“You can’t hit what you can’t catch”

“You can’t hit what you can’t catch” is a saying that has been used in boxing since at least 1938. The saying has also been used in hockey since at least 1968.
 
“You can’t hit what you can’t see” is a baseball saying. “You can’t beat what you can’t catch” is a horseracing saying.
     
       
10 February 1938 Evening World-Herald (Omaha, NE), “Fighting Arts Teacher Doesn’t Mind a Shiner” (AP), pg. 7, col. 3:
“But he won, and I (Arthur Huffman, a university professor of art—ed.) wish him the best of luck. I trained and was in good shape, but I needed a lot more boxing. You can’t hit what you can’t catch.”
 
19 April 1968, Greensboro (NC) Record, “Single Skate Downs Flyers” (AP), pg. C6, col. 2:
“You can’t hit what you can’t catch, and we couldn’t catch them,” he (Chicago head coach Billy Reay—ed.) said.
 
10 October 1976, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), “Passin’ the puck” by Rich Passan, sec. 3, pg. 13, col. 1h
However, you can’t hit what you can’t catch. The Barons, who play a pesky sort of checking game, will be tough to catch.
 
Google News Archive
18 April 1984, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), “Green giants crush Montreal midgets” by John Meagher, East Island sec., pg. 5, col. 1:
There is an old hockey adage that says you can’t hit what you can’t catch.
 
Google News Archive
8 December 1989, Reading (PA) Eagle, “No mas, please, after Leonard-Duran charade” by Mitch Albom (Knight-Ridder Newspapers), pg. 18, col. 4:
You can’t hit what you can’t catch.
 
Google News Archive
16 July 2005, The Blade (Toledo, OH), “Vargas makes short work of large opponent” by John Harris, pg. C1, col. 1:
Solano’s only chance was to land a good one before Vargas could size him up and put him away, but you can’t hit what you can’t catch.
     
Fox Sports
Speed and composure give Wings early series edge
ART REGNER
Fox Sports Detroit
APR 19, 2014 6:28 p ET
“You can’t hit what you can’t catch” is pretty much the Red Wings’ mantra during their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
 
Bleacher Report—UFC
UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More
By Brian Mazique , Featured Columnist Jun 12, 2014
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While the challenger has ample power to stop anyone in the flyweight division, you can’t hit what you can’t catch.