There is an interesting article about batting practice for major league baseball players: can making batting practice more challenging (in terms of hitting faster and harder to hit pitching) improve one’s batting?
I remember that, as a kid, my dad would lob the ball for me and I’d hit it reasonably well. But when I raced a pitcher trying to strike me out…very different story. I did NOT do so hot. I had an emotional panic, so to speak.
Sometimes, the wrong kind of practice can make you overconfident and make you perform worse.
And speaking of baseball: the practice of using lots of relief pitchers might be hurting the game, at least in terms of attendance. It is tough for batters to continually have to face fresh, hard throwing arms.
Life of an old goat 