Anyone play tennis?

[chance1]

Quick update

played the #1 guy in the league tonite - Eric - nice guy

in warmups he looked/moved good

beat him 6-1, 6-1

the games were long - he was in all of them - but he does not have a putaway shot - he couldn't attack effectively - so i moved him around - went to net often - and beat him in straights

my game is pretty much back - movement so good - still a little tentative - not hitting thru all the time - focusing on placement and pace - topspin mixed with slices - serving was not so good tonite - but did serve and volley effectively

on one hand I'm really psyched - I'm back playing tennis - playing well - moving well - my knee is fine - and my getting in shape has translated nicely to tennis - was worried that my weight lifting regimen would not be good for my flexibility - not the case

On the other hand - the competition is not so strong - none of the players have a weapon - none have an explosive shot - and none have the court coverage either - they're good, solid players - but not good enough to threaten me - crazy - if u would have told me 5 wks ago that i'd be #1 on the ladder I would have laughed hard

perhaps i should move up - gonna hang in with this for a few more weeks - then talk to the director and see what she thinks

love to play - it's such a graceful game - footwork - thinking - plotting - forward/backward - attack/counterattack - really a lot of fun

thanks for listening

 

[andyspete]

Chance, you sound about as passionate about the game as I am. I swear it's the highlight of my week to get out on the court and battle it out. I friggin love it. I find that I'm thinking about my game constantly throughout the week. I'm not in a league but I play with a bunch of guys at the local recreation facility. I'm the one they all want to beat. They love to challenge me and I always accept their challenges. This one guy used to be the best one and I could never beat him. Then one day I did and then it happened again and again and ultimately, I owned him. He still teases me that I took his "belt" and he wants it back. It's such a great game and I love to play. My 2 favorite shots are my inside out forehand and cross court backhand. I can get some wicked pace on both of those shots and can hit some nasty angles with the backhand. Congrats on your ascent to #1. Sounds like you deserve it.

 

[chance1]

Chance, you sound about as passionate about the game as I am. I swear it's the highlight of my week to get out on the court and battle it out. I friggin love it. I find that I'm thinking about my game constantly throughout the week. I'm not in a league but I play with a bunch of guys at the local recreation facility. I'm the one they all want to beat. They love to challenge me and I always accept their challenges. This one guy used to be the best one and I could never beat him. Then one day I did and then it happened again and again and ultimately, I owned him. He still teases me that I took his "belt" and he wants it back. It's such a great game and I love to play. My 2 favorite shots are my inside out forehand and cross court backhand. I can get some wicked pace on both of those shots and can hit some nasty angles with the backhand. Congrats on your ascent to #1. Sounds like you deserve it.

think it's just u and me pete - tennis is not so popular for sure - golf has overtaken it and for some guys, it's too hard to learn - just running around and/or being athletic isn't enough - takes time to get decent - so for jock types unless they play as a kid ..........

Funny, during my matches even when I'm way ahead I'm focused on each point - not wanting to give up anything - I was beating the guy yesterday 6-1, 5-0 and I was a little bummed when he won the next game - I never think about the end - only the present - serves me well. My backhand is better than my forehand although my opponents don't know it - two hands off the backhand - I can hold it longer - roll it crosscourt on a pass - or wait for the other guy to commit crosscourt then i place it up the line - when rallying, i usually switch it up - with slices, some topspin with pace and an occasional heavily angled topspin with less pace - love it

I have never developed an inside out forehand - but i love the shot - so kudos to u - not sure my grip allows it - what a weapon that is

Keep up the intensity - it is a great game

cya

 

[translation]

It's funny that this topic came up--
I love tennis. Within the last couple years have grown to love playing and wanting to improve my game. My university offers indoor courts and I want to take advantage of them. I can spend hours just hitting up against a wall.

 

[Maddog85]

The reason Saffin didn't sustain as a tennis play is simple.

He's just nuts! Completely crazy temper. Oh, and Nadal and Federer (sp?).

 

[chance1]

so my first week as #1 on the ladder - "everyone gunning for me" - LOL

NOT

it's a tennis league - not a contact sport

so I work late (work is nutty right now) - get home - grab a nutrition bar - gulp down a bottle of water - throw my favorite tennis shirt in the dryer - take the dog for a walk ......... and hop in the car - oops forget to stretch

well I play Ron - mid 30's - doctor - nice guy - #3 on ladder - lefty - nice player in warmups - good forehand - not sure about backhand - really good serve

first set - every game is tight - but i win most 6-1

second set - i struggle - it's 2-2 and he has several game points - he doesn't win them 6-2 I win the set

every game is close

he is the best player i have played so far - moves well, good forehand but my play is really solid

moving great
hit a lot of drop shots as i noticed his front/back speed was not great
hit short angles and ran him ragged
came in a lot in the first set - stopped doing it - mental note
served for shit - but hit a few big aces on deuce or ad outs - nice
hit a ton of passing shots
and mixed up the play good - topspin/slice/deep/short

I love the game

and although there is room for improvement, im very happy with my progress

and my stamina is terrific

not sure im gonna get tested in this league

spoke to the women who runs the league late last week - gonna play out this 1/2 season - if it continues this way, will move up to 4.5 - thursday nights

thanks for listening/reading

how come no one likes tennis???

LOL

 

[chance1]

well - so much for moving up to the next level ...........

Lost tonite to the #3 guy - Jason

split sets - I won 6-2. he won 6-3 and we played a tiebreaker (not enough time) and he won 7-5

bummer

not that pissed

but I did not play well - kinda tentative - and he hit out on his forehand (lefty) - once he got his confidence he was rolling it pretty good - i didn't do enough with the ball - and shit happens

my serve was for shit - and my depth was not there - in fairness to him - he played well - moved well - young guy - early 20's - got to everything - kind of an asshole - not very friendly - can't wait to play him again

guess i got too cocky - did not really take it that serious - until it was too late - good lesson - im not the shit - and if i wanna win - i gotta play good tennis - he was def the best player i've played - kinda cute too - but still an asshole - several times in retrieving the ball he hit it away from me instead of to me - and he threw his racquet a few times - kinda silly

but he's # 1 now - im # 2

the king is dead - LOL

i think i should be madder than i am - what's up with that?

nite

 

[chance1]

coming off my first loss - i was not motivated tonite - thought about calling in - my back was kinda creaky - been a little off

but - i didn't

played the #3 guy - jeff - seemed nice - but he wasn't

beat him 6-4, 6-4

good player - not a good guy

cheated 2x - on clay it's hard to cheat - cuz the ball makes a mark - 2x on big points my shots which were on the line he called "out" - i challenged him both times - he could not find the marks - cuz there weren't any - when a ball hits the line - there is no mark - that's the point

douchebag - total

i got motivated quick

he's a good player

but i beat him

gotta hit deeper - he had a big serve and my chip returns were too short - set him up for big forehands

moved ok - not great - forgot my knee sleeve - didnt' feel great

serve was for shit - not getting enough first ones in - gotta work on that

hit some good passing shots - off both sides

my game is missing something - not sure what it is - probably a little confidence - i need to dictate play - tempo - not doing that consistently - im in a bit of a tennis rut - still good wind/stamina - which is a plus

need to play better next week

 

[chance1]

last tuesday - nov 21st

played a guy -Paul - big lefty (6'6") - big serve - hits hard - hit and miss kinda player - ever play one?

tough to get ur timing - he hits an ace - then a double - big forehand then misses an easy one - no rythmn

beat him 6-3, 6-3

very unsatisfying

in warmups i new id win - terrible feeling - was down 3-0 in the first set - was talking to myself - seriously - no fun

he hit a bunch of winners and i didn't give a shit

was ready to lose

maybe not

took the first set and started crusing in the 2nd

meanwhile the guy is taking forever on his serve - every 3rd serve or so he'd do the toss and catch it - off line - so deliberate - thought about mentioning it to him - figured it would come off bad

torture

so slow

still #2 on the ladder

played better early in the year than i am now

my left knee was bothering me a bit - little sore

gonna have to watch it to see how it feels

my tennis game is NOT where i want it to be

 

[andyspete]

Chance1, I'm glad to hear that you're still winning, despite the mental and physical set backs you're experiencing. I can definitely relate to your experience with the big guy you just played who is hit and miss. I play a guy like that once in a while who really is a better player than I am but forces too often and has ridiculous errors. When he makes his shots they're great ones but when he misses it's ugly. Going into the match I know that, so I keep reminding myself to just keep the ball in play and usually he ends up beating himself.

I have a match tomorrow afternoon and I'm so psyched about it. Can't wait to get out there and pound away. I've been thinking about the match all day long. The guy I'm playing is someone I play with frequently. We're somewhat evenly matched but I'd give an ever so slight advantage to myself.

His strengths: Great backhand
Good mover
Good serve

His weaknesses: Hit or miss forehand
Weak mental game
Sloppy at net

My strengths: Great mover
Good off both sides
Mental grit

My weaknesses: Fair serve
Hit or miss at net
Can be lured into playing low percentage shots

Anyway, I love it and I know you do also. Keep slugging it out and you'll regain the #1 position soon. Wish we were nearer to each other. Would love to play with a fellow Jubber.

 

[chance1]

Chance1, I'm glad to hear that you're still winning, despite the mental and physical set backs you're experiencing. I can definitely relate to your experience with the big guy you just played who is hit and miss. I play a guy like that once in a while who really is a better player than I am but forces too often and has ridiculous errors. When he makes his shots they're great ones but when he misses it's ugly. Going into the match I know that, so I keep reminding myself to just keep the ball in play and usually he ends up beating himself.

I have a match tomorrow afternoon and I'm so psyched about it. Can't wait to get out there and pound away. I've been thinking about the match all day long. The guy I'm playing is someone I play with frequently. We're somewhat evenly matched but I'd give an ever so slight advantage to myself.

His strengths: Great backhand
Good mover
Good serve

His weaknesses: Hit or miss forehand
Weak mental game
Sloppy at net

My strengths: Great mover
Good off both sides
Mental grit

My weaknesses: Fair serve
Hit or miss at net
Can be lured into playing low percentage shots

Anyway, I love it and I know you do also. Keep slugging it out and you'll regain the #1 position soon. Wish we were nearer to each other. Would love to play with a fellow Jubber.

how'd u do?

here's my take on how to play this guy - based on his game and urs

hit a lot of balls - make him be patient - seems like he's not that type of player

attack his forehand - perhaps short angled balls

bring him in

so tell me

how'd it go?

 

[andyspete]

how'd u do?

here's my take on how to play this guy - based on his game and urs

hit a lot of balls - make him be patient - seems like he's not that type of player

attack his forehand - perhaps short angled balls

bring him in

so tell me

how'd it go?

Well, I won. 7-5, 6-2. We were neck and neck until 5-5 in the first set. I held serve to go up 6-5 and in the next game he double faulted on double break point. It really bummed him out and I took the next set fairly easily. I think the mental collapse there at the end of the first set really took a toll on him. Also, with the first set under my belt I felt a lot more relaxed in the second set and hit quite a few more winners. I did in fact bring him to net quite often and was able to pass him most of the time with down the line shots. It was fun. We're supposed to play again this Saturday and I know he'll be wanting some revenge. I don't intend to let him have any though. Thanks for your advice. It is appreciated.

 

[chance1]

^ cool - figured ud win - u seem confident which is good - tennis is 1:1 - so there's nowhere to hide and if ur the stronger mental player - u should prevail

tonite i played against a guy - similar game to mine - patient - smart - not a big hitter - good net game - good off both sides

problem for him is i was just better at it

6-0, 6-3

super nice guy - jerry - played hoops with him before - he's a little older and not quite as quick on his feet - told him we should play doubles together - and we will

tonite i came over my backhand more - need to do that - not just slice - not just over on the pass

i opened up the court nicely - moved him around - made him hit impossible shots to pass - he hit a few - but couldn't keep it up

my serve is still lacking - not the power i want - not the consistency - and that will hurt me against better players - cuz u need free points once in a while - my cut angle serve into the deuce court wide was NOT working - bummer

my knee felt good - stamina good - overall a good match - needed it - as the last 2 weeks i have been off a bit

hopefully im back

 

[chance1]

First session is over - here's how it went

11 matches

won 10
9 of the matches in straight sets
1 went to 3 sets

lost 1
in a 3rd set tiebreaker (if u split 2 sets u play an 11 pt tiebreaker)

ended up winning the league - second session begins mid January

not sure if i should try to place UP in the next division

I'd say of the 10 matches I won, perhaps in 3 or 4 I had to play some good tennis - in the other 6 or so, it was NO contest

so ..............

gotta decide what to do

my gut is if I place up, I'll be middle of the pack ish

think I'm gonna do that - assuming they will let me

 

[dj415]

never mind.

 

[chance1]

so it's a little over a month later ..............

they asked me to move up - from 4.0 level to 4.5

not surprising

i said yes

first week out - i got smoked 6-4, 6-2 by a big lefty - lotsa power - wasn't used to it

last week i beat the #8 player - 6-3, 6-1 - figured early on it would be a toughie - but he kinda fell apart - making errors and such - first win in the big leagues - LOL

last night

played the # 4 seed - wow

in warmups im thinking - im in deep doo doo - patient player - fit - fast - this is gonna suck

it's 3-3 in the first set - looooooong points - loooooooong games

then - i take over

6-3, 6-1

i get to everything - hit to his backhand - mix up some short balls - bring him in - he doesn't like to hit backhands and get brought in

prob the best match i have played in a long while

good to be back

 

[pocono]

I LOVE tennis!

Played 2-3 times a week and was in a (4.0) league for years...then fucked up my left knee and no more tennis for me. I put on 10 pounds (ok 15 pounds)!

I'm living vicariously through you and your league. Keep the reports coming!

 

[chance1]

I LOVE tennis!

Played 2-3 times a week and was in a (4.0) league for years...then fucked up my left knee and no more tennis for me. I put on 10 pounds (ok 15 pounds)!

I'm living vicariously through you and your league. Keep the reports coming!

wow - we have somewhat parallel lives

bout 6 mos. ago my left knee was diagnosed as "arthritic" - i was like r u kidding me? arthritis is for old people

so the doc says that when i tore my acl 4 yrs ago I also did significant meniscus damage - so not a lotta cartilage and over the past 2 years or so, i had damaged it more - and very little left - so he says no "high impact"

well - it's 6 mos later - im playing tennis 1x week on har tru - basketball once a week on wood

and no probs

secret is to be as light as u can be - ive lost about 20 lbs over the past 2 yrs or so - and it really lessens the impact on the knee

get another diagnosis on the knee
find some har tru courts
get on an elliptical machine

and maybe u can come back

 

[chance1]

update central

imagine sportscenter for tennis hackers

.............

missed 3 weeks in a row - work related stuff

finally played again this past thursday night

split sets - lost the first, won the second - then won the 3rd set tiebreaker

great guy - we chatted amiably the whole match - all close balls were in

great dude - don - divorce lawyer - says lotta pressure - younger than he looks - great lefty forehand and angles - luckily i was able to keep the ball low so he couldn't tee off - plus i started to hit down the middle to take away his angles - every so often he would go for something big and angled that wasn't there

wore him down really

2 weeks left

im #5 on the ladder - # 3 in the league - the latter takes ur points by week and averages them - the ladder is str8 forward as if u beat a guy u take his slot and vice versa

diggin it

ive only lost 1 match - my first one

split sets with the top guy - didn't get to play a 3rd set tiebreak

and he was running off the court too - kinda lame

great game - tennis that is

good workout - get to use ur wits - and u gotta go for it sometimes

lovin it

cya

 

[JetSetJake]

I love tennis. I play when I can. I'm not very good, but I really enjoy playing!
I used to have tennis lessons when I lived in Spain, so I got quite good, but that was 7 years ago and I've not really played since

I'd like to get back into it, and when I move to my next new home (which will more than likely be Italy) after the summer, it will be one of my priorities to get back into it (maybe lessons or join a club or something) again. If nothing else, it's a great form of exercise and a fab way to meet people.

Happy playing!