> the brain isn't predicting the path of the ball, only what should be done in any given instant.

"what should be done in any given instant" is a fantasy. Brain processing takes time, nerve signals take time to travel, muscles take time to contract.

Nothing is instantaneous. It all takes time.

It's actually "what should be done a number of moments in the future". And that is a kind of prediction.

I must admit I'm finding all this discussion pretty frustrating - this is really elementary stuff!