Anyone play better mad?

ElKabong

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was banging them around at lunch today with one of my usual opponents.
Most of us rarely gamble in these lunch time games, and if so, only for a buck or two on the 9 or some $10 1P (that's pretty much playing for time :D )

Anyway, I was just kinda floatin along and getting beat like 6 or 7 racks in a row when my friend started woofing, mainly for the benefit of the other retired gentleman sitting around (I'm in my 30's btw). About this time I suddenly got focused and won 2 or 3. Next rack I break, making nothing, and he pushes to a table length THIN backwards cut into a corner. By this time I'm feeling pretty froggy so I cut it in and proceed to run out, having to break a cluster up in the process. For someone my speed, that's a pretty sporty out.

So now I start woofing, mainly about how a run from a push should pay double (fine he says...what's nothingX2 :p ).

I went back to my normal lunch time sloppy play after 15 minutes or so.

Does anyone ever get MAD at their opponent, even if it's a friend, in order to get in stroke?

ElKabong
 
I would imagine that some people do...but I can't think it would be something I would strive for.

Perhaps you were not really mad.....but for 15 minutes you just had some "extra" desire to win.

Shaq came to town recently for the Suns and made the following comment...(or something real similar)

After seeing the poll results asking if the people thought the Suns got the better deal...70% said No the Suns got the worst of the deal.

Shaq said something to the effect of...

"That poll makes me mad...I play good when I am mad"....then had said something about..."The last time I was mad I won a championship"...Then he went on to say something about "all you earthlings" and so on and so on...
 
There have been times when I played lights out pool (usually when my opponent says or does something) when I was royally ticked off and other times I played like crap.
 
I've heard Buddy Hall say someone was "mad enough to start playing good". I think a good player who isn't concentrating might play better mad if he's not focused, but a lot of times anger gives people an excuse to not play properly and they just go off and start banging balls.
 
I see plenty of people get mad and start slamming them.
When I get in this mode, the touch gets better and I "see" position and move whitey around a lot better.
I guess mad isn't the right term, maybe "determined".

Man, I wish I could find the "trigger" at will, cause I felt like the cueball was on a string and the pockets got about 8" wide!
 
I play better mad. One time I was in a state championship and my opponent continued to safe me. I continued to kick and hit the ball. I guess it ticked her off so she called the director over to put me on a shot clock----even tho I was not and have never been a slow player. She was trying to get under my skin. Bad move. Final score 7-2 she never won another game.
I am by nature a gracious player, I am not hungry and don't have much of a killer instinct but, she brought out the incredible hulk. I was still mad when the match was over that I wanted to take her outside and I did not shake her hand. She did me dirty but, I made her pay for it.
 
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Damn, I dont, If I get mad, I just put my cue up... because I have a really bad temper and my adrenaline pumps to hard, and I get shaky, but for this reason, I have learned techniques to deal with pressure, and situations to control my emotions..

I still get mad sometimes, some people you know they can look at you and piss you off, and when this happens I chill out for awhile until I can retain my composure, then I hammer them for all they are worth..


SPINDOKTOR
 
occasionally I'll have an opponent who'll tick me off a little, and I'll make a kick or some tough bank, and BINGO...something clicks, but that's only happened a few times, and mostly against a "certain" opponent who's game plan in 8ball is to push his balls in front of pockets while playing safes at the same time. He is very good at it, he really makes you THINK. He may have only one trouble ball and a break out for it, but yet always employs this tactic. So, yes, I play better against him while he gets my blood boiling, but in most cases I play better with more of a carefree, I'll probably lose anyway type of attitude.
 
its ok

I think if you have to get angry for that little negative voice in your head to shut up then you should try to find a way keep that thought without all the extra adrenaline.Playing pumped up might work at 25 but I run out of gas faster at 35. JMHO
 
I wake up mad

I used to get angry easily. Now that I'm older I'm so mellow its sic.

I have a baby stroke and generally play high follow lots. Not enough stroke to control whitey any other way. The queen of the slow roll. te hee.

Heres the trigger that I used to use. I painted their little faces on the object ball. Whom ever it was that hurt my feelers, or woofed and critiqued for no apparent reason. Or like the other day... when I played in a tourny that I had never played before. I asked what rules they used. Oh Oh Oh the director explained how to play pool in detail instead of saying. 8 Ball, gentlemans call pocket, behind the line shoot to hit, no foul except pocket scratch. He even had the audacity to tell me no safeties. I didn't call safes I said "oops". Yes, I came in the money and all of a sudden I had a monster stroke. The balls were splitting the wicket. I put him out of the tournament. I did shake his hand. Thanks for the inspiration.
 
I wish I could get angry at every one I play. I play lights out when my opponent pisses me off. Super focused....doesn't work for everyone but it sure helps me.
 
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