What a blast this weekend at THE BOB tournament in Traverse City. The weekend was full of good tennis, with 203 teams entered. This tournament is also a scholarship fundraiser for kids across Northern Michigan, organized by the "Bob Swanson Scholarship Fund". The organizers did a great job getting the matches on, and off the courts quickly, and making it a really fun event! The Grand Traverse Resort is really nice, lots of amenities like an outdoor whirlpool (which I used Saturday after match play to soak my sore muscles) despite the cold wind whipping around!). Great spot for a weekend getaway. I just wish my family could have joined me for such a nice getaway.
I played in the 8.5 men's doubles with Bill Brown and the 8.5 mixed doubles with Dree Lo. I'm lucky to find good partners, and we played some good tennis, going 1 loss/1 win in each division.
Bill and I lost our first match to the guys who won the TC club tournament, both really good players. We could have probably played better the first set, but held our own the 2nd. We won our consolation match... which was more mixed up than anything else but we played fairly well, Bill served really well and played good net to carry us in the first set and my serve was really on.
Dree and I lost to the 4th seeds, in a match I think we should have taken or at least won the 2nd set after being up 5-3. There were some really good points in that 2nd set, and our opponents were really nice and fun to play with. Lots of close points at the end, but I'm still not sure how we dropped it. I know I choked away an important point serving at 5-4 with a double fault totally because of nerves, but I think I got my head under control and served well the rest of the game, it just didn't fall our way.
Tournaments and pressure do funny things to people's heads and game. I found my self frustrated quickly, and I played really streaky... playing one point well then just missing easy shots. My serve was about the only consistent part of my game. The teams I watched that did well in the tournament hit some nice shots, but simply didn't miss as much and played more points the same whereas my game was hit or miss.
I could return lots of difficult serves with pace and spin, but had trouble with the returning the "easy" ones. Too many ended up in the net or long. I'm not sure what to do about my lack of consistency, maybe I need to start just 'hitting' more instead of match play all the time. I hope to use our club singles league to practice as well, and I need to figure out way to not get so frustrated, and let things go, not beat myself up, when I miss a shot.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Singles and Doubles
I certainly enjoy doubles more than singles. I like the comradery and good natured competition found in doubles, be it men's or mixed. Singles and doubles require different skills and mindsets. Doubles is fast and furious, attacking the net requiring good servers, returns, volleys and overheads. Sometimes you see a baseline rally... but I try to cut these off whenever possible. Singles requires baseline skills, topspin and deep slice with more patience about attacking and coming into the net. Dont get me wrong, a good serve and volley can be a great tactic... approach shots and put away shots are huge when they are working, but your opponent has a lot of court to play with when you are try to play doubles tactics.
The other thing I find is that singles seems to be more pressure on me. It certainly is more work, more court to cover and harder on a serving arm since you serve every other game... essentially twice as many serves and maybe twice as many shots in a match. I get frustrated more in singles.. maybe I'm trying to end things too quick...and its either hit or miss.
The thing I'd like to get out of singles at this point is to develop more patience during play. Play longer rallies before attacking.
The other thing I find is that singles seems to be more pressure on me. It certainly is more work, more court to cover and harder on a serving arm since you serve every other game... essentially twice as many serves and maybe twice as many shots in a match. I get frustrated more in singles.. maybe I'm trying to end things too quick...and its either hit or miss.
The thing I'd like to get out of singles at this point is to develop more patience during play. Play longer rallies before attacking.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Lesson - return of serve and punch volleys
I went to our club pro for his help improving my game. I had already taken one lesson from him in the fall, specifically on my return of serve and it was money well spent. He got me moving forward, turning my shoulders to step into the ball and how to take it on the rise. My return is still not perfect... but it went from pathetic to solid. I'm still working on the timing, but when it's really 'on' it has become a good weapon for me.
For this lesson, I started by asking him what he thought my strengths and weaknesses were, and we got right into the obvious We decided to start work on deep backhands.. went through the mechanics and my 'twist' motion. It seems like I really just needs time rallying and on a ball machine reinforcing the 'good' mechanics. Next, since I play more doubles we decided to spend time working on volleys. This was much more enlightening. I told him that I want to try hitting more angles off my volleys, not to mention keeping it out of the net/hitting wide which I do a lot. He pointed out that I have a swing, and racket head drop in my volley (both of which screws things up) so we worked on punching the ball more, using my legs while moving forward.
For this lesson, I started by asking him what he thought my strengths and weaknesses were, and we got right into the obvious We decided to start work on deep backhands.. went through the mechanics and my 'twist' motion. It seems like I really just needs time rallying and on a ball machine reinforcing the 'good' mechanics. Next, since I play more doubles we decided to spend time working on volleys. This was much more enlightening. I told him that I want to try hitting more angles off my volleys, not to mention keeping it out of the net/hitting wide which I do a lot. He pointed out that I have a swing, and racket head drop in my volley (both of which screws things up) so we worked on punching the ball more, using my legs while moving forward.
He said part of my problem is I'm not closing the net enough, but especially to hit good angle volleys. We worked on split.. hit, move forward, split hit, move forward... punching the ball using footwork, not a swing. Sometimes I find in a doubles match that I have to backup a bit and reset on a long point.. but the idea is there and it seems to be all about the feet and shoulder turn. I tried it more last night and cut off some shots for nice angle winners... still made mistakes but it seems like I've already I added a good weapon to my game.
He also said that I'm not aggressive enough at the net... especially for mixed doubles. I sometimes worry about not reacting quickly enough by playing to close, or getting lobbed but he said i'm quick enough to deal with close shots or run down a deep lobs.. and my overhead can take care of most lobs anyhow.
We played a game called 'belt notch' where 2 guys start at the service line and the goal is to move towards the net and hit each other. You win the point only that way.... he says it really makes for quick hands. Doug won that 1-0.
I've also learned a trick about hitting short angles on a ground stroke.. you have to hit topspin, but on the outside of the ball. (same idea as hitting a slice approach not only under the ball but on the outside of it). Granted, you have to have the opportunity to hit this shot at the right time, but it works well. Overall My return from the forehand side has been wicked in doubles. Against some people, and on some days not so much but overall it is improving... and whatever i'm doing, I find constant self improvement the most rewarding.
New grip, new strings
I'm now convinced that new strings and and new grip are really key to consistent play. Sometimes I think a racket and strings that I'm used to is better than getting it restrung or putting a new over grip on it and screwing things up.... but it doesn't work that way.
I played last night with my 'new' racket and was amazed how much better i could feel and place the ball. The biggest thing I noticed was the accuracy and spin. My strings were literally peeling, and that has to affect the grab on the ball. Plus, as they loosen up its like a trampoline which seems to affect my serve more than anything, but even volleys and ground strokes felt better. Maybe I was just feeling "it" last night and playing well, but I think the new stings helped. It doesn't matter if its fishing or tennis... the little things do make a big difference, and a revamped racket is better than a worn out one.
I played last night with my 'new' racket and was amazed how much better i could feel and place the ball. The biggest thing I noticed was the accuracy and spin. My strings were literally peeling, and that has to affect the grab on the ball. Plus, as they loosen up its like a trampoline which seems to affect my serve more than anything, but even volleys and ground strokes felt better. Maybe I was just feeling "it" last night and playing well, but I think the new stings helped. It doesn't matter if its fishing or tennis... the little things do make a big difference, and a revamped racket is better than a worn out one.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Battling Second set letdown
When I first started playing matches again last spring, I found myself struggling to get going in the first set. I would consistently play much better in the second set, often coming back to win it and the tie breaker. In a USTA singles match against Alpena last spring I lost the first set 6-3, and came back to win the second 6-0, finishing with a close 10-8 win in the tiebreaker. This seemed to happen more often than not for me. Don;t get me wrong, coming back to win is fun, it sometimes works, but who wants that stress of trying to catch up every match??
Since then, I've found ways to prepare myself, and seem to come out swinging in the first. Unfortunatly, I've gotten in a pattern where I now drop second set after second set. Keeping track, I only won 1 match between December and February where I won the first set. My partner and I almost lost a doubles match where we were up 6-1, 5-1... letting them all the way to 5-6. In the change I asked my partner about it, and he said he was feeling bored. We managed to get fired up and decided to win it 'right now' not in the 3rd set tb... we played smart tennis for the last game, got our returns back and went to the win the 7pt set tie breaker. But this match was the exception to my pattern of winning the first set easily and dogging in in #2. I played a singles match recently where my opponent and I are pretty evenly matched. I was just destroying him in almost every game by driving the ball deep, attacking his server and coming in on a short ball approach, moving him around and eventually putting the ball away. I think I won the first 6-2. But, as my typical pattern.. I dropped the second set and the Tie Breaker to him. Where did my game go?
I realize my opponent(s) may be doing exactly what I had been... getting warmed up more slowly, and mentally fired up after dropping the first set. Also, the bad news is that momentum in a 3rd point tiebreaker stays with the winner of the 2nd set. In singles especially, my serve tends to get sloppy in the second set.. maybe this is mental but maybe my arm is just tired as I tend to give it my all in the first. What's worse is I tend to set things up nicely, then miss the down the line winner that I was just nailing in the first set. For example after a great serve my opponent pops the ball up and I come in for an easy punch volley but miss it in the alley or worse take a dumb swing and put it in the tarp! Another common scenario.. I go from hitting a consistent return of serve deep in the court and even hitting winners off both first and second serves throughout the first set to where I start netting it or putting up 'fluffers' in the 2nd set.
So, I've got to get over this and continue to put away my opponent(s) when they are down. I'm trying to find ways to keep the momentum in the 2nd set. In one recent match, I decided before we even started to win the first game of the second set which worked out and led to a 3-1 lead in that set.. winning the doubles match in straight sets. Unfortunately, the very next doubles week we went back to the old pattern... and even worse started the 3rd set down 4-0 (coming back a bit only to lose it 6-4 in the 3rd). I'm not sure if I failed to get pumped up for those games or what.
A few things I'm going to try next:
-Starting out serving more steady, and save the big serves for the 2nd set
-Win the first two games of the second set.
-Move my feet MORE in the 2nd set than the first, to avoid lazy shots and letting them back in control of the match
-Start the 2nd set out to WIN instead of not lose.
Any other ideas or feedback are welcome!
Since then, I've found ways to prepare myself, and seem to come out swinging in the first. Unfortunatly, I've gotten in a pattern where I now drop second set after second set. Keeping track, I only won 1 match between December and February where I won the first set. My partner and I almost lost a doubles match where we were up 6-1, 5-1... letting them all the way to 5-6. In the change I asked my partner about it, and he said he was feeling bored. We managed to get fired up and decided to win it 'right now' not in the 3rd set tb... we played smart tennis for the last game, got our returns back and went to the win the 7pt set tie breaker. But this match was the exception to my pattern of winning the first set easily and dogging in in #2. I played a singles match recently where my opponent and I are pretty evenly matched. I was just destroying him in almost every game by driving the ball deep, attacking his server and coming in on a short ball approach, moving him around and eventually putting the ball away. I think I won the first 6-2. But, as my typical pattern.. I dropped the second set and the Tie Breaker to him. Where did my game go?
I realize my opponent(s) may be doing exactly what I had been... getting warmed up more slowly, and mentally fired up after dropping the first set. Also, the bad news is that momentum in a 3rd point tiebreaker stays with the winner of the 2nd set. In singles especially, my serve tends to get sloppy in the second set.. maybe this is mental but maybe my arm is just tired as I tend to give it my all in the first. What's worse is I tend to set things up nicely, then miss the down the line winner that I was just nailing in the first set. For example after a great serve my opponent pops the ball up and I come in for an easy punch volley but miss it in the alley or worse take a dumb swing and put it in the tarp! Another common scenario.. I go from hitting a consistent return of serve deep in the court and even hitting winners off both first and second serves throughout the first set to where I start netting it or putting up 'fluffers' in the 2nd set.
So, I've got to get over this and continue to put away my opponent(s) when they are down. I'm trying to find ways to keep the momentum in the 2nd set. In one recent match, I decided before we even started to win the first game of the second set which worked out and led to a 3-1 lead in that set.. winning the doubles match in straight sets. Unfortunately, the very next doubles week we went back to the old pattern... and even worse started the 3rd set down 4-0 (coming back a bit only to lose it 6-4 in the 3rd). I'm not sure if I failed to get pumped up for those games or what.
A few things I'm going to try next:
-Starting out serving more steady, and save the big serves for the 2nd set
-Win the first two games of the second set.
-Move my feet MORE in the 2nd set than the first, to avoid lazy shots and letting them back in control of the match
-Start the 2nd set out to WIN instead of not lose.
Any other ideas or feedback are welcome!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
time spent as a junior....
I started playing tennis when I was very young... probably 5 or 6... with my parents and at the Park District summer program goofing around whacking home runs over the fence and getting some instruction along the way. This progressed to the older classes, and even indoor lessons at the 'Courts' in Elmhurst IL. At some point, my older brother showed potential and taking more formal lessons from area coach Milt Newman. We played outdoors in the summer and a couple days each week in the winter. I've probably forgotten more from those lessons than I remember, but there was a lot of repetition, lots of games like 'around the world', drilling on one stroke, running back for overheads from the net and on and on. I"m now thankful for most of what I learned and the strokes we worked on over and over to prepare for.
I guess I probably didn't appreciate this much as a kid, it was just something we did... sometimes I liked it, sometimes not so much but I believe the experience was good for me not only for my tennis game now, but because the lessons learned on the tennis court - good sportsmanship, competitiveness, strategy, hand eye coordination and more - are life lessons as well.
Part of this junior experience was the competition. We travelled to tournaments around Illinois and the mid-west.. 10 and under/12& under and even 14& under tennis with as many as 128 kids in a draw. We played in Quincy IL, Rockford, Indianapolis, Ft Wayne and even the Western Open (and western closed if you could qualify). Granted, I lost most of the time, fed into the consolation bracket for another match or two. But Joe, and some of the other kids we played with did well, won a lot of trophies and made it to national tournaments along the way. I had fun. Also I had a good doubles partner, Jim Hurt. We played at all of the tournaments together and were great friends.
He was 'cool' on the court where I was a bit of a hot head... I don't remember winning much but we always had a good time. He got much better in high school, and ended up playing college tennis on a scholarship out east. I looked him up this year and we hit the ball around for an hour and talked about old times and the kids from those days... kids I'd see twice a week or just at tournaments but never kept in touch with...life is short and moves too quickly.
I played high school too, mostly doubles and won some lost some in a pretty competitive conference. Maybe my coach realized the pressure of singles got to me, or maybe my skills and temperament were better suited to the net game. Sometimes a calm partner keeps my brain in the game..and frankly I like doubles better. I'm not sure if I could have played college tennis or not. Maybe at a smaller school, but certainly not at UofI.. I remember a guy from junior tennis (who would beat me 0&0 or 1&1) making the UofI team and playing one of the bottom spots. I didn't have the interest in playing anyhow. I played Lacrosse through college and it was a blast, and I still believe that my tennis helped me be successful in lacrosse... speed, agility, hand eye coordination, aggression... good skills for both sports.
I guess I probably didn't appreciate this much as a kid, it was just something we did... sometimes I liked it, sometimes not so much but I believe the experience was good for me not only for my tennis game now, but because the lessons learned on the tennis court - good sportsmanship, competitiveness, strategy, hand eye coordination and more - are life lessons as well.
Part of this junior experience was the competition. We travelled to tournaments around Illinois and the mid-west.. 10 and under/12& under and even 14& under tennis with as many as 128 kids in a draw. We played in Quincy IL, Rockford, Indianapolis, Ft Wayne and even the Western Open (and western closed if you could qualify). Granted, I lost most of the time, fed into the consolation bracket for another match or two. But Joe, and some of the other kids we played with did well, won a lot of trophies and made it to national tournaments along the way. I had fun. Also I had a good doubles partner, Jim Hurt. We played at all of the tournaments together and were great friends.
I played high school too, mostly doubles and won some lost some in a pretty competitive conference. Maybe my coach realized the pressure of singles got to me, or maybe my skills and temperament were better suited to the net game. Sometimes a calm partner keeps my brain in the game..and frankly I like doubles better. I'm not sure if I could have played college tennis or not. Maybe at a smaller school, but certainly not at UofI.. I remember a guy from junior tennis (who would beat me 0&0 or 1&1) making the UofI team and playing one of the bottom spots. I didn't have the interest in playing anyhow. I played Lacrosse through college and it was a blast, and I still believe that my tennis helped me be successful in lacrosse... speed, agility, hand eye coordination, aggression... good skills for both sports.
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