I had my make up lesson today with a fill-in coach. He’s the first one ever to tell me, “don’t jump” on serving. Geeeee, serve comes very nature to me too, it’s like part of me, lol … No jumping? I felt odd. One of the girls checked me out, asking where and when do I play and said since I’m having another 2 more classes with her, she’ll get my number next time. I may not have enough time to play with her, lol. After dinner, I played few sets of badminton, one was love game! Yeeeeeppppi!
Archive for April, 2007
No jumping
My backhand 反手
Craig likes my backhand and told everyone that I have the best bh among students he ever coached. Ok, I didn’t make this up, it caught on video, lol. Yesterday after our lesson, Slowpoke took her make up lesson with him, and he praises her backhand too, so was Mark, who’s son AJ was taking the lesson with Slowpoke. Mark was bit intense and was very quick to point out her left arm when she hits forehand, then apologized to say he shouldn’t. Relax, what’s the big deal? lol … Craig thought some other coaches taught her that forehand, “I’m not getting into that … “ Apparently he felt pretty strong but also hesitate to correct. That’s not true, Slowpoke developed that on her own. I’ve been trying to break it for a while, still in hope that she’d get ride of it soon.
I want more discipline
We woke up to a sunny day. Since Slowpoke n her g/fs decided not to attend the service (of a Bat Mitzvah), so she’s free till 6pm. “How about some tennis?” Sure. Should I call Katie? K is taking her lesson with Martin at 1:30. No, mom, I want to play with you. How flattering! Slowpoke kept up with me, moving me from left to the right; and she knew she was often late for her forehand. I told her to keep a plan in mind, not just moving me, but make it point of moving me to the side she actually intended. She’s hitting really well.
When we begin to play a game, that’s when she showed her frustration: her serve was inadequate. After only two games, she said she’d like to practice serving. By the time she finished a basket (of balls), Kerner’s lesson was over, and as usual, he came over to give Slowpoke some advice. Her grip is all wrong, he said … It brought back some early memory of myself when I started learning to serve. For the first few lessons on serving, I felt totally out of control. But after used to the motion, I was ok with it. After Kerner left for his next lesson, to my surprise, Slowpoke said she’d like to take lesson from him, “I want more discipline.” I felt my jaw was dropping. So she’s serious, or at least she knows what she needs to do to improve. I had wanted her to try Craig too, but never connected with him. I think different coaches would give you some insight that others won’t, and I told her about this.
Martin once said that when he was a kid, he played with Kerner who’s already coaching. But looking at Kerner, I’d guess him as 30ish – Martin laughed, ‘no way … black men don’t age.’ Kerner has a 20 years old daughter who plays tennis. So much for my guessing, lol. Kerner has concession of this local park and he keeps it pretty neat. I didn’t start playing there again till last year with Andy, Alex, etc. The park has a decent size pool and a picnic area. It used to be empty. Last year I realized every weekends the park were packed, which is very annoying and noisy, plus the fumes, and we weren’t invited to the party to boot, lol. Thank god Kerner is around, provides a little authority figure in an otherwise deserted park. He’s always been nice to us, making small chat and giving short brief coaching. But back then the kids didn’t seem to take to him as they took to Martin. Now that Slowpoke asked for Kerner (instead Martin), I am very happy to oblige, in a way I could reciprocate Kerner’s kindness or good salesmanship.
Falling limbs
I played badminton two nights and tennis on Thur n tonight, feeling tired and as if few of my limbs were ready to fall off. My right shoulder never bothered me before, now it does. My knees, legs, …. the list is just goes on, grows longer by the hour. I teamed up with Brian tonight, won an easy set at love against George and Michael. Lost in the tie break to Chai and Kevin 7:5. Brian noticed that I was not in shape, for many shots I could have returned but failed to do so. Sorry, lol … The third set was on serve when time was up. I was surpised at the result, because I didn’t run like crazy, didn’t try to get every shots, :)) but almost got the job done. Hmmmm, maybe in life and as well as in trading, I should mirror this?
Glucosamic
It’s a rare night that few players showed up for work (badminton), :). By 9pm, there were only four of us and we ended up playing 4 sets. Simon and I won 3:1. I complained about my knee, leg, arm … they all feel hurt one time or the other… Simon said, take glocosamine.
Last night Jordan came, happily announcing his singles and doubles win at school. We teased him, where’s trophy to prove? He’s only 15! When I first met him last year, I thought he’s in college at least, :)). Guess I forgot my glasses, as usual, lol.
Sweet wins
Simon summoned me before I even had breakfast, but we won 6:2, 6:2, 6:1 against Jonathan and Peter. Last time I played with Simon, for the first time I saw him losing patient, because I kept on committing the same mistakes. Perhaps having that in mind, or I was tired or whatever, I paid a lot of attention to the game. Didn’t try to get to every single shot, returned well, chasing down the balls, … Simon was happy. I thought a lot about Peter’s advice on my forehand. In any case, I just played a relaxed and rather intelligent game. Peter was complaining about Simon talking too much on court; whenever Simon missed a shot, he’ll egged on, “Irene, tell him how he should have played that one..” Guess not every one can enjoy a chatty coach. I was pretty happy. Well before noon, Simon’s already began to drink his Bud. By the time we left, he’s onto his fourth beer, a Qingdao.
