I have not posted a blog entry all winter, but I've been playing. My (golfer's) elbow is healing up, i'm playing again without a brace. The physical therapy was good, taught me some good exercises. My knees feel good (knock on wood). No problems or pain, I think some of this is strengthing, and some of it was changing shoes. I currently have a problem with the knuckle on my index finger. I think it's actually from repetitive motion using a roller mouse at work with that finger, or maybe I pulled a tendon/ligament. It hurts off and on, but I can still play.
Typically I'm on the court 2-3 days per week, 4.0 men's doubles league on Thursday night and Monday night men's 4.0-4.5 doubles. A few mixed doubles and singles matches thrown in. Mondays have been great tennis and good learning. The 4.5 guys hammer the ball and it has take some getting used to, but it makes some of the other matches almost seem slow. I've had to make my serve more consistent and make sure my footwork and technique is solid. I really have to be sharp, and in the moment for these matches.
Looking back at my results and stats (I'll put a stats post here later), I haven't really won that much, but I feel like my game has improved. I've been told that my game has improved this winter and I guess some aspects have. My first serve is more consistent lately and I double fault less. My returns are solid. My backhand is no longer a huge hole in my game, I can use it as a weapon in a lot of situations. I have a few new shots like an out of the air topspin 'crush'. My high end level of play has improved, but I also have fewer, and shorter periods where I'm playing horribly. I've found a few ways to relax and prep for a match both physically and mentally. I'm wondering how this translates to match and tournament play, as i'll be out of my element in a new club/environment. I'm still playing with the Yonex vcore, but I've added some weight, and experimented with some different strings with some good results
First serve - Returns - Backhand - Topspin Out of the air - Strings
First serves:
I had trouble holding my serve, still do sometimes. Some matches I would double fault 2,3,4 times a game. I had to back my first serve off to 80% to gain consistency for a while. I then found a few big points:
-Consistent toss
-Higher toss, and reach for the ball
-More legs, less arm
-More spin, up and over the ball
-More warmup time (I take as many serves as I can before the match. I'll even go hit serves against the wall before a match)
Now I'm able to hit out on my serves more often and get them in, but i'm finding it more important to get the first one in, and move it around the box that wail on the ball. I hit my 2nd serve the same almost every time now.. up and spin it in. It doesn't always go where I want, so it mixes it up for the returner.
Returns:
When I started playing again two years ago, I was a terrible returner. I would stand way back and try to anticipate the shot run to get it and try to get it in with too much swing. If I wasn't missing the shot outright, I was setting up the net man for a poach ... especially on a high ball or kick serve. I took a less on this a year ago, and have been practicing this every doubles match. Our club pro returns Agassi style.. coming in and attacking the ball on the rise and punching it back. He taught me the basics in a couple of lessons, and give me pointers when he sees me on the court playing doubles. This has changed my whole game. Even against a big server, I can usually bump the ball back. Actually, the bigger the serve the better my return. I can hit it back to the server, angle it into the alley and direct it down the line past the net man (or right into him if needed). Don't get me wrong, I still get aced sometimes, and still miss but I love returning now, almost more than serving.
The key to a good return for me is getting into my return stance physically relaxed, but mentally sharp to the point where I can see the spin on the ball toss, moving forward with a split step just before the hit then reacting to the shot. If I over anticipate the shot by imagine the serve coming to my forehand, deciding I'm going to really attack this one, worrying about an ace... I'm in trouble. I have to have a clear mind for a good return of serve.
Backhand:
When I started playing again 2 years ago I was still hitting a one handed backhand. Didnt take me long to realize I could hit this 'sometimes'. I"m not sure if I just dont have the upper body strength, the right technique or what but after watching a few pros on video and weeks/months of getting killed in doubles on the backhand side due to my floppy one hander I decided to switch to a 2 hander. I hoped to make it a weapon better than my forehand (which hasnt quite happenned yet).
I starting hitting the ball against the wall all summer before I played and when I had a spare half hour... then taking a couple lessons, hitting on the ball machine in addition to match play where I used it on everything but dtl slices and volleys (which I still use a 1hbh). It has improved, and is no longer a gaping hole in my game... and it now can be a weapon (at times.) I even like returning from the backhand side in doubles as I can hit angles, or down the line 2 handers off the serve.
Last weekend I setup a ball machine cross court to my backhand on a high speed, heavy topspin setting and alternated hitting back cross court, and ripping them down the line. I was able to take this into a singles match on tuesday and beat a guy I had lost to 3&1 last summer. In the first set he started hitting to my bh... but I put away a 2nd serve, followed by 2 points where he hit a cross court backhand to mine and I was able to rip a shot past him down the line. He
So, make a decision, work on it over time (and it will take time.)
It is still not 100%, but its coming along.
Topspin shots out of the air:
Taking the ball out of the air and ripping it with topspin would have been frowned upon by my junior coach. I learned to punch volleys, usually down the line unless up close in the court. But I've learned to hit a new shot this year... topspin out of the air. I like to take them just above my shoulder, high to low but can also even pick em up waist high and hit a good shot over the net and in. I can hit it forehand or backhand. If my partner gets lobbed I can usually slide over there and hit it back with power... the only problem is that I like to hit this cross court , and since my partner usually switches I have come close to hitting a couple of people and even pegged one poor lady right in the back of the head. I'm working on hitting that same shot down the middle or down the line effectively... guess I'll have to work on that one or be more selective about when I hit it.
Strings
Strings are a whole blog entry to themselves... I will however link a couple of good sites and discussions:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=524922
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=515637
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=498285
http://www.stringforum.net/
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