I know I haven't updated my experience at districts, yet, but it is coming. As always, it was a great experience.
But first, I wanted to write about my very first flex league singles match that I played yesterday morning.
Flex league is new to this area, and you can sign up for singles or doubles. I signed up for singles in order to get more match experience way back in early May I believe. The idea is that you get a group of people, and it is up to you to arrange and play the matches with a set period of time. I started off with the best of intentions, but it became clear that, between work and league teams, I had no time to play these matches! Plus, at the time, it was raining a LOT. So, I decided to hold off until the season ended since I would also be out of school by then. This got pushed back a bit by districts, but now I have plenty of time.
So, I set off yesterday to play a woman I've played twice last year, once in doubles and once in singles (in the consolation round of a tournament). I beat her both times. As I drove to the school where we had arranged to play, though, I could tell I just wasn't in the mood. A bit burnt out, perhaps, after districts? Oh well, it was a very hot and humid morning...at least I'd get some exercise, right?
And I sure did! C made it clear that she was taking the match pretty seriously (which is fine, it is my own fault for having a piss poor attitude at the start) and, as a tricky left, she came out of the gates really well. As usual, I had trouble finding the court on my groundstrokes. C got out to a 4-1 lead in no time.
But then I settled a bit, warmed up a bit, and started to move better. I closed to 4-5, but she was able to hang on to take the first set. One thing she does very well is hit a deep, high ball to my BH side...I usually couldn't get it back because I wouldn't take it on the rise...I'd back up, it would spin over my head, and end up in the fence before it came back down! Sheesh! If I did get, she was up at the net ready to knock down the easy volley. Smart playing.
And, for some reason, she stopped doing that in the second set. My errors decreased, her's increased, and I was up 4-1! Now, of course, she starts creeping back, and I start missing, as my back started letting me know that it was very unhappy that I was playing again. Ugh. I just can't move the right way when my back is like this. I did hold on to take the second set 6-4. It was a bit funny...I was concentrating on so many other things, I didn't realize the set was over until she told me!
We were supposed to play a full 3rd set, but I knew I didn't have enough water or patience from my back to make it. I think she felt the same way, so we agreed to play a 10 point tiebreak instead, and enter the score 7-5 in favor of whoever won the tiebreak.
I think I should have played the 3rd set.
Because I SUCK at tiebreaks. I really, really do. I'm not sure if I tighten up, thinking 'I gotta win this'! Or, do I relax, thinking 'whew, got it to the tiebreak'. Either way, whatever I'm doing is not working. C took the tiebreak 10-2. And my steak of horrible tiebreaks continue.
So, since this is my 'off season'...there are definitely things to work on:
Serve - must get rid of the fry pan. Seriously, I'm starting to have nightmares about this now.
Return - need to be more aggressive, if not with pace, then with placement. I want to be able to use the return to set something up, or at least stay neutral, instead of sailing it out. I do that way too much.
Movement - Tennis is played with your feet. When my shots are going out or landing short, it is my feet that are to blame.
No tennis today, probably, though the TWMAC guys are trying to meet up later today...I think we're going to get rained out. Tomorrow morning is clinic (provided it doesn't rain), and Sunday morning is clinic, followed by my indoor team's party. The party we'll just be playing social dubs. I'm thinking I'm not giving my back the rest it needs.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
All systems go!
The hard work and practicing is done. Racquets are re-strung. Packing has *started* (not finished quite yet), but this will more than likely be the last post before I return from districts.
Still haven't heard anything from our captain, so hopefully the rumor mill is false and she will be playing for us! Tomorrow is a drive down/relax day, and S (from my last post) will be riding along with me. I want to have a nice, relaxing evening and a good night's sleep!
Then, Friday we have two of our three round robin matches. We play at 10:30am and 6:30pm, which is really nice. We have time in between the matches to take a trip back to the hotel for a quick swim/shower/change of clothes/nap. I found, after I played S yesterday, that when I got home I zonked out a bit (from the heat), but then got back up and felt pretty good. We'll see if I need it Friday or not.
Saturday morning we have our third match, again at 10:30am. Then, it will depend on how well we did. If we win our round robin, it is on to the final round, which is two more matches (I think both on Sunday, not sure!). If not, we head back home Saturday.
Then...then...leagues will be over (unless we actually win the whole thing, which is unlikely...not because we're not good, but there are *lots* of good teams down there and a ton of matches to get through...odds are against you)...and I'm not sure what I'll do.
One idea so far...I'm thinking of backing off of the tennis for a bit and concentrating on some really strict and clean eating to try to drop some more weight. My idea is two eat hardcore clean for at least a week, then maintenance calories for a week, then hard core again for two weeks, a week at maintenance, etc etc etc. Or, maybe a whole month of hardcore (though I doubt I would make it), and then two weeks off. Something cyclical like that...because while I'm not gaining with how I'm eating right now (which is GREAT), I'm also not losing. So, clean it up even more, and not go nutso with the workouts...focus on diet. We'll see if I have the willpower for it!
Still haven't heard anything from our captain, so hopefully the rumor mill is false and she will be playing for us! Tomorrow is a drive down/relax day, and S (from my last post) will be riding along with me. I want to have a nice, relaxing evening and a good night's sleep!
Then, Friday we have two of our three round robin matches. We play at 10:30am and 6:30pm, which is really nice. We have time in between the matches to take a trip back to the hotel for a quick swim/shower/change of clothes/nap. I found, after I played S yesterday, that when I got home I zonked out a bit (from the heat), but then got back up and felt pretty good. We'll see if I need it Friday or not.
Saturday morning we have our third match, again at 10:30am. Then, it will depend on how well we did. If we win our round robin, it is on to the final round, which is two more matches (I think both on Sunday, not sure!). If not, we head back home Saturday.
Then...then...leagues will be over (unless we actually win the whole thing, which is unlikely...not because we're not good, but there are *lots* of good teams down there and a ton of matches to get through...odds are against you)...and I'm not sure what I'll do.
One idea so far...I'm thinking of backing off of the tennis for a bit and concentrating on some really strict and clean eating to try to drop some more weight. My idea is two eat hardcore clean for at least a week, then maintenance calories for a week, then hard core again for two weeks, a week at maintenance, etc etc etc. Or, maybe a whole month of hardcore (though I doubt I would make it), and then two weeks off. Something cyclical like that...because while I'm not gaining with how I'm eating right now (which is GREAT), I'm also not losing. So, clean it up even more, and not go nutso with the workouts...focus on diet. We'll see if I have the willpower for it!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Friends don't let friends...play each other in singles!
Today, in preparation for playing singles at districts this weekend, one of the other singles players on my team (S) and I met up to play a practice match.
On paper, she should win. She has a far better record than me, and has taken some scalps along the way (KZ being one of them). She, I suppose, could be classified as a 'pusher', though I don't like the negative connotations that go with that label. To me, consistency is gold, and something that I still consistently...lack. Like me, she is a teacher, only her medium is PE, and she can run everything down, return it into the court, and do it for hours. Her only weaknesses is that she doesn't hit with much pace (this could also be a strength at 3.5 since generating our own pace while keeping the ball in the court always proves to be a singular challenge), she has a weak serve (see 'no pace'), and she will not hit winners...on purpose. Her short dinks sometimes end up being winners, but I'm not sure if she means for them to end up that way or not. And lastly, she is quite uncomfortable at net, so bringing her up on purpose is a good strategy (if you can execute it!).
So, again, since I was denied my chance to play 'the diamond' and practice coming in, I was excited to try it out today.
It was a tight first set, with S edging me out 6-4. I was having trouble, like I usually do, returning her soft serve...I kept launching it out. I also wasn't coming up enough...when I did, I usually won the part. I still don't always pick the right time to do it, but that's why we're practicing, right?
Second set, I noticed some patterns in her baseline play (notably that she always tries to pass me cross court from her backhand), she really didn't like if I got some slice on my serve, and I was able to come in A LOT more, which put pressure on her. She tried coming in herself, but made errors and then gave up on it. I was also more patient, I think, and waited for my moments to hit a winner, and my most successful shot was my FH down the line. On returns, since they were so soft and slow, I set up like a regular groundstroke to hit them, and focused on placement and setting up the point rather than trying to hit a winner. Ironically enough, lots of times this resulted in a winner!
We still played long games, but this time I seemed to have the edge, and I took the second set 6-2. Like during regular league play, we don't play a full 3rd set at districts...instead we do the 'champion's 10 point tiebreak', so that is what we did today. After a few long rallies, I raced out to an 8-1 lead. Again, I showed that I get too lazy and/or sloppy when I'm ahead, and it wasn't until it was 8-6 that I finally won the next two points and won the match.
I'm not too 'gloaty', though, since I know I play better (and more relaxed) when it doesn't 'count' for anything. She was peeved, though, I could tell. She is a very friendly, though competitive person, and I think she expected me to hit enough errors that she would win easily. I can't blame her...that is my M.O. But maybe, just maybe...I'm starting to change that.
Tomorrow is packing and clinic at night. Maybe some light workout in the morning. Thursday we head down (possibly without our own captain, as S told me that the rumor is she decided to play with another team of her's that is also headed down to districts. Not. Cool. IMO. I don't care how shorthanded *they* are...she's *our* captain!!!).
I hope to remember to take the camera so I will have some pictures to go along with match write ups from districts!
I'm excited, because I played well and I executed a game plan! When I lost the first set, I adjusted instead of just doing the same thing over and over again.
On paper, she should win. She has a far better record than me, and has taken some scalps along the way (KZ being one of them). She, I suppose, could be classified as a 'pusher', though I don't like the negative connotations that go with that label. To me, consistency is gold, and something that I still consistently...lack. Like me, she is a teacher, only her medium is PE, and she can run everything down, return it into the court, and do it for hours. Her only weaknesses is that she doesn't hit with much pace (this could also be a strength at 3.5 since generating our own pace while keeping the ball in the court always proves to be a singular challenge), she has a weak serve (see 'no pace'), and she will not hit winners...on purpose. Her short dinks sometimes end up being winners, but I'm not sure if she means for them to end up that way or not. And lastly, she is quite uncomfortable at net, so bringing her up on purpose is a good strategy (if you can execute it!).
So, again, since I was denied my chance to play 'the diamond' and practice coming in, I was excited to try it out today.
It was a tight first set, with S edging me out 6-4. I was having trouble, like I usually do, returning her soft serve...I kept launching it out. I also wasn't coming up enough...when I did, I usually won the part. I still don't always pick the right time to do it, but that's why we're practicing, right?
Second set, I noticed some patterns in her baseline play (notably that she always tries to pass me cross court from her backhand), she really didn't like if I got some slice on my serve, and I was able to come in A LOT more, which put pressure on her. She tried coming in herself, but made errors and then gave up on it. I was also more patient, I think, and waited for my moments to hit a winner, and my most successful shot was my FH down the line. On returns, since they were so soft and slow, I set up like a regular groundstroke to hit them, and focused on placement and setting up the point rather than trying to hit a winner. Ironically enough, lots of times this resulted in a winner!
We still played long games, but this time I seemed to have the edge, and I took the second set 6-2. Like during regular league play, we don't play a full 3rd set at districts...instead we do the 'champion's 10 point tiebreak', so that is what we did today. After a few long rallies, I raced out to an 8-1 lead. Again, I showed that I get too lazy and/or sloppy when I'm ahead, and it wasn't until it was 8-6 that I finally won the next two points and won the match.
I'm not too 'gloaty', though, since I know I play better (and more relaxed) when it doesn't 'count' for anything. She was peeved, though, I could tell. She is a very friendly, though competitive person, and I think she expected me to hit enough errors that she would win easily. I can't blame her...that is my M.O. But maybe, just maybe...I'm starting to change that.
Tomorrow is packing and clinic at night. Maybe some light workout in the morning. Thursday we head down (possibly without our own captain, as S told me that the rumor is she decided to play with another team of her's that is also headed down to districts. Not. Cool. IMO. I don't care how shorthanded *they* are...she's *our* captain!!!).
I hope to remember to take the camera so I will have some pictures to go along with match write ups from districts!
I'm excited, because I played well and I executed a game plan! When I lost the first set, I adjusted instead of just doing the same thing over and over again.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
WTL...thy name is *drama*!
Oh, yesterday was a fun one!
First of all, WTL (Washington Tennis League) was a bit crazy, IMO, to schedule matches on the 4th of July. At Hains Point. During the parade! Though, we were lucky in that our team was scheduled to play at 9:30am. Well, I had thought that was lucky...it proved to be unlucky for others.
Fortunately, we had enough players in town for me to put together a decent line-up, with me at #2 singles and all excited about my new singles game plan (diamond drill! New serve! Coming in to net!). I left *really* early, not because I was worried about traffic (I395 was one route that didn't suffer from road closures due to the parade) but because I was worried about parking. I was thinking Hains Point would be a great place to park if you're coming in for the parade at 11:30!
But again, I was wayyy early, and even got a prime spot in the lot, right in front of the courts! Lucky!
Not so lucky was KO, who was coming in from Ashburn, and didn't stop to think or check the road closures. She got stuck twice, but finally got there with plenty of time to spare (mostly because she left at 7am for a 9:30am match!).
Eventually we all gathered except for RMcE, who ended up a bit stuck herself since she was coming from the city. I had her at #1 singles, so I switched her to #2 just in case she didn't make it in time (in accordance with the default rules).
While all of this was happening, CB comes up and tells me her team just got handed an entire *match* default by their opponents. Now, they are one of the teams in contention to win the league, and to get five courts without having to play is huge! And, well, kinda sucky for the other teams, but whatever...I went along my way.
The bell rings, we walk onto the courts, and our opponents were nowhere to be found! Lol! I sent everyone to their courts, and RMcE ran on just in time (we have 15 minutes before a default is declared), and finally the opponents trickle in. The captain finds me and tells me that they are defaulting #3 doubles (oh, poor KO was on #3 doubles...all that driving, and her opponents don't show!) and that #1 singles (my opponent) is on her way.
Only, she never showed up. I was generous, too...I stayed on the court for 20 minutes. So, right off the bat, we got two courts in a default. I grabbed Katy and Dawn and headed over to practice with CB's team, who is just hitting with themselves and practicing since their opponents threw in the towel for the day. The captain, who I know in passing from both DC and NOVA leagues, was very friendly and inviting. She is also the captain that I'm scheduling our make-up courts with, and she has been quite fair and accommodating. We ended up playing some doubles with another gal who was there early for her 11am match. It was fun!
When the whistle blew, I noticed all three of our active courts were still playing. Hmmm...I was thinking we would have won by now! Well, it turns out that all three courts were very, very close. Two of them went to sudden death points. Of those two, we won one and lost one (poor RMcE double faulted on her's...I hate the sudden death point!)...and we won on games on the other court. So we won 4-1. We're trucking right along, having fun, playing tennis, and doing well.
Another top team was there, ready to start their match, and having a shit storm about the match default, as it put the team that received it pretty much out of reach (at least for us, but there are two teams already out of our reach). I get it, I really do...but what are you going to do? I seriously doubt, for one moment, that if one of these other teams had gotten that default, that they wouldn't have gladly accepted it and skipped away into the sunset!
Well, later in the day (before I hit the pool), I got a call from one of these captains. They wanted to (and have since) filed a grievance against the team that defaulted. *sigh* Thing is, again, I get it. The league winner should not be decided by defaults. However, I don't know the defaulting captain or her team. I don't know the circumstances under which she decided to throw the entire match. Not cool, I know, but having a match on July 4 is tricky (and she has a small roster to being with). I got lucky with my team.
Word on the street, though, is that the defaulting captain actually had four players on site, and she didn't play them. Four players can give you three courts (singles, singles, and doubles), which is enough to win a team match. This is the thing that I really am more concerned about...if they were there, why didn't they play?
So, two other teams are really up in arms about this. They want me to sign onto the grievance and keep saying it hurts us, but it really doesn't. We already played the defaulting team, and swept all the courts. We lost to both of the 'complaining' teams, and have already lost two courts to the 'lucky' team. It is statistically impossible, even if we win every single court we have left to play, to win. However, if we win some more courts off of the 'lucky' team, it will benefit the 'complaining' teams. And that right there, I think, is the only reason they want my support.
And, to a point, they do have my support. It shouldn't be decided this way. But there is only so far I'm going to go with grievances and such...I just want to play tennis. I honestly don't think the 'lucky' team's captain arranged anything with the 'defaulting' team...and if they did, well, I think it is sad that they feel they have to do that. And as far as the 'complaining' teams...I find it ironic that they are shouting so loud, when both of them have some suspiciously rated singles players on their teams.
*sigh*
I just want to play tennis.
First of all, WTL (Washington Tennis League) was a bit crazy, IMO, to schedule matches on the 4th of July. At Hains Point. During the parade! Though, we were lucky in that our team was scheduled to play at 9:30am. Well, I had thought that was lucky...it proved to be unlucky for others.
Fortunately, we had enough players in town for me to put together a decent line-up, with me at #2 singles and all excited about my new singles game plan (diamond drill! New serve! Coming in to net!). I left *really* early, not because I was worried about traffic (I395 was one route that didn't suffer from road closures due to the parade) but because I was worried about parking. I was thinking Hains Point would be a great place to park if you're coming in for the parade at 11:30!
But again, I was wayyy early, and even got a prime spot in the lot, right in front of the courts! Lucky!
Not so lucky was KO, who was coming in from Ashburn, and didn't stop to think or check the road closures. She got stuck twice, but finally got there with plenty of time to spare (mostly because she left at 7am for a 9:30am match!).
Eventually we all gathered except for RMcE, who ended up a bit stuck herself since she was coming from the city. I had her at #1 singles, so I switched her to #2 just in case she didn't make it in time (in accordance with the default rules).
While all of this was happening, CB comes up and tells me her team just got handed an entire *match* default by their opponents. Now, they are one of the teams in contention to win the league, and to get five courts without having to play is huge! And, well, kinda sucky for the other teams, but whatever...I went along my way.
The bell rings, we walk onto the courts, and our opponents were nowhere to be found! Lol! I sent everyone to their courts, and RMcE ran on just in time (we have 15 minutes before a default is declared), and finally the opponents trickle in. The captain finds me and tells me that they are defaulting #3 doubles (oh, poor KO was on #3 doubles...all that driving, and her opponents don't show!) and that #1 singles (my opponent) is on her way.
Only, she never showed up. I was generous, too...I stayed on the court for 20 minutes. So, right off the bat, we got two courts in a default. I grabbed Katy and Dawn and headed over to practice with CB's team, who is just hitting with themselves and practicing since their opponents threw in the towel for the day. The captain, who I know in passing from both DC and NOVA leagues, was very friendly and inviting. She is also the captain that I'm scheduling our make-up courts with, and she has been quite fair and accommodating. We ended up playing some doubles with another gal who was there early for her 11am match. It was fun!
When the whistle blew, I noticed all three of our active courts were still playing. Hmmm...I was thinking we would have won by now! Well, it turns out that all three courts were very, very close. Two of them went to sudden death points. Of those two, we won one and lost one (poor RMcE double faulted on her's...I hate the sudden death point!)...and we won on games on the other court. So we won 4-1. We're trucking right along, having fun, playing tennis, and doing well.
Another top team was there, ready to start their match, and having a shit storm about the match default, as it put the team that received it pretty much out of reach (at least for us, but there are two teams already out of our reach). I get it, I really do...but what are you going to do? I seriously doubt, for one moment, that if one of these other teams had gotten that default, that they wouldn't have gladly accepted it and skipped away into the sunset!
Well, later in the day (before I hit the pool), I got a call from one of these captains. They wanted to (and have since) filed a grievance against the team that defaulted. *sigh* Thing is, again, I get it. The league winner should not be decided by defaults. However, I don't know the defaulting captain or her team. I don't know the circumstances under which she decided to throw the entire match. Not cool, I know, but having a match on July 4 is tricky (and she has a small roster to being with). I got lucky with my team.
Word on the street, though, is that the defaulting captain actually had four players on site, and she didn't play them. Four players can give you three courts (singles, singles, and doubles), which is enough to win a team match. This is the thing that I really am more concerned about...if they were there, why didn't they play?
So, two other teams are really up in arms about this. They want me to sign onto the grievance and keep saying it hurts us, but it really doesn't. We already played the defaulting team, and swept all the courts. We lost to both of the 'complaining' teams, and have already lost two courts to the 'lucky' team. It is statistically impossible, even if we win every single court we have left to play, to win. However, if we win some more courts off of the 'lucky' team, it will benefit the 'complaining' teams. And that right there, I think, is the only reason they want my support.
And, to a point, they do have my support. It shouldn't be decided this way. But there is only so far I'm going to go with grievances and such...I just want to play tennis. I honestly don't think the 'lucky' team's captain arranged anything with the 'defaulting' team...and if they did, well, I think it is sad that they feel they have to do that. And as far as the 'complaining' teams...I find it ironic that they are shouting so loud, when both of them have some suspiciously rated singles players on their teams.
*sigh*
I just want to play tennis.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Rest
Today was a day of rest...at least from tennis and working out. From here until Thursday, I have tennis every day in the hope that I'll figure something out in time for districts. Ha! Though, truth be told, I have a DC match tomorrow (I'm playing #2 singles), and I'm looking forward to working on the things that CB and CR worked on with me.
Spent the day gallivanting around with RevJ, who is here on leave. Yay for leave! Hope to see him again before he goes back to the ME and I head down to districts. Also need to keep in touch with him better while he is over there...I realized today how much I miss talking to him.
Spent the day gallivanting around with RevJ, who is here on leave. Yay for leave! Hope to see him again before he goes back to the ME and I head down to districts. Also need to keep in touch with him better while he is over there...I realized today how much I miss talking to him.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Preparations
Preparations are being made for districts, including what I hope is a bit of a (positive) change in philosophy in my singles games. Never thought tennis was that deep, did you?
Yesterday, when all the plans for a team practice fell apart, I was still itching to play. So, I grabbed my stuff and drove on over to 'Bertha'. Bertha is the name given to a little, out of the way hitting wall that I've found. It is usually completely deserted, but evidently not forgotten, as I was pleased to find that the area has been fenced in since my last visit (yay...no more chasing balls into the storm drain!).
It is real easy to hit against a wall and actually do more harm than good. I tried very hard to make sure I was focusing on two things -> my contact with the ball and my feet. I soon realized that I was just hitting as hard as I could, and stopped myself. I forced myself to just hit 'solid' and not necessarily with a lot of pace. I got into a good rhythm, especially on my BH side. My FH loop is still too big most of the time, causing my contact to be late.
But all in all, a good practice session. I was supposed to play in the make-up match for Tennacity, but it got called due to 'oh jeez, this match doesn't matter anyway and will just get rained out again'-itis.
This morning I met up with CB to hit. We were supposed to have a foursome and play doubles, but she and I were the only two there, so after a bit of a chat, we hit singles for about an hour and a half. And...I think I had a bit of a breakthrough. CB plays both singles and doubles, and is a *smart* player (something I still lack). After a bit, she pulled me aside and said 'Look, when you have me stretched out, why in the world aren't you coming in?'. She even very graciously demonstrated by running *me* corner to corner, coming in, and gently placing a volley where I had no hope of ever getting it.
So then I did it...by stretching her out to her weaker side (BH)...and OMG! Easy, easy points! She is good enough to also give me alots of different kinds of balls, and it was a great practice. Again, I found that I can control the ball and place it when I'm not trying to hit the tar out of it.
After this, I moseyed down the road for a pick-up lesson with CR (who is trying to whoo me into being a regular student). We worked on returns, which was great. She had me change my positioning slighty, and we worked on taking a weak serve down the line to set up the point aggressively. Again, we have found that I'm not turning my shoulders and taking my racquet waaaay back too far, especially on that FH side. She wants me to take the loop out completely, but I'd rather just work on shortening up the loop. I like the loop!
Then we did the diamond drill, which was a great singles drill. She marked out a diamond on the court with some cones. I was to hit the ball outside of the diamond. Doing that made my opponent (one of CR's camp helpers...good college player) run like mad, get out of position, and usually hit an error. If not an error, than a weak reply. Again...hello...it wasn't about pace. I really got the hang of it after seeing the visual reminder of the cones.
CR teaches one of my opponents from the season (MS), and suggested that we share a lesson. Now, *this* was more like it. Since I lost my Monday shared lesson, I've really missed the more individual attention and the opportunity to hit regularly with another 3.5 (or better) woman. So, she called up MS and she thought it was a good idea, too, and it looks like I have my Monday night tennis back, just with a different partner and instructor. I still have my Skyline clinics, too, and hopefully pick-up lessons with Sup. Sup and CR complement each other perfectly...I can almost finish CR's sentences because I've heard the same thing come out of Sup's mouth! So, I feel like working with both won't mess me up.
Except, I'm keeping my loop! Just need to compact it!
Then I was off to clean up and drive into FFX to a charity that I found that took all my books I was getting rid of! Yay!
Then, back into Arlington for some tennis with some TTW boys. We hit at TJ Middle School, and I liked it much better than Wakefield. A nicer setting, and more 'structure' on the court...meaning the other people were nice and had much better etiquette on the other courts. We played some doubles and were just hitting around when the skies opened up. It actually felt good, as the rain was a bit cold.
And now, as I look over my schedule, I realize we leave on Thursday for districts, and I have tennis scheduled Sat (DC match), Sun (clinic), Mon (shared lesson), Tues (Susie), and Wed (clinic). So, no tennis for me tomorrow! It might just be time to hit the pool and see what I can do about my hideous tan lines!
Yesterday, when all the plans for a team practice fell apart, I was still itching to play. So, I grabbed my stuff and drove on over to 'Bertha'. Bertha is the name given to a little, out of the way hitting wall that I've found. It is usually completely deserted, but evidently not forgotten, as I was pleased to find that the area has been fenced in since my last visit (yay...no more chasing balls into the storm drain!).
It is real easy to hit against a wall and actually do more harm than good. I tried very hard to make sure I was focusing on two things -> my contact with the ball and my feet. I soon realized that I was just hitting as hard as I could, and stopped myself. I forced myself to just hit 'solid' and not necessarily with a lot of pace. I got into a good rhythm, especially on my BH side. My FH loop is still too big most of the time, causing my contact to be late.
But all in all, a good practice session. I was supposed to play in the make-up match for Tennacity, but it got called due to 'oh jeez, this match doesn't matter anyway and will just get rained out again'-itis.
This morning I met up with CB to hit. We were supposed to have a foursome and play doubles, but she and I were the only two there, so after a bit of a chat, we hit singles for about an hour and a half. And...I think I had a bit of a breakthrough. CB plays both singles and doubles, and is a *smart* player (something I still lack). After a bit, she pulled me aside and said 'Look, when you have me stretched out, why in the world aren't you coming in?'. She even very graciously demonstrated by running *me* corner to corner, coming in, and gently placing a volley where I had no hope of ever getting it.
So then I did it...by stretching her out to her weaker side (BH)...and OMG! Easy, easy points! She is good enough to also give me alots of different kinds of balls, and it was a great practice. Again, I found that I can control the ball and place it when I'm not trying to hit the tar out of it.
After this, I moseyed down the road for a pick-up lesson with CR (who is trying to whoo me into being a regular student). We worked on returns, which was great. She had me change my positioning slighty, and we worked on taking a weak serve down the line to set up the point aggressively. Again, we have found that I'm not turning my shoulders and taking my racquet waaaay back too far, especially on that FH side. She wants me to take the loop out completely, but I'd rather just work on shortening up the loop. I like the loop!
Then we did the diamond drill, which was a great singles drill. She marked out a diamond on the court with some cones. I was to hit the ball outside of the diamond. Doing that made my opponent (one of CR's camp helpers...good college player) run like mad, get out of position, and usually hit an error. If not an error, than a weak reply. Again...hello...it wasn't about pace. I really got the hang of it after seeing the visual reminder of the cones.
CR teaches one of my opponents from the season (MS), and suggested that we share a lesson. Now, *this* was more like it. Since I lost my Monday shared lesson, I've really missed the more individual attention and the opportunity to hit regularly with another 3.5 (or better) woman. So, she called up MS and she thought it was a good idea, too, and it looks like I have my Monday night tennis back, just with a different partner and instructor. I still have my Skyline clinics, too, and hopefully pick-up lessons with Sup. Sup and CR complement each other perfectly...I can almost finish CR's sentences because I've heard the same thing come out of Sup's mouth! So, I feel like working with both won't mess me up.
Except, I'm keeping my loop! Just need to compact it!
Then I was off to clean up and drive into FFX to a charity that I found that took all my books I was getting rid of! Yay!
Then, back into Arlington for some tennis with some TTW boys. We hit at TJ Middle School, and I liked it much better than Wakefield. A nicer setting, and more 'structure' on the court...meaning the other people were nice and had much better etiquette on the other courts. We played some doubles and were just hitting around when the skies opened up. It actually felt good, as the rain was a bit cold.
And now, as I look over my schedule, I realize we leave on Thursday for districts, and I have tennis scheduled Sat (DC match), Sun (clinic), Mon (shared lesson), Tues (Susie), and Wed (clinic). So, no tennis for me tomorrow! It might just be time to hit the pool and see what I can do about my hideous tan lines!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Hobbling toward the finish line...
This morning, Tennacity beat All that Racquet. Barely. Thus, qualifying the team to go to VA districts. And when I say barely, I mean *barely*. We split courts, and actually split sets. So it came down to a total game count, and we edged them out 45 to 43 (I think...something like that). I say 'we', but I didn't play today...I headed over after clinic as I was supposed to practice. Only one other person showed up to practice, and after hitting for an hour, we watched the match wrap up.
I'm happy we're going, of course, but I only played twice for this team, both times at doubles, and lost both times (albeit in close matches). We have one more match to go, and I'm scheduled for singles, but I feel like I haven't contributed to the team going at all. OH well, I should just shut up, go, and have a blast. Which really, is the plan anyway.
Just have to keep my ankle from falling apart before then. I have switched to taping as I feel it is more effective than my ASO brace (it gets the support right where I need it to be), but it causes me to go through tape unbelievable fast.
I also have a conflict on one day of districts with our final DC match. Depending on how NOVA indoor playoffs shake down, we might be short, and though my original plan was to drive back to play the DC match, now that I've seen when we would play (10am and 6:30pm on Friday), that is no longer looking like an appealing idea.
I'm happy we're going, of course, but I only played twice for this team, both times at doubles, and lost both times (albeit in close matches). We have one more match to go, and I'm scheduled for singles, but I feel like I haven't contributed to the team going at all. OH well, I should just shut up, go, and have a blast. Which really, is the plan anyway.
Just have to keep my ankle from falling apart before then. I have switched to taping as I feel it is more effective than my ASO brace (it gets the support right where I need it to be), but it causes me to go through tape unbelievable fast.
I also have a conflict on one day of districts with our final DC match. Depending on how NOVA indoor playoffs shake down, we might be short, and though my original plan was to drive back to play the DC match, now that I've seen when we would play (10am and 6:30pm on Friday), that is no longer looking like an appealing idea.
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