by ponchi101 We talk a lot about tennis. We seldom talk about OUR tennis.
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I went back on court today, after 2 1/2 years off. Multiple reasons, which include an elbow injury and the pandemic.
To say I was rusty is an understatement. Very little mobility, and the footwork was clumsy and slow. I did not lose too much power in my grip (I did re-grip my racket with a tacky overwrap, which helped) but had to take it very slow. Started with some volleys, moved to the back, just wanted to get depth and height over the net, and be able to keep a 50% pace rally for more than 10 shots.
Had to take more frequent breaks: one every 10 minutes, as opposed to my usual 1 every 20. My strokes were not as terrible as I expected (they were still putrid, but not as much) but I was able to whiplash two good BH's down the line.
My service motion is gone. I can't toss the ball in any consistent spot, and my arm speed is null. Still, after a few tries, I got a few serves in. No kicks, slices or any technical shots, just flat and smooth, trying to get some arm strength and speed. It will take a while for me to recover the stroke, as it has always been my most difficult shot.
But the joy. I walked off court and was so happy. I love skiing, I love my diving, I have fun when I play padel with my loony friends. But I am a tennis player; this is the purest form of joy I get in life. The discipline, the challenge, the setting. I have joked that I am not sure if I want to be buried under the snow of a skiing slope, or under a tennis court. But now, after today, please, let it be on the court. Not now, of course, but when the time comes, let me croak my last breath at the Service T. It will be adequate.
by
meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 1:42 am
We talk a lot about tennis. We seldom talk about OUR tennis.
---0---
I went back on court today, after 2 1/2 years off. Multiple reasons, which include an elbow injury and the pandemic.
To say I was rusty is an understatement. Very little mobility, and the footwork was clumsy and slow. I did not lose too much power in my grip (I did re-grip my racket with a tacky overwrap, which helped) but had to take it very slow. Started with some volleys, moved to the back, just wanted to get depth and height over the net, and be able to keep a 50% pace rally for more than 10 shots.
Had to take more frequent breaks: one every 10 minutes, as opposed to my usual 1 every 20. My strokes were not as terrible as I expected (they were still putrid, but not as much) but I was able to whiplash two good BH's down the line.
My service motion is gone. I can't toss the ball in any consistent spot, and my arm speed is null. Still, after a few tries, I got a few serves in. No kicks, slices or any technical shots, just flat and smooth, trying to get some arm strength and speed. It will take a while for me to recover the stroke, as it has always been my most difficult shot.
But the joy. I walked off court and was so happy. I love skiing, I love my diving, I have fun when I play padel with my loony friends. But I am a tennis player; this is the purest form of joy I get in life. The discipline, the challenge, the setting. I have joked that I am not sure if I want to be buried under the snow of a skiing slope, or under a tennis court. But now, after today, please, let it be on the court. Not now, of course, but when the time comes, let me croak my last breath at the Service T. It will be adequate.
I love this! You haven't hit a ball in 2.5 years? Wow... I can't imagine. It's going to take several months of regular play to shake off a decent amount of rust. Give yourself time, enjoy the process, don't get hurt. Are you going to be able to play regularly?
Were your strings still good??
I've been off a week and I thought that was a lot. I usually play 3-5 times a week, but backed off a little this summer and haven't minded. I was losing some joy for it for sure. Burnt out, frustrated, elbows hurt. Looking forward to fall leagues, though. I don't think I love it as much as you do. Sometimes I think I don't LOVE tennis at all. My sister has fun every time she steps onto the court. She just likes to be out there. Not me. I'm not uptight about winning or losing, but it's not sheer fun for me, either. Some days are more fun than others. I feel lost on the court more than I should. I just want the clarity of knowing what to do in a match (mostly singles) and as things change. I feel feeble-minded sometimes and I hate that and it shouldn't be like that as long as I have played.
Anyway, I agree, I wish we talked more about our own tennis.
I did not play today. I walked by the courts in my neighborhood and a local college team was practicing. I support that team and take clinics with the assistant coaches, so it was great to see them hitting. Made me want to play. I don't even have anything lined up until next Thursday, but will probably get out there this weekend. Maybe tomorrow evening.
by Deuce So far in the 13 days of September, I’ve played tennis 3 times, and pickleball 4 times. So, basically every 2 days or so, it’s one or the other. The pickleball is scheduled with a league on certain nights, but the tennis is just informally self-arranged. There was a potential mixed doubles thing with some new people last weekend that fell through - maybe it’ll happen this weekend...
As much as I enjoy pickleball (a lot more than I thought I would), I am first and foremost a tennis player at heart. I’ve been playing tennis for a little over 40 years. They’re putting pickleball lines on some tennis courts around North America, which I hate... and if it ever came down to a rumble between tennis players and pickleball players for the territory, I’ll be on the tennis side all the way.
It’s not easy for me to find tennis players of a compatible level... I’ve been playing for a long time, and so obviously know and understand the game well.... and I used to be able to play at a 5.0 level (on certain days - and 4.0 on other certain days!)... So I play at a higher level than the vast majority of players who use public courts... but most of the players at a similar level as me are honestly younger than me by several years - and they can simply maintain that level for longer than I can on a given day.
I’ve taken to playing more in the evenings, when it’s cooler - because the heat was really limiting me during the day - between the heat coming from the sun and the heat coming up from the (hard) courts, I felt like I was like suffocating inside an oven sometimes. Recent updates to 3 different local courts have resulted in excellent new LED lighting, so that certainly helps when playing at night.
I don’t play in the winter anymore, and when I go out for the first time in the spring, I can hit wonderfully or terribly - like pretty much every time I play throughout the season. I never know how I’ll hit until the first game is done with.
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ptmcmahon Did get out and played once with Son this summer, although we both play for fun. We went mid day in middle Summer so we only lasted about an hour or so.
Funny enough someone from my field hockey team showed up to play and he would blow me out of the water
by ashkor87 It is raining here in the early hours so the court (outdoor mud,) is not playable...should be ok soon...monsoon ending in a day or 2
by Owendonovan I play in the gym of the school I work any day I can sucker someone into playing with me. No net, just hitting back and forth, with lots of running around. I haven't played on court since the pandemic.The ball moves pretty fast on a polished hardwood floor.
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meganfernandez Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 12:45 pm
I play in the gym of the school I work any day I can sucker someone into playing with me. No net, just hitting back and forth, with lots of running around. I haven't played on court since the pandemic.The ball moves pretty fast on a polished hardwood floor.
I bet! Yikes. But you never make an unforced error.
by dave g Living in a small town in northeastern Minnesota means that I can only play tennis in the summer, because there are no indoor courts near me. While we have someone who will drive 60 miles each way to play on indoor courts, I am not willing to do that, yet. We do have a one-night-a-week tennis group. We usually have a singles league followed by a doubles league. Participation is down this summer; I thnk that is because people feel like they can travel again and are tyring to fill their backlog of travel wishes. Since a large portion of us are retired, people have gotten into traveling a lot this summer.
So, like Duece, I play a fair amount of pickleball, three days a week, because you can play it indoors year-round.
I use to be a 3.5 when I was living in Charleston S.C., and playing a log. I am still not back up to that leverl. Most of the other people in my community are either 3.5 or 3.0. While my serve and some other strokes aren't fully back yet, my biggest problem has been caused by changing glasses. With my new glasses, when the balls get close to me they are about 2-3 inches closer to me than they looked using the old presciptions. So, I went a year or two framing and mishitting the ball alot before I figured out what was going on. I have learned to try to hit my groundstrokes with the tip of my racquet, so that the balls actually hit the strings. But volleys are still problematic, which is made worst by the fact that I am basically a doubles player.
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ponchi101 Thanks for the comments.
@Megan. The strings were alright. I am using Wilson Revolve Spin, 17 gauge polyesters, so they felt fine. Anyway, I do not string them too tight, around 56 Lbs, so they did not lose much. They felt well for my old Wilsons N-Code Tours (Justine's and Lindsey's racquets).
I was not playing a match yesterday as much as I was just training and hitting the ball. I made a decision, ages ago, NOT to play anymore in "competitive mode"; I really am not looking at wins or losses, I only focus on how well I played. Like Deuce, at my peak I am a 5.0, although usually I am around a 4.5. It also depends a lot on whom I am playing, as I use my opponent's pace a lot.
I will go play again tomorrow.
Bit of a fun story.
About 5-6 years ago, I had finished a training session and the owner/pro at the place I train approached me to see if I wanted to hit with a young guy. The pro is a former Colombian DC player, who played and worked with the likes of Ashe, Laver and the early 70's crew. The young guy was training for the Bogota Cup (still played in the men's in those days) and needed a work out. I said I was not good enough, but they said it was just for losing up his arm. We did several drills and kept the ball in play, and then he asked if I minded a quick set (he did not say quick, he was very polite). He wanted to warm up his serve. We did, and he beat me 6-1, and I actually broke his serve.
He played the cup and lost in the first round, 1 & 1. And it is funny now because, you know who he lost in R1? Casper Ruud (he was like 17). So my degree of separation with the ATP is 2
Today: my arm does not hurt so much. I am surprised.
by atlpam I stopped playing tennis about 10 years ago due to foot issues, so I could focus on hiking/walking as my primary activity. I miss the fun of playing with friends but I had grown tired of the leagues because people took it far too seriously. I have started to play pickleball when we are at our Vermont home since they created a court at the bottom of the mountain where we live. It is lots of summer/second home folks and most of us are new to pickleball (although many are former tennis players). The smack of the paddle on the whiffle ball doesn't feel quite as nice as hitting a tennis ball in the sweet spot, but the enjoyment of hitting for fun has returned.
by ponchi101 Day 2 of the return.
Today the focus was on extension of my shots. Making sure that at impact my arm is properly extended and the shot is hit with the racquet by my side, not scooping it. A lot harder than day 1; I don't have the strength yet to keep the racquet firmly going through the strike zone. It was easier on the BH because I have always had better mechanics there, but of course, I am trying to dictate with the FH.
Did a drill for that: from the baseline, hit the ball on a low trajectory but hit it OUTSIDE of the court. First six balls, 2 out. Second 6, 4 out. Third 6, 5. We then started rallying.
I also did my usual "two at the net volleying" drill, for warm up. But then we moved to volleys from the service line, so you have to punch them more solidly.
Blisters are forming in hand. A good sign. It means I am working harder. A long way to go, still.
by ashkor87 Drills are always more fun than playing points ...
I always prefer to just hit than to play a set...unfortunately most of my club buddies are too competitive so they want to play a set .
My wife is the only person who enjoys just hitting, so we do that when we can...competing with your spouse is never a good idea anyway!! Btw that Wilson Clash racket is working out great for her...
by ponchi101 We had not asked you about it (the racquet). Glad to hear that.
Yes, I prefer to just hit nowadays. Too many lousy memories of hyper competitive people behaving as if it was Championship point at Wimbledon. Just go out, work out, strike the ball. Enjoy the hour.
by
Deuce ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 16, 2022 3:40 am
Drills are always more fun than playing points ...
I always prefer to just hit than to play a set...unfortunately most of my club buddies are too competitive so they want to play a set .
My wife is the only person who enjoys just hitting, so we do that when we can...competing with your spouse is never a good idea anyway!! Btw that Wilson Clash racket is working out great for her...
I much prefer to play sets than to just rally. And I never do drills of any sort.
First of all, by playing a set, both players get to serve and return. When just rallying, these two strokes are ignored.
Secondly, and most importantly, in playing a set, you also get to practice situational tennis, and how to deal with different circumstances. And so it's a psychological practice/sharpening just as much as it is a physical one. You don't get that when just rallying, obviously.
I long for the day that I play just as freely and just as well in a set as I hit when just rallying. Countless are the times when I've been hitting great in the brief warm-up before starting a set, but once the points are counted, I play terribly. That's 100% psychological - the addition of consequences makes a huge difference (BUT IT SHOULDN'T!!).
by ashkor87 There were only 3 of us at the court today, so we played 'tringles' - 2 against 1 .we play 3 games and then rotate..the player playing alone has to defend the singles court, the pair has to defend the entire court..everyone serves once..
I find this game very interesting tactically..when you are playing alone, against 2 players who are good volleyers, you need to get to the net right away! Scoring is- every game has 2 points ..the doubles team splits them if they win...
Lots of fun and good exercise!!
by ponchi101 It is very good training. The singles player has to do most of the work, but then gets a break.
Should be hitting a bit later today. Cloudy and cold, so if it stays that way, it may be an easy session.
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meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:40 am
There were only 3 of us at the court today, so we played 'tringles' - 2 against 1 .we play 3 games and then rotate..the player playing alone has to defend the singles court, the pair has to defend the entire court..everyone serves once..
I find this game very interesting tactically..when you are playing alone, against 2 players who are good volleyers, you need to get to the net right away! Scoring is- every game has 2 points ..the doubles team splits them if they win...
Lots of fun and good exercise!!
Interesting. When we have 3, we play 21. It's all singles with rotation every 2 points, but every person is in for 4 points at a time. Each person serves for 4 points, sits out 2, returns for 4, sits out 2, serves for 4, and so on. First to 21 points wins. Every two points, you switch something and end up playing a different opponent.
It looks like this: I return two versus Player A , then return two versus Player B, then sit out for two, then serve two vs player A, then serve two versus player B, then sit out for two, and so on.
I haven't played in 6 days. Still taking it a bit easy before fall leagues and clinics start. Might go serve a bucket of balls tonight. There are nice courts in my neighborhood.
by ponchi101 Day 3. A bit better. Maybe more than a bit. The FH volley is gone and due to a new medical condition, can't really stretch for serving (hello, hernia). But overall, the strokes were better. Left my trainer flat footed with two BH crosscourts that were properly angled.
The hands are feeling better. Plus, it ended up being a perfect day: maybe 65°F, a bit cloudy, not too cold, not too hot.
by
ponchi101 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:35 pm
...
I haven't played in 6 days. Still taking it a bit easy before fall leagues and clinics start. Might go serve a bucket of balls tonight.
There are nice courts in my neighborhood.
We used to have one that was good. Then, the city re-surfaced it. WITH LITERAL STREET ASPHALT. You can wear a pair of shoes, and/or break and ankle, in one session. Therefore, no way I am playing there anymore.
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meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 7:46 pm
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:35 pm
...
I haven't played in 6 days. Still taking it a bit easy before fall leagues and clinics start. Might go serve a bucket of balls tonight.
There are nice courts in my neighborhood.
We used to have one that was good. Then, the city re-surfaced it. WITH LITERAL STREET ASPHALT. You can wear a pair of shoes, and/or break and ankle, in one session. Therefore, no way I am playing there anymore.
What were they thinking? Just cheapskates?
by ponchi101 The lousy major that we had decided that the court had to be open "to the people". So he had it resurfaced, but of course, this monkey knew nothing about tennis.
And he is the current president. You know, where I live.
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ashkor87 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:35 pm
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:40 am
There were only 3 of us at the court today, so we played 'tringles' - 2 against 1 .we play 3 games and then rotate..the player playing alone has to defend the singles court, the pair has to defend the entire court..everyone serves once..
I find this game very interesting tactically..when you are playing alone, against 2 players who are good volleyers, you need to get to the net right away! Scoring is- every game has 2 points ..the doubles team splits them if they win...
Lots of fun and good exercise!!
Interesting. When we have 3, we play 21. It's all singles with rotation every 2 points, but every person is in for 4 points at a time. Each person serves for 4 points, sits out 2, returns for 4, sits out 2, serves for 4, and so on. First to 21 points wins. Every two points, you switch something and end up playing a different opponent.
It looks like this: I return two versus Player A , then return two versus Player B, then sit out for two, then serve two vs player A, then serve two versus player B, then sit out for two, and so on.
I haven't played in 6 days. Still taking it a bit easy before fall leagues and clinics start. Might go serve a bucket of balls tonight. There are nice courts in my neighborhood.
Nice..but don't you cool off too much between turns? Our problem is we don't want to make anyone just sit and wait, if at all possible..
Also, it was about to rain any minute so ...
by Deuce I hate it when people who have no athletic background and have no idea what they're doing make important decisions about sports.
Here, they completely tore down and rebuilt 3 separate tennis facilities. In the first one they did, they replaced 3 courts with 3 courts - though they could have fit 4 courts - and at the same time change the orientation so that the sun would not be setting in one player's eyes all the time. I communicated with them that they could have fit 4 courts in the area during the re-build, and that they really should AT THE VERY LEAST consult with people who know and understand a given sport BEFORE they change, build, or modify anything relating to the sport - and I offered myself as one such person.
The following year, they tore down and re-built another tennis area - this time replacing 4 courts with 5 courts... so perhaps my words had some influence.
They also tore down and re-built a third tennis area, replacing 4 courts with 4 courts - but that was all they could do with that one.
At all the re-built courts, they installed wonderful new LED lighting, which means it's now feasible to play at night and actually see the ball.
This year, they built us 6 new pickleball courts (from scratch). The surface is beautiful - 2 colours, and done with 'tennis court paint'. There is a 3 foot high metal fence separating the courts. The problem is that these short fences are only 3 feet from the extremities of the court. This is fine for beginner and maybe even intermediate level play... but at the advanced level, we're running around all over the place, and hitting shots around the post is not uncommon (pickleball is a game of angles). Now, though, with the fences in such close proximity, around the post shots are much more rare. And running into the fence is more common.
They just don't understand (or don't care) that it takes someone who knows and understands a given sport to be in on decisions about things like building new facilities. Otherwise, it's like having a plumber build a car.
by ashkor87 One ritual we have is to play for an hour, then stop for tea..these days the cook at the club is away so one of us has to bring the tea..today was my turn, got up at 430 to do my morning routine so I could get to the court by 615..we have the court till 8 am..perfect weather for tennis..!
by
ponchi101 Sounds like fun.
But I could never play at that hour. I am not a morning person, so at that hour I have zero coordination.
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ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:30 pm
Sounds like fun.
But I could never play at that hour. I am not a morning person, so at that hour I have zero coordination.
Too hot rest of the day! And all working people..
by ponchi101 Good training session today.
Got new balls, my now beloved Tretorn Pressureless Pro Control. Hard as rocks, but they give you a crisp feel. However, price has gone up again: around $7/ box of three. Then they wonder why Colombia cannot produce any proper tennis players (Osorio and Galan are the only two). This for a country with more population than Spain.
The BH was a bit off, maybe because of the new balls. Could not get consistent speed of the shot, and the slice was not biting. I was late with my stride into the ball. Something to work on on Friday.
Since I knew that I would be serving very poorly, simply decided to work on speed and loosening up the shoulder. So, I told my trainer that I would simply serve from my back, trying to put enough speed to fly the ball OUTSIDE his baseline. First serve landed in the service box, proof that I had no speed. A few minutes of this and I was able to get s bit more oomph, but I am still too slow on my backswing.
The blister in my hand had busted so by now it is dry, about to form a good, clean, nice callus.
by meganfernandez i was supposed to play today, but it was too windy. I hate playing in the wind, and this was supposed to be a fun hit, so I cancelled. Leagues start this weekend but they will be indoors until May, so there is no need to ruin my mood practicing in the wind.
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ashkor87 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:13 am
i was supposed to play today, but it was too windy. I hate playing in the wind, and this was supposed to be a fun hit, so I cancelled. Leagues start this weekend but they will be indoors until May, so there is no need to ruin my mood practicing in the wind.
Those leagues are fun.
Get to meet new people etc ..I used to play the Volvo league in Virginia..
Only problem is I used to get calls from the Volvo team captain and my secy thought they were from the Volvo dealer .I had to reassure her I cannot afford a Volvo!
by
meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:49 am
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:13 am
i was supposed to play today, but it was too windy. I hate playing in the wind, and this was supposed to be a fun hit, so I cancelled. Leagues start this weekend but they will be indoors until May, so there is no need to ruin my mood practicing in the wind.
Those leagues are fun.
Get to meet new people etc ..I used to play the Volvo league in Virginia..
Only problem is I used to get calls from the Volvo team captain and my secy thought they were from the Volvo dealer .I had to reassure her I cannot afford a Volvo!
I play USTA leagues, and yes, I think they are fun. Some people get bent out of shape about the results, but overall it's a nice community. I captain a couple teams, and they aren't built to win. I want to play with friends and also create chances for people to play. Someone has to captain.
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ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:38 pm
Good training session today.
Got new balls, my now beloved Tretorn Pressureless Pro Control. Hard as rocks, but they give you a crisp feel. However, price has gone up again: around $7/ box of three. Then they wonder why Colombia cannot produce any proper tennis players (Osorio and Galan are the only two). This for a country with more population than Spain.
The BH was a bit off, maybe because of the new balls. Could not get consistent speed of the shot, and the slice was not biting. I was late with my stride into the ball. Something to work on on Friday.
Since I knew that I would be serving very poorly, simply decided to work on speed and loosening up the shoulder. So, I told my trainer that I would simply serve from my back, trying to put enough speed to fly the ball OUTSIDE his baseline. First serve landed in the service box, proof that I had no speed. A few minutes of this and I was able to get s bit more oomph, but I am still too slow on my backswing.
The blister in my hand had busted so by now it is dry, about to form a good, clean, nice callus.
ooh.. I hate those Tretorn balls, feels like playing with rocks.. glad to see you being so positive about callouses!
by ashkor87 rains have stopped here so we can play every day.. I end up playing Mon wed Friday Saturday, almost 2 hours every day.. that is quite a lot! and I am getting old, need more rest..
I found, around the age of 60, my eyesight beginning to go, I was not sighting the ball in time, was actually getting hit at the net, which never happened to me before.. have to adapt now, I guess.. less of rushing to the net, cant jump too well, so lobbing me is easy.. oh well.. stay back more, I guess.
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ponchi101 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:18 pm
...
ooh.. I hate those Tretorn balls, feels like playing with rocks.. glad to see you being so positive about callouses!
I really like Tretorns
But remember, I am playing at 2,800 Mts OSL. Playing with a regular Wilson, for example, is almost impossible unless you can put Rafa-like topspin on them.
You don't have callouses? I need to "cultivate" them, almost. By now, I have the one on my index finger (roughly to the side of the finger), and one each at the base of the middle and ring fingers. Plus, the internal side of my thumb. Otherwise, I cannot grip my racquet well.
And I play with a tacky overwrap.
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ponchi101 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:21 pm
rains have stopped here so we can play every day.. I end up playing Mon wed Friday Saturday, almost 2 hours every day.. that is quite a lot! and I am getting old, need more rest..
I found, around the age of 60, my eyesight beginning to go, I was not sighting the ball in time, was actually getting hit at the net, which never happened to me before.. have to adapt now, I guess.. less of rushing to the net, cant jump too well, so lobbing me is easy.. oh well.. stay back more, I guess.
Yesterday I hit a good approach and charged the net. My trainer got to the ball but could only throw up a lob. It was good but not great, and I was ready to jump and try the smash. Then my hernia said "Hi, I'm STILL here", and the lob went over me.
So sad, to be this old on a court.
by ashkor87 At my level, not the professional level, the serve is so important, it is almost absurd...especially in singles..there are several players who have better forehands and backhands than I do, but none of them stand a chance against me in an actual game of singles..because my serve is so much better..most folks are the club level can't serve at all, they just push the ball in anyhow...
At the pro level,everyone has a decent serve..
Thinking back, I credit my serve to the fact that, when I was 10 or 12, I had nobody to play with, but had access to a court (built by my dad!) So all I could do was serve and serve for hours on end...
Strange how these things work out .
by ponchi101 That's an interesting take. If you ONLY serve (of course you did more), that is the stroke you hone best.
Come to think about it, I did not do that too much when a kid. Maybe the reason why my serve is so inconsistent.
by ashkor87 Well I did walk over to pick up the balls so I could serve again but that is literally what I did, there was nobody on the other side..
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ponchi101 For the week.
Yesterday, a damn good training session. On Tuesday I wanted to focus on two things.
1. My FH volley was sucking big time. My grip was too much eastern BH, as opposed to a true continental. I just slightly put a bit more of the ball in my hand on the first edge of my grip (assuming you have an octagonal grip, like most are), being able to put a bit more power on the grip. A few minutes of training and a lot of improvement. My BH volley did not suffer, but I have always felt that the BH volley is the simplest stroke of them all, biomechanically speaking.
2. My cross court FH was sucking just as bad. So, a full session of going that way whenever my trainer hit to my FH, and it got a bit better. It has always been a tough stroke for me, as I prefer to go down the line, and I have the tendency to let it drop too much when it comes cross court. But it improved.
I was able to hit one monster combination; as I say, one of those shots that would make Rod Laver raise an eyebrow. One good cross court FH which my trainer barely got to, but he was able to place his shot down the line. I got there in time, and was able to crush a BH cross court out of his reach. Most important, the entire sequence was what I thought it would be.
The serve still lacks power. I have still not recovered all my strength there.
Most important. I am leaving the court wanting more. I don't want my hour to end. It is being thoroughly enjoyable.
by
meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 4:40 pm
For the week.
Yesterday, a damn good training session. On Tuesday I wanted to focus on two things.
1. My FH volley was sucking big time. My grip was too much eastern BH, as opposed to a true continental. I just slightly put a bit more of the ball in my hand on the first edge of my grip (assuming you have an octagonal grip, like most are), being able to put a bit more power on the grip. A few minutes of training and a lot of improvement. My BH volley did not suffer, but I have always felt that the BH volley is the simplest stroke of them all, biomechanically speaking.
2. My cross court FH was sucking just as bad. So, a full session of going that way whenever my trainer hit to my FH, and it got a bit better. It has always been a tough stroke for me, as I prefer to go down the line, and I have the tendency to let it drop too much when it comes cross court. But it improved.
I was able to hit one monster combination; as I say, one of those shots that would make Rod Laver raise an eyebrow. One good cross court FH which my trainer barely got to, but he was able to place his shot down the line. I got there in time, and was able to crush a BH cross court out of his reach. Most important, the entire sequence was what I thought it would be.
The serve still lacks power. I have still not recovered all my strength there.
Most important. I am leaving the court wanting more. I don't want my hour to end. It is being thoroughly enjoyable.
Things are coming along! Nice work. The high forehand volley is one of my worst shots. Looks easier than it is. I play my first singles match in 2 months tomorrow.
by ponchi101 Oh, the HIGH FH volley is a killer shot, for the executioner. Of course, I know the THEORY, but getting it right is tough. Run THROUGH the ball, with the wrist locked, and no swing at all. If you stop halfway, you dump it into the net.
To me, find a video of Mandlikova. The best FH volley of all time, male or female. Her eyes were glued to the ball and she did just that: run through it. In this age of swinging volleys that are missed or simply get hit back to the opponent, she should be paid thousands to teach the new generation.
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meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 09, 2022 2:31 pm
Oh, the HIGH FH volley is a killer shot, for the executioner. Of course, I know the THEORY, but getting it right is tough. Run THROUGH the ball, with the wrist locked, and no swing at all. If you stop halfway, you dump it into the net.
To me, find a video of Mandlikova. The best FH volley of all time, male or female. Her eyes were glued to the ball and she did just that: run through it. In this age of swinging volleys that are missed or simply get hit back to the opponent, she should be paid thousands to teach the new generation.
Thanks, I'll try to lok that up. If it's a soft ball, you have to run through it to get some pace on it, right? Your legs have to create the pace or, as you said, it dumps into the net. But if it's not a soft ball ... well, then it should be flying out.
But often it's when I'm already at the net, not coming up on the ball mid-court. And I still don't stick it. I watch plenty of women I play against handle this ball like it's candy, so it seems easy, and I just can't get it.
by ponchi101 If you are already at the net, you have to cut diagonally. Easier said than done. Try it just by shadow boxing: if you go for a high FH, but cut sideways, your wrist will naturally rotate facing OUT.
You have to be on those toes and step forward, BUT keep moving forward or after you step, your racquet head will drop. As I say, a very tough shot.
by meganfernandez Played my first singles match in a couple months yesterday, as fall leagues started. Didn't expect much. My opponent was a slightly better player, and we were both off. But I was serving better and more positive. I gutted out the first set 6-4 on my fifth or sixth set point, just as negativity was setting in, then she played a lot better and won the second 6-2.
In the match TB, we lost track of the score early on. It really should have been 2-3 my serve, but we settled on going back to 2-1 her serve and replayed 2 points, which she won, so I served at 1-4 instead - a two-point swing in her favor. I was thinking about that and then what I would have for lunch, and before I knew it, it was 1-7.
Then I found my game and reeled off a bunch of points. Receiving at 8-8, I got a second serve to my FH, my bread and butter. And I made a mess of it. I double-faulted at 8-9, but she played the ball! (Maybe she was right and it was in.) I had hesitated and had to lunge for her midcourt return, and I scraped it off the court and it went over. She didn't get to it. She made two errors and I won the match 11-9, winning 10 of the last 12 points in the TB.
It was the deciding court for our league match, and an upset.
Hallelujah! I'm tempted to say I didn't deserve it - the match should have been on her racket - but she was so down on herself and I stayed positive and kept trying to problem-solve. Got a little lucky in the end, but that's tennis. She got two free points in the TB so I'd say the luck evened out.
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ponchi101 You deserved it. By a little bit, but you deserved it
It is one thing I like about tennis; the scoring system leaves very little to the imagination. It is not soccer, with somebody winning 1-0 over a flukey goal. It isn't some sports in which you can have ONE good inning/quarter, and lose the others by close margins, and still win. In tennis, the construction of the score lets you know.
You won. You deserved it.
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meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 2:58 pm
You deserved it. By a little bit, but you deserved it
It is one thing I like about tennis; the scoring system leaves very little to the imagination. It is not soccer, with somebody winning 1-0 over a flukey goal. It isn't some sports in which you can have ONE good inning/quarter, and lose the others by close margins, and still win. In tennis, the construction of the score lets you know.
You won. You deserved it.
I actually do feel like I earned it.
Competed very well and played well when I had to and served very well. You're right about the scoring system. I mean, sometimes very little separates the winners and losers and sometimes the score doesn't tell you how close a match was (lots of deuces, for instance), so it's weird in that sense, but yeah, you have to do a lot of things right to win any match, even if that thing is to give the opponent lots of chances to miss.
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Deuce And sometimes in tennis, the winner is actually the loser, and vice-versa. The loser of the match can win more points than than the winner of the match.
In those matches, it comes down to who wins the most important points - which is a psychological battle.
The matches where you're not playing well at all, but come out with the win are often even more satisfying than the matches won when you're playing well - because, as you said, you 'gut it out' - you overcome the physical deficiencies and win almost solely on your psychological strength.
(It is best, though, to not think about what's for lunch until after the match is done
)
by ponchi101 I don't care what other athletes say about THEIR sport. Tennis is the toughest sport in the world.
Very, very satisfying session today. The FH was under control, with good depth, power and spin. Whipped at least 4 past my trainer, which he could only watch.
The BH was not as sharp was still solid. The volleys were also firm, and we did the famous "3 volleys, then go for the winner" drill, and all my final volleys (5 good minutes) went for winners.
But the thing was the serve. One of the 1,000 differences between the pros and us (other than they are real players, we are just doing a pantomime) is that their service toss is consistent. They can place the ball, repeatedly, in a fixed spot over and over again. My toss was a ruin, so last time I switched my grip on the ball: I was palming it too much, so now I decided to hold it with the tip of my fingers. Gave me better control, and, together with locking my service wrist and keeping the racquet up from the beginning, I was able to regain consistency. A good 20-25 serves went it, and I was able to slice a few, and kick some others. I still don't want to stress the elbow too much as that was what out me out for 2 years, but it is getting there.
Good sign that I am getting a workout on court: got on the bus back home and started cramping. Yeah, good workout, but still in not good enough shape.
Looking forward to Friday.
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meganfernandez Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:10 pm
And sometimes in tennis, the winner is actually the loser, and vice-versa. The loser of the match can win more points than than the winner of the match.
In those matches, it comes down to who wins the most important points - which is a psychological battle.
The matches where you're not playing well at all, but come out with the win are often even more satisfying than the matches won when you're playing well - because, as you said, you 'gut it out' - you overcome the physical deficiencies and win almost solely on your psychological strength.
(It is best, though, to not think about what's for lunch until after the match is done
)
Having to win the last point is an underrated difficulty in tennis. Mental victories are so satisfying... just as satisfying as smoking a ball down the line or flowing around the court while constructing a perfect point. If I compete well and fight, I'm usually happy with the outcome, win or lose.
Regarding lunch, I lose concentration a lot. It's one of my biggest weaknesses (along with over-hitting short balls... just can't get enough spin or control). I've improved a lot, though, and now in my mid-40s, I have learned to compete well. It's very satisfying. Now I appreciate a battle.
Ponchi, nice to see some progress! People take the serve toss for granted. I do... I've never had trouble with it and don't catch very many. But you're probably right. And it's something people can practice alone if they are dedicated enough.
by ponchi101 Problem for us the plebes: we have to keep track of the score, so we always have those numbers in mind.
My trick for concentration: only think about the structure of the next point. "Serve wide, if short return, go cross court, if deep, go down the line". Something like that. Just don't think of the score.
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meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 9:00 pm
Problem for us the plebes: we have to keep track of the score, so we always have those numbers in mind.
My trick for concentration: only think about the structure of the next point. "Serve wide, if short return, go cross court, if deep, go down the line". Something like that. Just don't think of the score.
I'm much better about not dwelling on the score or the outcome of the match than I used to be. I used to ALWAYS think about whether I could or would win or lose, starting in the warm-up. Now I think about what I need to do, although my mind still wanders a lot. Often I don't know what I need to do (or rather what I need to do that I CAN do/execute), and the lack of clarity drives me nuts. Mental stamina throughout a whole match is tough - although some are more natural competitors than others. I've had to learn it.
You'd go down the line off a deep return?
I'd go cross court. Trying to be more disciplined about playing rally balls cross court or down the middle.
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ponchi101 Only because my FH down the line is better than my cross court. I was picturing serving into the deuce court.
If I serve into the ad court and I get a deep return TO MY BH, I will also go cross court. My BH is still my favorite shot and I can put somebody there and go BH2BH. If that happens and I eventually get a short ball, I can come in behind my slice.
But, you see? Thinking too much
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meganfernandez Had two incredible wins over the weekend! One in 8.5 combo doubles, playing the best doubles of my life (I play more singles). Won 12-10 in the match tiebreak. I hit the winning shot, a reflex lob volley from the service line, defending an aggressie volley from the opponents. Held my ground and popped it over their heads. A bit of a lucky shot, but I was in the right spot and had my racket ready. This came after I flubbed a high backhand volley on our previous match point, so I was glad to make up for it. And it was the winning court of a 3-court match, and an upset. This is a super tough league and we have struggled to get any wins at all in four seasons. I captain this team and had to make a tough call on the lineup, choosing to go with the lineup that had the best chance of winning versus making sure everyone had an equally good partner. (One of our courts lost 0 and 0, and I felt bad about feeding those players to the wolves, but we couldn't have won otherwise.)
The next day in singles, I won 7-5, 5-0 (timed match, so we had to call it). I was down 0-3 pretty fast, even though I was playing well, getting lots of chances, and dictating points, exactly what I want. It was all unforced errors. I didn't panic and simply focused on the biggest thing that was going wrong - forehand in the net. Made a small adjustment, bending my knees and dropping my racket head a little bit, made sure to concentrate more, and clawed my way back. Won 10 of the next 12 games. It's a match I would have lost a year ago or so, just mentally. I would have pouted about playing well and still not winning even a single game, proof that I am a cursed loser in tennis.
I would have let the frustration get to me until I was down 5-0 and then had a lot of pressure in the second set. I played it perfectly mentally, stayed calm, and made the right adjustment. Team won 3-0.
I'm usually 40-60 or 50-50 in matches, so winning three tight ones in a row feels good. I had a heartbreaking 20-match losing streak last year while playing really well, so I'm a little skittish about going on another losing streak. With these wins, I can relax a bit for the season knowing I've already bagged a few good ones. And that will help me play freely.
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ponchi101
About lucky shots. Sure, sometimes. But YOU hustled there, you stuck your arm out, you hit the shot. A lot of effort always goes into every shot, so, sure, a bit of luck.
But don't underestimate the effort. You made it.
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meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 18, 2022 2:09 am
About lucky shots. Sure, sometimes. But YOU hustled there, you stuck your arm out, you hit the shot. A lot of effort always goes into every shot, so, sure, a bit of luck.
But don't underestimate the effort. You made it.
Yeah, for sure, and thanks!
There are lucky net cord and shanks, but for this one, I was in the right spot, ready, and then a little lucky. Felt great.
I had a puzzling loss last year, up 6-0, 3-0, something like that. This opponent was at least a full level below me, but she had legs. I said later that she just kept running and thrusting her racket toward the ball, and got about 100 lucky shots. That's what it felt like. She couldn't hit a winner on her own (she passed me on match point, maybe her first offensive shot of the match) but she hustled and didn't give up. Sometimes that's all it takes.
by Deuce I played on the weekend for the first time in 3 weeks, as I've been sick (rapid test showed positive for COVID 12 days ago, temperature was up to 104 degrees one night). Played against a guy I'd only played once before - about a month and a half ago, and he beat me that first time.
This past weekend, I won the 2 sets we played, though - which pleasantly surprised me, as I was coughing throughout the match. And I didn't feel exhausted or anything close to that at any point during the 90 minutes, or afterward.
It was just an arranged match - no league or tournament or anything.
A few days before that, I played 3 hours of pickleball (doubles) with no issues except for the coughing.
Both of these were done after isolating for 10 days after the symptoms first appeared.
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meganfernandez Deuce wrote: ↑Tue Oct 18, 2022 2:38 am
I played on the weekend for the first time in 3 weeks, as I've been sick (rapid test showed positive for COVID 12 days ago, temperature was up to 104 degrees one night). Played against a guy I'd only played once before - about a month and a half ago, and he beat me that first time.
This past weekend, I won the 2 sets we played, though - which pleasantly surprised me, as I was coughing throughout the match. And I didn't feel exhausted or anything close to that at any point during the 90 minutes, or afterward.
It was just an arranged match - no league or tournament or anything.
A few days before that, I played 3 hours of pickleball (doubles) with no issues except for the coughing.
Both of these were done after isolating for 10 days after the symptoms first appeared.
Nice rebound from illness. Maybe you were well-rested?
Sorry you were so sick and hope you're feeling better.
by Deuce Thanks, Megan.
I feel about 85% now, and improving every day or two. The cough will probably remain for another week or two, because that's how it goes with me - the tickling/irritation in the throat always remains for a while after I feel ok otherwise.
I was never close to going to the hospital or anything. I even question whether it was really COVID, as those rapid tests are not 100% accurate/reliable (though a positive result is more often accurate than a negative one).
by ponchi101 Good training session today. At least two monster BH's that my trainer just saw fly by (he reciprocated later on) and good control and pace on the rallies. I would say I am hitting at 80% of my pace with consistency.
Serving. A total mess last Friday, so today I just relaxed a bit and focused on tossing the ball consistently. IF you put the ball in the same place all the time, you CAN hit better serves, dummy.
Time to buy new balls. My tretorns are shredded by now.
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meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:56 pm
Good training session today. At least two monster BH's that my trainer just saw fly by (he reciprocated later on) and good control and pace on the rallies. I would say I am hitting at 80% of my pace with consistency.
Serving. A total mess last Friday, so today I just relaxed a bit and focused on tossing the ball consistently. IF you put the ball in the same place all the time, you CAN hit better serves, dummy.
Time to buy new balls. My tretorns are shredded by now.
Are you playing on clay, or hard court indoors?
How long do you hit during a training session? I haven't played since Sunday. Playing for a few hours tomorrow - ball machine and then a clinic, and maybe another evening clinic. My favorite clinics just happen to be on the same day right now. Looking forward to it. Have a league doubles match Saturday and a singles match Sunday.
courts.JPG
is not fun.