving his visual acuity for hitting too. He is definitely the best hitter on his team today but when I first started when he was 9 years old it was very very slow progress. We would do T-work to throwing all kinds of balls from soft toss to overhand pitches from close distance to regulation pitching distance to using pitching machines. I also video taped him and we would work on hitting mechanics and showed him warm up swings to full all out swings 50 reps at a time which built up his strength to hit for power consistently! Last season before Covid hit the world he had one really spectacular hit of about 300 feet during a game which demonstrated his hard work and perseverance (height 5'2" and 105 lbs)! I did everything I could as long as he wanted to practice and I never got a complaint as he was super focused and motivated. He definitely caught the baseball bug BIG time! Ask any coach if the kid could hit they would find a spot for him on the field! Keep motivated and keep up the hard work ,,,,, it will pay off!

[@jimmyalfonsin9397]

@@whokitkat thanks man tell your son I said that he just needs to make sure to focus on school and don’t let people get to him because he seems super good!

[@jimmyalfonsin9397]

@@1977TA yea man my hitting coach helps me with that I appreciate it!

[@jojomann4703]

Great Video Antonelli! I played 3 sports all through high school (Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball) I am now a senior and i started to specialize in baseball and I know baseball is my #1, is it too early to say I'm done in the other sports? I'm taking my talents to play college baseball in a few months and i stopped playing basketball to pursue that further, should I continue basketball and volleyball on the side for fun? or not risk injury?

[@beyonddeluxe4771]

Heck yeah! Be an athlete above all else. A pickup game here and there during the baseball offseason can help you stay in shape.

[@michaelromero9243]

Tried to get my kids to play multiple sports. Only my youngest was interested. Overall, all you need is 2-3 days a week working out.

[@DoronGriffin15]

Hey Matt, I just always had this question and was hoping you could answer it for me. How can people work on their baseball without their buddies or dad or sister etc when you are 11, 12,13, 14 etc and can’t drive places? How do and what do you work on? What drills or things do you work on? I hope you see this. And thanks for the video, I’ve been subscribed and love your content.

[@connorwilliams3370]

I just get a parent to get like a net or something from dicks or something and a tee to hit off of. For pitching we made a homemade mound. Hope this helps

[@DoronGriffin15]

@@connorwilliams3370 thank you that is something I will definitely look into!😃

[@sizzurpgaming8928]

I use to throw baseballs off a wall and practice fielding them

[@freebird3293]

@@connorwilliams3370 exactly what I did

[@mvpbb897]

I have fun playing/practicing baseball when I’m doin it with another person. When I do it by myself, I get bored and start to count minutes. When I was younger, I used to play baseball all the time all day non stop, but then my friends moved away ;( Now I’m lonely and have basically nobody to practice with accept myself, my net, and a wall

[@stevemalibu99]

So true! Well said!

[@davidbergin6184]

Remember Cardinal pitching great Bob Gibson was a Harlem Globetrotter early in his career.

[@_lit_clips_]

what position did you play in football? i’m a sophomore and i know i can play football been watching and playing football but haven’t been in a game before idk what the right decision is but i’m intrigued to find out what i can do but don’t want to lose my chances of being good at baseball

[@samxyx]

Matt Antonelli spitting facts on this video

[@Briansgate]

Good players practice until they get it right. Great players practice until they can't get it wrong.

[@justinrichards7002]

I don’t believe it’s always about how much or how many times as it is about the quality of practice. Because if u are not practicing the correct things or have bad instructions then it takes 10 times longer to get better.

[@StateoftheFranchiseSports]

If you practice PURPOSEFULLY as opposed to worrying about how much time it takes then you will be able measure your progress instead of looking at it as a time sink

[@ddog2094]

Antonelli. You think if I work my butt off throughout all these 4 next summers I could go somewhere?

[@CoolDude-bl3ym]

Hey Matt I’m 11 12 in April and I’m at 70 front toss exit velocity is that good?

[@jackjohnson1048]

Hehe no lol

[@Goldywannabe]

The reason I only play baseball, is not because I want to get better, but I hate every other sport.

[@TW-ji8to]

What was one of your favorite stories from college or high school baseball?.... also great video

[@eullerich]

Practice? We talking about practice? Seriously though...you rule! Thanks!

[@anthonypang7927]

Matt will never approve of the high school regimen in japan, its the most extreme thing! Players often wake up at 5.30 for morning practice then breakfast, school where they will sleep through class After school you practice till dinner, then you do more practice more, shower, bath, go to bed at maybe 10.30-11.00 region, then wake up next morning and repeat This is 7 days a week for powerhouse schools Winter camp is often called hell camp, if you ask ichiro, matsui, matsuzaka, maeda kenta and co, they would have all gone through this, nomo didnt go through it anywhere as bad though because he went to a no name school with a no name team But boys dream of koshien, the national high school tournament so they feel its what they have to do In most countries this regimen will be abuse and would violate so many amateur athletics rules, but i guess they also see it as a martial art too

[@bennysantos288]

I built a cage in my backyard I try to go up everyday. I've been pretty good with it...How many balls do you think I should be hitting a day. Or what drills should I do. Any tips at all? Love your vids! (I'm 13 btw I am going into high school this next school year)

[@ddog2094]

I'm same age and I take 100 swings every day and do some fielding drills. The best thing you can do is just stay active.

[@bennysantos288]

@@ddog2094 alr fs thanks

[@ddog2094]

@@bennysantos288 Np

[@CSDonohue11]

NON STOP! PRACTiCE IN YOUR SLEEP, SON!

[@positively_broad_st3780]

You're not getting to Carnegie Hall without it, kid...

[@dominicandrew4863]

Were you still getting in the cage and hitting while playing football and hockey in HS? Or did you literally go 4 months without picking up a bat?

[@akasweatbag3065]

You should hit some nukes with the Bat Bros

[@michaelscully5280]

Year round baseball is far more beneficial to the young players who are fortunate to reside in states like Texas, Florida and Cali. There was no baseball in the fall for me growing up in Worcester, Ma. If there was, baseball is the ONLY sport I ever would have played. Not football or basketball.

[@markws80]

If you have to ask, you already don’t have it in you.

[@inmyhouse11]

Doesnt matter how much u practice. It all depends on how much daddy sucks up to the coach

[@robertcuratolo5339]

Well if its people in the chat 24 hours a day.....lol

[@wvtaco4379]

Practice. Who needs practice. LOL

[@Sam-ws1kn]

The real question is...does golf ruin your seing

[@andrewr7982]

10,000 hours

[@joshhy9905]

There is zero dislikes, lol