Anger as a motivator or what motivates you

thanks

For all the input . Let me rephrase it a bit . I was angry but not out of
control . After a nights sleep my thoughts are I lost focus on the easy 8
and made a choice to use my frustration in a positive way in the next
match instead of just let it beat me like it has in the past .I got focused
and determined to win .I don't really think I sharked the guy ?He only got
to the table 3 times during 4 games and was hooked or had no shot.
Maybe next time I will not miss it or if I do ,just laugh it off ,relax,and
focus .I'm always looking for ways to work on my mental game .What I
am hiting at by this post is how can you hit that higher gear or state of
focus ,the zone,or whatever just at will instead of being an emotional
player like me and having to get a little pissed or be in a great mood .

Did not know if any had heard the story about Ali and his bike when he was
a kid ? Seems he had worked all summer to save up and get it as he came
from a poor family .He had it a day or so and it got stolen . The story goes
that whenever he told the story he would tell people that whenever he got
in the ring he looked across at his oponent he said to himself "there's the
guy that stole my bike !!" I thought it was a great story ,went to the Ali
museum when I was at Derby City 2 years back.


ali.jpg
MUHAMMAD ALİ Who would've thought that a stolen bike was the key to the beginning of the Muhammad Ali story? But it was. In 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky, 12-year-old Cassius Marcellus Clay's bike was stolen while he and a friend were at the Columbia Auditorium. Young Cassius found a cop in a gym, Joe Martin, and boiling with youthful rage, told Martin he was going to "whup" whoever stole his bike. Martin admonished, "You better learn to box first." Within weeks, 89-pound Cassius had his first bout—his first win. For the next 27 years, Cassius would be in that ring. Even in his youth, he had dreams of being heavyweight champion of the world. But his life would take turns that no seer could've predicted.February 23, 2008 at 5:45pm · Report
 
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ShootingArts said:
Hot anger is only going to motivate you for a few minutes rarely even an hour. If you think it works for you soon your focus will be on trying to maintain an artificial state and you don't have the focus to put on the task at hand. Channeling hot anger and adrenaline can let you do the seeming impossible so unless it ties you up it isn't necessarily bad short term. Fight or flight is in full gear and you can translate "fight" into whatever you are doing.

Cold anger is a different story. I have practiced with great intensity for over eight hours thinking about a large money match with someone that had really offended me. I have also torn through a field like the best there were nothing. Rarely can I hit that level of intensity for even an hour or two in practice. So, anger can work, depending on how you channel it. Anger can also tie up your muscles so you can't make a ball. Anger is somewhat unpredictable and has been mentioned burns tremendous energy. Rarely to be relied on for more than very short performances. One run out for example, unlikely to carry you through a match much less a tourney.
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Best post in the thread IMO. I have played alot of tournaments with the intense focus that channeled anger (or controlled aggression is another way of looking at it) can bring and to great effect. It DOES burn a huge amount of energy as mentioned, but it can also cause you to play with an amount of focus that few pool players ever realize.

I think alot of people have no concept of the above and thus alot of the responses are unsure of how anger can create the intense sense of focus in some people. This is not akin to missing a ball and being pissed off, this is not about having played bad last set and marching around the table shooting in a huff. This is more a targetted intensity that the people who can manage it aim squarely at the exact task at hand in the most specific of fashions, they will use the intensity to analise the out, they will use that intensity and channel it on the precise outcome of a specific shot, and they will use it as a weapon against a particularilly tough shot that dares to threaten to end their run, refusing to let the game think it can stop them with some crappy roll. They will bare down, aim the particularilly tough shot right down the throat of the game, put it in the heart with perfect shape, and this will in fact increase their drive and aggression like a gladiator that just chopped off someones head and is now looking around for his next victim (ball).

These types of players normally don't talk one bit in a match, they do everything during the match with specific focus, from shooting a ball, to racking the balls, to taking a sip from their glass of water. They are at that time completely focused on every little action and anything outside of their frame of focus is irrelevant and ignored. When a player is truly playing in this state the last thing you are going to see is an emotional outburst.

That said, this type of focus wears you out like you would not believe.
 
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Lots of great input on this subject.

Anger is not what you use to play better. Anger is what you used to control your focus on how to play. It was the slap on the face that said, "Hey, you play better than that, now focus". Sometimes you see people that are "In the Zone" and you think they are angry. The face of a confident, composed, focused shooter can look a lot like that of someone that is mad.

For me, my focus comes from a few things.

First, I'm married to a non-pool supporter. Which to me is no different than being a broke pool player. A few years ago I asked Scott Frost what pushed him to hit that even higher gear. His response, "You shoot because you love the game and competition, I shoot to eat!" I took this to heart and put it in my situation. Every match, tournament, etc that I play, I focus even more on winning. It's so much easier to come home with extra money, split it with the wife, and use this to remind her the next night out. If I came home broke every night, my nights would become less and less.

Second, I focus on learnijng and pushing myself to get better every day. I practice like I play, and I play like I practice.
 
Blackjack said:
Anger is basically a form of fear. It can disguise itself as motivation, but it is basically "negative" motivation that is fueled by anxiety. Fear usually leads to panic, a loss of emotional control, and eventually self destruction.

Pocketing balls, getting position, winning a game or match, is an external task. Anger is an emotion, and it it is an internal reaction to external stimuli. It shifts your focus from external to internal.

Anger increases your blood pressure, while decreasing your concentration on the task at hand. When you become angry, the anger (or the source of the anger) becomes the focus of your attention. Your performance will deteriorate which will further fuel the anger.

IMO, there are many positive emotional states that are much better motivators than anger - Happy and confident, calm and focused, anxious but excited, etc. I've been watching Efren for over 20 years and I have never seen him anger himself towards victory.

Players need to avoid evaluating and judging their performance during competition. Judgmental thinking about how you are are playing will often lead to irrational generalizations. You angry at yourself or something else, and that is all you concentrate on. It's like missing a shot during the first game of a set and still focusing on it (with anger) 7 games later.

Anger, like anything else, can be avoided by using key words or cue words. These are phrases that lead you back to being focused and in the zone. This will help you focus on the task at hand, rather than the source or trigger of your anger.

I'm sure there will be many players that will argue that their anger is what motivates them to victory. I am sure there are some instances where that may be true, but remember that anger will use up a lot of your mental energy. Anything that is gained from anger will be short-lived. So, if you are successful while using anger as a motivator, you should expect to experience another momentum shift that will favor your opponent.

Don't get pissed off about it. :smile:
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Awsome post !! greenies for you, I tell my guys do not use anger to go out on mission's Being angry clouds your mind and cam lead to mad judgement calld then on to bad things.
 
You were lucky enough to have another match coming up and smart enough to regroup after missing an easy shot and play with a chip on your shoulder the rest of the night. Sometimes we need a good slap in the face to get our focus back and play the way were capable of playing. It's O.K. to get mad at yourself for making a stupid mistake as long as your smart enough to know you're the one that made the mistake, and admit it.

I was playing a player in a tournament, many years ago, that insisted on busting my balls every time I was at the table. I couldn't make a ball but he wouldn't let up. He had me 8-1 going to nine. I sat down next to him in the middle of my next inning, while he was still trying to bust my balls. I said, "You know, I was sound asleep and I couldn't make a ball. You should have left me there.I may not win this match but the next game you win is going to be the hardest game you ever win." To say the least, I was pissed, but under control. I broke the nine in to win the set. This was my first match of the tournament. I went on to win the tournament. My opponent went home after his next match.

I have on the other hand, made some of the dumbest plays I've ever made after losing my cool. I know I perform better in a happy state of mind.
 
Oddball said:
My best games come out when I truly no longer worry about the result or score or anything. The "zone" for me is like crystal clear still water. I don't feel anything. No happiness or sadness or anxiety or excitement. It just "is".
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This describes when I play my best games, too! I call it "being numb." You described it much better, though!

I have only played a few times with "anger" and played well, otherwise, I don't really play well with my mind like that. I agree with others the anger just might have been "focus" but I play my BEST when I am "numb" as Oddball describes above.
 
Blackjack said:
Ray,

We will have to agree to disagree. "The zone" is an altered state of consciousness. It is characterized by the player having perfect harmony in their thoughts, emotions, and actions. There is no room for anger.

"Angering" yourself into the zone will make those "deep zone" periods much shorter for obvious reasons. More times than not, if you are overly emotional about the external, the zone will be unavailable to you. Using anger as a trigger won't work either. Anger leads to outbursts (inwardly or outwardly). What I think we might agree on, is the fact that the presence of anger needs to be recognized first. Once it is recognized, you must have cue phrases or triggers that lead your mind and thoughts towards control, NOT what triggered the anger. This is accomplished by (as you said) using triggers. However, you must use triggers that lead you toward positive thought and emotional control, not anger.

Outbursts of anger are signs of loss of emotional control. Outbursts are fine, as long as you are able to regain and maintain control afterward. If the player remains angry, there will be no control, more emotional outbursts, mumbling, ranting, and eventually a loss of confidence.

Fear is a natural emotion and a natural response in high pressure situations. All anger is based in fear. It could be fear of losing control, losing a match, not making a shot, consequences thereof, etc. Anger is used as a primal response to fear, and it is actually deceptive to what is really going on behind the eyes.

Plain and simple, anger masks fear. While in the zone you must be in control of your thoughts, actions and emotions. If you are angry or fearful in the zone, then chances are you aren't there anymore.
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Some good points. But, "all anger is based in fear." I would be interested to know the title of psyche book you read this. IMO, this statement is ridiculous. Somebody go get Joe, our resident psychologist.
 
Not Sure But....

I have played really pissed off and played some great pool. Not sure if pissed off is the same as angry though.. When someone disrespects the game or attempts to shark me I get pissed off and want them to suffer so my concentration/focus and desire to win are my top priority. Of course there is also the great satisfaction of destroying the opponent!!!!
JMO!!!!!!!
Dan
 
akaTrigger said:
This describes when I play my best games, too! I call it "being numb." You described it much better, though!

I have only played a few times with "anger" and played well, otherwise, I don't really play well with my mind like that. I agree with others the anger just might have been "focus" but I play my BEST when I am "numb" as Oddball describes above.
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Great post, Trigger. I've played mad a few times, it usually doesn't work out well. When I'm numb is when my game really shines...That's when I run packages, when I don't care how my opponent feels, or who walks in front of my shot....

A "neutral" state is conducive to playing good pool....imo.
 
Anger has been an enormous motivator for me lately.

Motivated me to head straight for the door after gettin knocked out my last 2 tourneys.

Anger has no place in the game. I dont think it helps. Negative feelings give negative results.

Im not usually an angry player. I dont usually yell and throw schtuff. i tend to be pretty mellow. But having just given up the Marlboro reds pretty recently, ive been prone to becoming very frustrated very quickly. Funny thing is i am quite conscious of it and still can't control it enough. (maybe topic for my next thread)


Jerry
 
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