I remember watching an episode Horizon about consciousness and they did an experiment reminiscent of the catching example you gave. A group of participants had to stay under and remote control helicopter that flew around the room quite erratically, catching it once fell out the air. Each contestant did it and, when asked, all professed various different methods and techniques. However, when footage from cameras placed around the room and on each participants heads was studied, they were all doing the exact same thing. I can't remember exactly what they were all doing, something in the vein of moving their bodies so the Helicopter constantly looked like it was moving horizontal to the horizon. This presents interesting insights into how much our brain is controlling, even things which we think we're in control of.