Do you know that your perception of distance can be altered by how much you want the goal to be achieved? In one psychology blog I found an article called Motivated reality which explains the bag throwing experiment.
A group of people are throwing bags from a distance as close to gift voucher (target) as possible. Those who know they will get money (have the desire to get money) are throwing bags closer than the target. Those who think it’s just a game throw bags further than gift voucher.
Psychology experiment
This psychology experiment concludes that our perception of reality could be directly influenced by our desires.
The reason I decided to write about this experiment is because I remembered my recent important free throw shot. We played basketball and there were 7 players on the court. For a 3×3 game only 6 players are needed, so we decided that those players who will make a free throw will play and the remaining one will go out. Well I missed and had to go away. However, guess what my free throw shot was like. You bet, it was short. I underthrew the ball despite wanting to make it. It was very important shot.
Now I remember that while shooting I still had in mind that desire to make a free throw but according to the experiment my mind was already affected and probably I underestimated the distance.
Of course you could say free throw is an easy shot that needs just practice but my tip would be never have in mind your desire to make a free throw, instead try to clear your thoughts and forget about everything while shooting from free throw line.
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