tennis, life and a few things in between

6-0, 6-7, 6-3 in 3 hours.

I haven’t played leagues in over a decade and had refused for 3 years with this group, but now I’ve played my first match as a sub.

As a sub, there’s extra pressure. I feel like a mercenary: got to win.

I couldn’t do wrong the first, and couldn’t do right the third set with so many double faults. Unbelievable, doing chip and charge … just to hit the damn ball! What was wrong with me?

Questionable line calls:

1. They refused a ball on court, saying it had to be from them.
2. An out ball they played, and we lost the point.
3. A lob to the ad court, as I was serving for the match. They both asked if I was sure and where the ball mark was. My partner said it was too far for her to see it.

This team in the ALOT league is at the bottom level C (3 levels).

Lunch at the bistro was ok – a fruit fly or gnat was in my Chardonnay.雇佣军

• warm-up, #2 & #3

Due to cold weather, our morning game is cancelled.

By 3pm, temp rose to 59°, so we went out there to sling: returning, serving and returning serves.

The serve: the waiter’s tray isn’t improving.

Returning serves: a good practice.

• mixed
• a few serves
• returning serves

For a moment, I feel good and confident about my serve, even still have the waiter’s tray. One step at time. One tweak at time.

On my way to the court, saw this couple – a pair of sandyhill cranes was taking their morning stroll.

Continuing from yesterday, I sling first, then practiced serve.

• warm-up
• fore & back
• 2 serves

A busy morning: warmup, sling, a heavy-duty serve session on Court 1, then played a set with the coach, winning 6-1 over Dave L and Aaron on Court 2. The only ame we lost was from my overhead, when the coach called “don’t touch” but I still hit it: totally my fault!

Dave / coach won over Edwin / Aaron 1 and love. On a trip to my court to pick up a ball, C said, “Why don’t you play? They complained that I’m too good, can’t they be appreciative that I’m trying to make them better?” I knew C won’t go all out when he plays with us, and I always value the time playing with or against him: it’s the best time to learn.

During a changeover, the coach showed me again how to serve, and I think this time it worked a little for me – thanks.

… pretty happy with my toss

记得北京有个心里美萝卜 (不知是北京生还是它地种运北京 – 不重要) 俺这两天也是心里美🤓(虽还是waiter’s tray – got to give me some time 😂😹)
正误其次 心里高兴是正道
昨天 教练和三男队友在隔壁打 6-0 6-1
教主吐苦 “我是就着他们打的 但他们还说不公平…”
他第一次要我过去打 我没接茬儿
第二次是因为一男离开
他和俺 … 6-1
… 那个1 是俺输的
一高球 教主说 别碰 … 俺偏偏打: 说不清是俺蠢 还是不想给他们鸡蛋

其实和教练打是难得的机会
人各有志

• warm-up
• returning – forehand & backhand

https://youtu.be/2wMkco8DnQI

Another good win, w/ Dave L who has textbook forms, v. Dennis & Aaron.

I thought my serve is decent but still with waiter’s tray. I held all my serve, except one when I set up the phone. The oppenonts joked, ‘keep the camera rolling’ -:)

The underhand 2nd serve

A good match on a gorgeous day, with two new players. A half moon hung high at 9:23 in the morning.

Dave and I won 1 and 4 against Aaron and Richard. A & R have textbook form and big serves but made a few unforced errors.

Dave and I are still working on our serves; we both double-faulted. By contrast, A & R’s serve made me feel particularly inadequate – very humbling.

… getting ready

… and more tossing

In the first set, Dave served at 5–0. At 0–15, Rich made a late call on Dave’s second serve, calling it out. Dave then double-faulted, giving our opponents their only game.

In the second set, they switched sides (Rich on ad side) and went up 3–0. We clawed back, game by game. Both their wives stopped by.

6-1 n 6-4: 二个新面孔. A和R两人的技术动作都很规范, 发球也很出色(相比之下好惭愧…)可惜他们一些非受迫性失误比我和俺的小鲜肉多一点.

… more tossing

星期四也有一新面孔. 不过他说我们打过一两次. 我们3-0 但输了4-6.
希望不会再打: 好粗鲁
…
又说人家坏话了… 没忍住

周末快乐

The girls I played with yesterday convienced me to join them for the A Lot league. I did, without apparent reason.

Today I get to practice with the woman I’ll team up for the next league play on 1.21. Our oppenonts are two guys, Matt & Lu.

We were leading 3-0 then I lost my serve at 0-40. I lost all my next serve as well, and lost to them 4-6.

1. practicing well with the machine, means very little in games.
2. Lu is pretty rude and I let it affect me, which is stupid

More practice, with the Slinger and the girls.

A photo of FedEx hitting his forehand: 90° and both his arms are out straight, chest facing the net. … my hand is lower

• forehands
• slow mo fore/backhands
• a few serves

Then, joining five A Lot girls for an 90 minutes clinic.

More practice: forehands, backhands, serves,

• forehand fm baseline, slow mo
• forehand fm baseline
• backhands

Mainly worked on my volley and swing volley this morning; then on my toss, trying to turn my left hand inward after the ball is in the air. Not sure what it will do, but the tray is forever there.

Some opinions: it’s an inefficient, pushing motion (like holding a tray) instead of a powerful, upward “throwing” motion with pronation, limiting spin, power, consistency, and placement control, and capping a player’s potential for advanced development by keeping the racket face open too early, preventing proper racket drop and internal shoulder rotation.

… a few videos

• volleys
• slow mo volleys
• backhand swing volley
• two serves
• tossing + tray