A tennis community for the recreational player
Have you ever hit a loose return wide, only to realize that it was game point? Or netted a would-have-been-so-amazing drop-volley to give your opponent set point?
Many players go through a developmental phase of struggling with score awareness. Two issues cause problems during this phase–understanding the significance of the score and choosing the right shot. Continue reading “Playing the Score”
You know those days when the ball looks like a giant beach ball, slow and huge and un-missable? Those days when you split-step and watch the ball and follow through and just can’t stop hitting winners?
Today was not one of those days. I looked at my target and not the ball. I didn’t bend my knees. I ran through my shots or got set too soon.
Honestly, I couldn’t hit the side of a barn, as the saying goes.
So that raises two questions in my busy little brain: Continue reading “The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”
You’ve probably heard about the major infraction committed by golfing great Phil Mickelson at this year’s U.S. Open. Frustrated by yet another wayward putt, Mickelson chased down the still-rolling ball and whacked it back toward the hole. (For an explanation of how Mickelson avoided disqualification, see this excellent article on SBNation.com.)
He didn’t entirely come clean about his behavior until a couple of days later. His apology read, in part, “I’m embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not my finest moment and I’m sorry.”
His apology reminded me of a similar incident in tennis, during Milos Raonic’s 2013 Roger’s Cup match against Juan Martin del Potro. Raonic violated the rules by touching the net while the ball was in play. Unfortunately, the chair umpire didn’t see the infraction, and Raonic denied it when accused by del Potro. The point was awarded to Raonic, who went on to win the match. Continue reading “Some thoughts on golf, tennis, and integrity”
In all of sports, is there a shot more reviled than the moonball? Granted, I’m not an expert, or even well-versed, in other sports, but I still feel pretty comfortable with that broad assertion. Continue reading “The Dreaded Moonball”
All wins count the same. Our team’s record at the end of the season doesn’t include footnotes or asterisks. A win is a win.
But behind each tally in the W column lies a whole story of strategic choices, momentum shifts, and dips in confidence. No win is like any other. Continue reading “Are Some Wins Better Than Others?”
Each of my tennis leagues presents its own unique challenges. In my just-ended Saturday league, we endured the get-our-butts-kicked-every-week challenge. In spring league, we need to adapt to outdoor conditions. For my fall/winter DBH league, there’s the administrative hassles of being captain.
My summer USTA league presents two challenges for me. The first is playing at night. As a ridiculously early riser–Hello, 4 a.m.!–starting a match at 8 p.m. seems crazy. Unfortunately, no one has asked my opinion about the schedule.
The other challenge is getting partnered with people I haven’t played with before. This seems to happen more in USTA than in my other leagues, probably because the evening hours attract a different subset of players than I normally see. Continue reading “Getting in a Groove with a New Partner”
Most people have a pretty strong opinion about whether they want to serve or receive for the first game of a match. I’m no different. If I win the spin, I always want to receive, for three reasons: Continue reading “Serve or Receive?”
After a match a few years back, my partner and I asked our coach for his feedback. I don’t remember the match or much of what our coach said. All I remember is his final question: Why’d you keep hitting to the lefty’s forehand?
My partner and I exchanged looks. There was a lefty? Continue reading “Sizing Up the Opponent”
We played our first spring league match yesterday in the dreaded outdoors. One of our opponents remarked that she hated playing outside, calling herself a “whiner.” Of course, I can relate. In fact, my first blog post could have been titled “Whining about Playing Outside.”
In my first blog post, if you didn’t see it, I had researched some tips to help me with the transition to outdoor tennis. With my first match behind me, it’s time to grade myself on how well I heeded my own advice. (I’m great at coming up with self-improvement ideas. It’s the follow-through that’s often lacking.) Here’s my report card: Continue reading “My Tennis Report Card”
Spring is finally here, and for those of us in New England, that means tennis is moving outdoors. Most of the players I know get positively giddy at the thought. The fresh air! The sun! The unlimited free court time! It’s tennis the way it’s meant to be! Continue reading “Taking My Game Outside”