What is the hardest thing to do in sports?

[Brendan]

The context obviously isn't consistent. You might need to do something like:

Be able to Putt at a PGA level.
Be able to hit baseball at a replacement level for MLB.
Be able to return servers at the pro level.

Etc.

[Roy Hobbs]

Saving a penalty kick in soccer is at least 75% luck, but if a goalie guesses right, the physical act isn't that hard.

I went with baseball.  I think any one of us could eventually hit decently, if we practiced continually and were thrown nothing but fastballs.  However, with the diversity of today's pitchers, the task of hitting is extraordinary difficult. 

[Eja117]

I tried to think of which I see least often and went with the golf putt.

For hitting the ball I see it's the most popular answer, but I actually eliminated it first as possibly the easiest. I just thought "Even Pedro hits it about 9% of the time and he's like the worst hitter ever"

[2short]

I have always felt that a goalie does not stop a penalty kick.  The person shooting made a mistake, it's that hard.  Someone can practice a 15 foot put over and over until they can do it.  A goalie really should never be able to stop a pk.

[MBz]

I tried to think of which I see least often and went with the golf putt.

For hitting the ball I see it's the most popular answer, but I actually eliminated it first as possibly the easiest. I just thought "Even Pedro hits it about 9% of the time and he's like the worst hitter ever"

yeah 9% of the time.  Meaning he fails 91% of the time.  Not good haha.

[indeedproceed]

I have heard that hitting a MLB fastball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

That said returning a 140 serve from a flying little yellow ball of fuzz seems pretty impossible.

[Roy Hobbs]

I have heard that hitting a MLB fastball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

I don't think it's all that hard to hit a fast ball; it's all a matter of getting your reflexes right and your timing down.  I've hit fastballs in the 85 to 88 mph range, and I'm not all that great.  If the pitcher stays at about the same speed, I think just about any person of average athleticism can eventually make consistent contact, although it would obviously take some time to get used to.

What's difficult is hitting a fastball when you don't know if the next pitch is going to be a fastball, or a curve, or a splitter (which absolutely suck), or a slider, etc., etc. 

[D Dub]

I have heard that hitting a MLB fastball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

I don't think it's all that hard to hit a fast ball; it's all a matter of getting your reflexes right and your timing down.  I've hit fastballs in the 85 to 88 mph range, and I'm not all that great.  If the pitcher stays at about the same speed, I think just about any person of average athleticism can eventually make consistent contact, although it would obviously take some time to get used to.

What's difficult is hitting a fastball when you don't know if the next pitch is going to be a fastball, or a curve, or a splitter (which absolutely suck), or a slider, etc., etc. 

True, but Baseball is the one sport where if you only have success  30% of the time (on offense), you go to the hall of fame.

I honestly think excelling throughout an entire NBA season is the hardest thing in sports.  First off, you have to win the genetic lottery to even be eligible.  Then you have to be able to run countless miles several times a week in between cross-country flights.  And then theres the confidence, agility and finesse to score at will. 

Most every other sport can be dominated through shortcuts (steroids) or repitition of practice.  Not the NBA though.  I can practice my post moves all I want, but at 5'11" - I have no chance at succeeding.

I've always felt pro basketball players are the best athletes in the world.  The combo of size, agility, and endurance -- both physically and mentally -- is unparalleled.   

[nickagneta]

I have heard that hitting a MLB fastball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

I don't think it's all that hard to hit a fast ball; it's all a matter of getting your reflexes right and your timing down.  I've hit fastballs in the 85 to 88 mph range, and I'm not all that great.  If the pitcher stays at about the same speed, I think just about any person of average athleticism can eventually make consistent contact, although it would obviously take some time to get used to.

What's difficult is hitting a fastball when you don't know if the next pitch is going to be a fastball, or a curve, or a splitter (which absolutely suck), or a slider, etc., etc. 

True, but Baseball is the one sport where if you only have success  30% of the time (on offense), you go to the hall of fame.

I honestly think excelling throughout an entire NBA season is the hardest thing in sports.  First off, you have to win the genetic lottery to even be eligible.  Then you have to be able to run countless miles several times a week in between cross-country flights.  And then theres the confidence, agility and finesse to score at will. 

Most every other sport can be dominated through shortcuts (steroids) or repitition of practice.  Not the NBA though.  I can practice my post moves all I want, but at 5'11" - I have no chance at succeeding.

I've always felt pro basketball players are the best athletes in the world.  The combo of size, agility, and endurance -- both physically and mentally -- is unparalleled.   

While I agree the best athletes in the world are NBA basketball players, that doesn't mean that they could do the difficult things they do in baseball. For instance, my guess here is that there are a lot more, like a ton more, MLB players that can hit a three pointer and dunk a basketball than there are NBA players that can hit a curveball or throw a 75 MPH fastball for a strike.

[Donoghus]

Some diversity on the voting results although I'm a bit surprised to see that 3 people voted for the alley oop option.   

[Neurotic Guy]

Making this concrete for myself helps me answer (I am presuming that I have to do these things tomorrow - no practice):

1) Hit 1 ball in fair territory given 10 pitches (any pitch) from a major league pitcher
2) Block 1 out of 10 penalty kicks from a Major League Soccer player
3) Sink 3 straight 15 foot putts on a PGA championship green
4) Hit 1 out of 10 serves in play from a Pro tour Tennis player
5) Save 1 out of 10 shots from an NHL player (from just in front of the blue line)
6) Finish an alley-oop on a ten foot hoop

There is only one thing that I absolutely couldn't do -- the alley oop -- but that is much harder for me than a person who is 6'5" or taller.  Not all that hard for a 7-footer with average skills. Really have to eliminate that one as it is too dependent upon height.


Everything else would be based completely upon luck. I'd fail miserably at all.  But I'd have the least chance (my guess) against a major league pitcher.

[MBz]

I think this should be changed to the hardest thing for a professional athlete to do.  The height concept is a cop out in my opinion.  For a professional basketball player, an alley oop is just not that hard.  The success rate is much higher than 26%-27% which is where I'd say an average baseball would hit, about .260 to .270.  Also, if we're going to say completing an alley oop, then the baseball comparison should be something like throwing out a tagging runner from 3rd base or throwing out an attempted steal.

[Bahku]

Get a hole-in-one on a par five.

[PosImpos]

Definitely the penalty kick.  Look at what most professional soccer players are able to do with the ball when they kick it e.g. curving it and then look at the size of the goalie compared to the size of the goal.  Saving a penalty kick at the professional level is really, really difficult. 

[celticinorlando]

right now it is boston winning a home game on a Friday night