13th DayMe and my friend gathered once more last Friday as usual, it was hot beyond belief! Just standing there, where the sun is sending their long reaching un-filtered rays (thanks to the lack of ozon layer) on your face was like feeling being melted on a hot frying pan (Where you're the egg).
It was a less energetic practice day, there was nothing out of the usual, and it was hard to reach anything. The practice session ended in an hour or more thanks to the sun.
14th DayThis later evening, after a day of work, I decided to go and practice (8:40pm), thankfully the lights were on today (not always on during the week's evening). I can to the courts area, and saw that only 2 courts were lit, and one was already occupied, but not the second. I hopped on the court, unpacked my 'Penn' ball bottles and started hitting the wall (there is a pic in this thread of mine of how the wall looks like). Mainly hitting the round circles on the wall. I did (once again!) tossed the balls to high when I was practicing power shots off the courts area. Once I accumulated 6 out of bounds, I ran all around the area and looked for the in the dark and in the buses
Once I got back, I decided it's time to do some Serve practices, I took 2 Penn empty bottles, put them direct of each other (each on different court size) - check my photoshoped image (i forgot to snapshot the court when I was there):
So I started serving, I got a bucket filled with 12 Penn balls (not new any more, so not that high bounce), my idea is to correct my body and posture and as well as the strength of hit and angle to make sure I'd hit those Penn bottles!
Round one: first serve, whaa! so close to the bottle! the rest were tossed all the way, not so good! Serving ain't easy!
Round two: still bad, not only I didn't hit, I also missed it by miles! hah
Round three: still the same..
Round four: yeah yeah.. still no good!
Round five: I hit 11 balls, all were the same, either in bound or way out bound, strong hits, soft hits, bad hits! I picked up the last ball, my mind was empty, tossed it up (not too far), bend the knees, arched the body, moved in for the ball, hit it with the racquet... and than.. BANG! the Penn bottle bounced off the ground to the sound of the ball hitting it! I shouted "Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!" with a green face
the people playing near my court were like
while i was
haha
I glanced at them of course, but only to find my self looking at someone entering the court area, he was quite older than me, I'd say 20 years, (I'm 26), he passed along the guy's court, cutting it through, came to my court and said in low voice "hey, wanna play?" while fixing his stuff on the ground. "Sure!" I said, still. happy from my last Penn-Hit, "Just let me gather around the balls on the court, and we're on" I said while tossing the balls on the ground into my bucket. "You know, I just hit that Penn empty bottle!" adding to him while walking around picking up the balls, "Than I must be aware than!" he said in a smiling but serious kind of face.
Once finished, we both set up, fronting each one at the other side of the court, I hit the ball towards him (not serving.. yet I don't know his level - boy I was wrong!) and we starting a low key game, moving the ball around, with each strike I felt confidence, as to my previous practices with my friend, so I know I had a safe game going on.
"Are we playing for points?" I than cried out to him while we stopped to gather a ball or two, "Cuz' I like to play for none point game" I added. "Sure, no need points" I heard him crying from the far end.
We started playing, I did some bad serves, and some OK ones, each return of mine were filled with power (forehand and backend) because I noticed that his returns were faster than what I'm used to!,
Than came his real serve, he tossed it, bend his knees, and launched the ball at such speed that I'm not accustomed to! My returns were not useful, when I did managed to hit, they were flying outbound, or hit the net. This took place each time he served me, that was quite challenging! There was a return from him, that I was unable to reach with my backend, so I switched to my noturio (Left hand) and returned with a great power and accuracy! "Whaa, so you can play both hands!" he cried! with a nice smile that he added to his face, "Yeah! I can do both!" I replied back.
In the back of my mind I was happy, happy to find someone who can challenge me, polish my teachnique, my speed and eye coordination up! For each power serve he did, I started to move my body just before he'd hit the serve, giving me more 'closer position' to the incoming ball, but avail, my returns we bad! I still have much to learn!!
"You know, I can't serve like you, you're doing such great fast serves!!" I shouted towards him after few games with him "Yeah! but, with a little practice, in 20 years you'll surpase me!" and it was a nice thing to hear indeed! I did noticed that lately, I started to get few back pains aches, I guess its from some muscles and a wrong twist that I've done. But, one that day I forgot my new Asics gel shoes that I bought to help me with my back pains when I do running/tennis, and ho boy I missed them tonight :D because I wore a flat shoe and each impact on the ground does go into your knees and spine. Shoes will not change the way you will play but they will surely help reduce shocks to your body.
We finished the game, after around 30mins or so of playing since he had to do (and so do I), we talked a bit, exchanging names and meeting 'officially' saying that it would be a privilege for me to learn again from him, since his level was way higher than me, and whats better than to push your limits when your match with a more skilled player?! Evolution in my game, speed and eye coordination, that's what I need, and that's what he can teach me now. I hope to see him again
I hope you enjoyed reading.
- Shany
