Do you, or someone you know, play a whole lot better when they're pissed off?

John Disque

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Do you, or someone you know, play a whole lot better when you're pissed off?

The question is in the title and I'm interested in your responses...

Do you, or someone you know, play a whole lot better when you're pissed off?
 
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No I try to remain emotionless. Getting really happy makes me complacent and getting really angry lets in to many inner thoughts.
 
I play much better when someone pisses me off. I find it easier to focus because all of the other distractions of the day disappear.
 
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I mean I might shoot a little straighter, but position play and decision making definitely drop a bit. It will probably depend on the skill of the person who pissed me off to determine if I would "play better". Shooting straighter against someone worse can probably help. I don't think playing worse position or making bad decisions against a better player is going to be +ev in the long run.

Additionally, I try to learn more about the game by watching what my opponent does. What I should be doing in situation x by watching a better opponent and vice versa with weaker opponents. That's not always the case though as some weaker players may do certain things better than you. Hard to learn and pick up on things if you're angry.
 
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I play much better when someone pisses me off. I find it easier to focus because all of the other distractions of the day disappear.

I would agree. It focuses me on the task at hand and surprisingly, allows me to channel that anger into destroying my opponent. I still play well without being pissed, but a little motivation to empty a wallet is helpful.

:thumbup::thumbup::D:D:D
 
It also causes me to focus. Anger gets the heart pumping and the eyes to really see the contact point. Maybe I need to stay angry when I play!!!!
 
Definitely Do Not Play Better

When I was first starting to play pool seriously, I had one heck of a temper on me. I blew up internally at myself constantly or when other people would do something rude, and lost a lotttt of games because of it.

I've finally gotten to the point where I don't take pool as personally anymore, and my quality of play has skyrocketed. I do have some friends though that anger or angst brings the focus and the pain between the rails though.
 
It depends on why I am pissed off...

Sometimes, especially if it is my opponent that pisses me off, it motivates me to sharpen my focus and shoot above my weight. Other times, it overwhelms me and I play even worse.

But I don't enjoy playing that way even when I win. I would rather just be having fun playing.
 
It depends on how I react to being mad. When I want to destroy them on the table, I play really well and do it. If I just feel like yelling or fighting, then I play worse.
 
It depends on how I react to being mad. When I want to destroy them on the table, I play really well and do it. If I just feel like yelling or fighting, then I play worse.

100% agree! If I "hate" a guy for looking or acting cocky playing or I just don't like something about him, my game improves drastically! But If I really hate the guy in real life I play worse!
 
anger exacerbates tremors......

so... a few years back a young guy accuses me of 'slow playing' him to try and
shark him. We were in the middle of a winners side match. Well, I do have tremors
and it takes me time to play... (I generally don't like really slow players either), but I
don't feel I play that slow. Anyway it p.o.'d me so badly that I dumped the match as
I was "shaking mad" and on full tilt.

After a run through the B side.... I get to meet the whippersnapper in the final, and
needed to double dip. Races to 5.... and a refocused old geezer.... I think I let him
see maybe 3-4 balls..only one of which was a shot (a jawed 9 in the pocket). 5-1, 5-0
and maybe the most satisfying victory of my life.

I have to say that, that was by far the exception, and NOT the rule.

td
 
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