tennis, life and a few things in between

Blue skies on this Christmas Eve. The morning air is 55°, the water 81°, steam curling up from the swimming pool.

12.26

I warmed up quickly in the water, then headed to the court for battle.

After the match, I went to the pool to stretch and saw this group of birds in the sky: American white Pelicans (Turkey Vultures over Benchmark Int’l a few days later), and as if they’re in formation.

At court, it was a wonderful match, full of rallies and laughter—despite losing all three sets:

~ w/ Tammy, 4-6
~ w/ Sandi, 3-6
~ w/ Cheri, 3-6

A few videos show that I play softly and have fewer correct forms than during the practices:

~ warming up: forehand
~ the first game
~ the 2nd game
~ the 3rd game
~ where’s 4th game?
~ the 5th – a long game

https://youtu.be/C_8-lhUo_ko

Coach comes in and asks, what am I working on w/ the Slinger. I said “oh, my forehand and backhand, and serve … ” He then offers me a few pointers / tips for my forehand:

• face the opponent
• left leg moves infront
• butt of the racket faces the ball
• right leg only pivot
• racket faces ground kind of swing
• at contact the face of the racket is
  • slightly downward: top spin
  • 90° – flat
  • light facing up: defense, high

Think I’ll remember them all?

Today’s Slinger I practiced hitting forehands n backhands with a relatively straight arm, as extended as possible. I’m still getting used to it.

• forehands
• backhands
• lost my sreve but made many swing volleys
• coach serves

I played well. Nearly all my forehand deep shots were in: Slinger helps.

It’s an esay win with the same gang, except this time is with Matt, vs Sandi and Joel. I’ve two doubles; the third set one game is on me: I failed to hold serve.

Talking about serve!

The left one is my wish … but once the ball is involved, I do the right one – the reality!

^{← dream v reality →} 

I’m not sure if the left one is textbook right, but I like the look of it. Oh well, continue trying.

6-1, 6-0 and 6-1 第三局的1 是我输的[捂脸]

Ok dream and reality
1️⃣2️⃣ 是模拟 感觉好
3️⃣4️⃣ 是现实 好骨干

找个木板把手腕钉死不知有没有用[偷笑]

The more lessons and clinics I take, the more appreciation I’ve for the machine.

My forehand pulling back looks too high; the finish looks the same.

Today, I practice the fundmental strokes, forehand and backhand; also overheads.

• groundstrokes (mostly backhand & forehand)
• groundstrokes (mostly forehand & backhand)
• an overhead
• two big birds: herons fly by
• a better forehand? right leg moves foreward
• a better serve?
• swing volleys

Overhead is one of many strokes of tennis. I lob more than hit the overheads. My success rate is a mere 50%, which is why I don’t like to hit it. I usually lob back. 

Coach said, there is plenty of time to line up your shot. I heard this motto many times. Hopefully, it works for me from now on.

I was the only one at the clinic. So after a while, he served, and I returned.

A few forehand

A cloudy day, with the same gang.

I serve first and won it easily. Can’t say it’s a good serving day: still tray but no doubles. As usual, some of my serves have pops. My tosses are high and worked well for me.