Playing with Fire: Managing Anger in the Middle of a Match
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Playing with Fire: Managing Anger in the Middle of a Match
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About this listen
You shank an easy shot. Your partner misses a sitter. The wind grabs your serve. Or your opponent celebrates just a little too hard after a net cord winner.Before you know it, you're gripping your paddle tighter, your vision narrows, and your body tenses up.
Anger is in the system.But here’s the deal: anger isn’t the problem. What you do with it is.At Mental Pickleball, I coach players not to suppress anger, but to channel it — without letting it hijack their decision-making.Here’s how:
- Name it — Fast
Notice it early. The sooner you recognize you’re getting ticked, the more options you have. Say in your head: “Okay, I’m getting hot. Time to reset.” - Breathe Into the Heat
Anger is energy. Use your breath to move it through you, not let it bottle up. Inhale slow, exhale slower. Let your jaw and shoulders relax with that breath. - Redirect, Don’t React
Use anger as fuel for focus, not for forced winners. A great mental phrase here:
“Tight game. Loose body.”
Let your body stay soft even if your heart is pounding. - Laugh at the Drama
Seriously. If you catch yourself in full meltdown mode, smirk. That moment of humor is powerful — it creates distance and resets perspective.
In your next match, when frustration starts building, don’t bury it. Name it, breathe into it, and choose how you respond. See if you can turn the fire into focus — not frustration.
Because playing with fire doesn’t have to burn you.
It can sharpen you.
Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.
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