Topic: Tennis4you - Tennis Journal

[Tennis4you]

Saw the massage therapist today, she beat the crap out of my calves.  Apparently the right calf was extremely tight.  She said behind my knees she could not tell if I was swollen or if my muscles were really just that tight.

I am pretty sore right now.  She thinks what she did will help.  Worst case scenario I see her once next week.  She said if I was not feeling better by Sunday night to set up another appointment.  Hopefully what she did will help.

[monstertruck]

Did she explain exactly what she's doing to the muscles?
Breaking down adhesions (can be very painful for days) so new bonds can form (leads to pain free tennis!)???

Did she preheat the area prior to starting?
Did you ice after the massage?
What were her thoughts on the use of heat and ice in relation to playing sports?

Please answer soon.
Your Pal,
Mr. BusyBody





Glad to hear you're continuing with professional treatment for you injuries.  It just dawned on me this morning (pun intended), that your court speed is perhaps one of your biggest weapons.  The care that you afford them each day is what will determine how long they will serve you (pun intended!!!) on court!!!

[Tennis4you]

Dear Mr. Busy Body,

She did explain what she was doing but I am clueless.  She did not pre-heat anything, and no icing after.  She did some massaging for just a few quick minutes and then got into the painful stuff.  She was breaking down adhesions, that I know, didn't feel great either. 

Still sore today from the abuse of yesterday.  She did not comment on heat and ice during sports.  She did say she liked it for my treadmill exercising at home for now. 

I would not be surprised if I need to go back one more time.  When I get injuries they tend to linger.

[monstertruck]

I would not be surprised if I need to go back one more time.  When I get injuries they tend to linger.

Get used to it Old Man!

[Tennis4you]

Back in action the last two days and I have survived.  OSU let me fill in for him as he was suppose to sub for someone in a 4.0 league.  It was perfect to make a comeback with the 4.0's since they hit the ball softer, especially the ones we played.  Helped me to get my timing back faster.  I did pretty good.

Played USTA tonight and played against (2) 4.0 players (go figure) the opposing team was short on players I guess.  We won 1 & 2.  Felt pretty good overall. Fitness is not where it needs to be, by the 4th set I was wearing down.  That will come though.

As for the calves, they held up, I kept my orthopedics on and I hope that helps.  I could still feel the right calf some.  See how I do the rest of the week. 

[monstertruck]

Sounds like good news!!!

On the court and relatively pain free.

Listen to your body.

[Jamesdster]

Back in action the last two days and I have survived.  OSU let me fill in for him as he was suppose to sub for someone in a 4.0 league.  It was perfect to make a comeback with the 4.0's since they hit the ball softer, especially the ones we played.  Helped me to get my timing back faster.  I did pretty good.

Played USTA tonight and played against (2) 4.0 players (go figure) the opposing team was short on players I guess.  We won 1 & 2.  Felt pretty good overall. Fitness is not where it needs to be, by the 4th set I was wearing down.  That will come though.

As for the calves, they held up, I kept my orthopedics on and I hope that helps.  I could still feel the right calf some.  See how I do the rest of the week. 

You and me both on the court AT THE SAME TIME!!!  The planets must have been aligned.  But YOU were playing.  I still can't serve but oh well.  I'll take it.

[Tennis4you]

How bad is the shoulder yo?  We need ya 100% for districts!!!

[euroka1]

Back in action the last two days and I have survived.  OSU let me fill in for him as he was suppose to sub for someone in a 4.0 league.  It was perfect to make a comeback with the 4.0's since they hit the ball softer, especially the ones we played.  Helped me to get my timing back faster.  I did pretty good.

Played USTA tonight and played against (2) 4.0 players (go figure) the opposing team was short on players I guess.  We won 1 & 2.  Felt pretty good overall. Fitness is not where it needs to be, by the 4th set I was wearing down.  That will come though.

As for the calves, they held up, I kept my orthopedics on and I hope that helps.  I could still feel the right calf some.  See how I do the rest of the week. 

You and me both on the court AT THE SAME TIME!!!  The planets must have been aligned.  But YOU were playing.  I still can't serve but oh well.  I'll take it.

Good to read about all this tennis.
I am always happy to help out with aligning planets. 

We had a good morning's game here today, outdoors.
Getting to be quite summery. Sent in my second payment to the Cincy crowd today.

[Tennis4you]

I wish it was warmer here today.  Wifey and I went out to play and the courts were apparently reserved.  We stayed and let the kids play on the playground but we were dressed for tennis, not to sit around.  Coooooooooooooooooooooold.

[Jamesdster]

How bad is the shoulder yo?  We need ya 100% for districts!!!

We both need to be at 100% for the districts.  But first we have to win 1 of our last 2 matches to get there.  I have serious doubts that I will ever serve at 100% again.  But at least I can "play."  I am still not even back to 50%, but I guess that is a nice improvement over serving underhanded, which I did at first.

[Tennis4you]

No doubt.  100% does not look that far away from me right now.  Fingers crossed.

[Tennis4you]

Ummm, it has been over 5 weeks since I posted?  That's my baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.  Been back and playing and the calves feel good.  I am slammed (more to come Tuesday night on that).  But I have been getting out 1-2 times per week.  I wish it was more, but I will take what I can get. 

Wifey and I get out an additional 1-2 times per week, so that helps some.  The indoor season ended last week so it is all outdoor from here on out.  I have played a few matches outdoors already, plus that is what wifey and I hit up.

OSU and I entered a tourney this weekend.  Our first round was against 2 high school sophmores.  We took it easy on them and still dished out the double bagel.  The next round two guys beat up on (2) 4.0 players we know pretty well.  I thought we woudl be playing the guys we know but apparently not.  I took them down 6-2, 604.  The second set was closer than we wanted it to be.  They held all the way to when they were serving to stay in it at 4-5.

We played the finals today.  The defending champions beat Jamesdster and OSU in the finals last year.  These two are on our 4.5 league so OSU and I know them well.  I do not have a good record against them as their games are tricky for me.  OSU and I snuck out the first set 7-5.  It was a battle.  We got an early break and they broke me right back.  It took a good handful of set points to finally seal the deal for the first set.  The second set went much more to my liking, we did really well and they dropped off a bit.  We took it 6-1.  Not sure OSU and I have won a tournament together before.  We lost in a finals 5 years ago and 2 summers ago in the semis we were up 5-1 in the first set and serving and my right calf popped and we were done. 

Fun day today, awesome weather.  Good day.

[monstertruck]

That's a good read from here!

Nice to hear the calves are ok!!!

Don't hesitate to continue the icing.

[euroka1]

Good to have the update.
Ice is nice at this time of year. 
I'm playing tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wednesday then away for the following weekend (which means I miss the French finals  )
No action at all this weekend; everyone away. 

[Tennis4you]

Holy crap, I let Jamesdster have a more recent Journal than me?  Wow, I am slacking!

been slammed at work these days which is a good thing.  Still hitting with wifey every few days, she has gotten way better.  I can unload balls at her and she can hit them back fairly well which is nice.  I no longer need to try to hit balls with no spin. 

OSU and I played tonight, we played USTA court 1 (which ended up being the weakest team).  We won 6-3, 6-0.  Played a 3rd for fun and won that one 6-1.  Our opponents could not find the court tonight.  We did though. 

[Tennis4you]

We have 4.5 Districts this weekend, 4 matches in 3 days.  Then as soon as I get back I have a dubs tournament with MC.  Should be a fun week assuming I stay healthy.

I am getting thrown to the wolves Saturday and I have to play a singles match at Districts.  I have not played a full singles match in years.  I played a set last night, it's been a year and a half since I even played a set of singles.  I tore into our #1 singles guy pretty easily which shocked me.  I think he was a little tired but I did play well.  I will be the underdog in singles at Districts no matter who I play but I am excited for the challenge!

I always notice this, but my focus in singles is 10x better than in doubles.  I am constantly thinking, stratagizing and executing.  I feel like in dubs I am always reacting and always rushed.  In singles I feel like I have more time, things seem more clear.  Weird, I wish I was the same in dubs.

[Jamesdster]

We have 4.5 Districts this weekend, 4 matches in 3 days.  Then as soon as I get back I have a dubs tournament with MC.  Should be a fun week assuming I stay healthy.

I am getting thrown to the wolves Saturday and I have to play a singles match at Districts.  I have not played a full singles match in years.  I played a set last night, it's been a year and a half since I even played a set of singles.  I tore into our #1 singles guy pretty easily which shocked me.  I think he was a little tired but I did play well.  I will be the underdog in singles at Districts no matter who I play but I am excited for the challenge!

I always notice this, but my focus in singles is 10x better than in doubles.  I am constantly thinking, stratagizing and executing.  I feel like in dubs I am always reacting and always rushed.  In singles I feel like I have more time, things seem more clear.  Weird, I wish I was the same in dubs.

I only hope you don't run into Babble at the Districts.   .  Dayton, HERE WE COME!

[Tennis4you]

Wow, I have failed to update this.

We came in 3rd out of 5 teams at Districts.  It was pretty fun.  I was 2-1.  I won both of my doubles matches in 3rd set tie-breakers and then got mushed in singles 1-6, 4-6.  I did not sleep the night before my singles match and I played really bad.  But, let me say that the dude is a better player than me anyways so I would have lost had I played well.  I missed a lot of shots, it was kinda ugly.

MC and I won the USTA doubles tourney the following week.  It was a good tourney for us, our first.  We did not drop a set although we had some close ones.

Played tonight with Jamesdster against MM and a 14 year old getting ready to go play some nationals stuff.  He is solid, I wouldn't want to play him in a few years!  He is about as good as us right now in dubs.  Jamesdster and I won 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4).  We served for it at 5-3 in the 3rd but could not close it out.  Tough match.

Open house at the club tomorrow.  Hope to get to play some tennis, clock the serve speed and see some great friends!

[Jamesdster]

Wow, I have failed to update this.

We came in 3rd out of 5 teams at Districts.  It was pretty fun.  I was 2-1.  I won both of my doubles matches in 3rd set tie-breakers and then got mushed in singles 1-6, 4-6.  I did not sleep the night before my singles match and I played really bad.  But, let me say that the dude is a better player than me anyways so I would have lost had I played well.  I missed a lot of shots, it was kinda ugly.

MC and I won the USTA doubles tourney the following week.  It was a good tourney for us, our first.  We did not drop a set although we had some close ones.

Played tonight with Jamesdster against MM and a 14 year old getting ready to go play some nationals stuff.  He is solid, I wouldn't want to play him in a few years!  He is about as good as us right now in dubs.  Jamesdster and I won 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4).  We served for it at 5-3 in the 3rd but could not close it out.  Tough match.

Open house at the club tomorrow.  Hope to get to play some tennis, clock the serve speed and see some great friends!

We did not win sooner cuz I missed 2 volleys on match point.  But we got it done.  The 14 yr old will be playing D1 college tennis in 4 yrs.  As a 53 yr old, I actually feel proud of myself to hang with these guys.