Topic: Tennis4you - Tennis Journal

[Tennis4you]

We lost our mixed doubles match to two solid opponents.  The guy had a college tennis t-shirt on, I think he might play college tennis.  He was a 4.5 at best, but he played well.  The girl was probably 4.5 as well.  I played solid, probably every bit as well as him if not better.  But my partner is obviosuly not a doubles player.  She hit very few volleys in.  I held serve pretty easily the first 3 service games but after that they returned everything to my partner and I lost my last 3 service games.  She even tried staying back, they still returned to her and we still lost.  Our score was 6-7 (5), 2-6.  It was a fun match, but it is hard to play doubles at that level with someone who is not use to doubles.  It made it kinda hard for me to know where I needed to be to cover shots.  With my normal partner I do not have to worry about covering a lot of court, I just need to hold my own.  

My partner was holding her service games but mainly because I was at the net taking care of business.  I had some sweet volleys and sweet gets.  I also missed a few reflex volleys in the first set that I was bascially under attack but still felt I could of got the ball back.  The frustrating part was they left me such holes in the court to put the ball into, I just didn't thave the hands.

I only got lobbed twice, they tried lobbing the short guy early but I smoked two overheads.  From there on out they lobbed my partner.  I had to hustle a few down and throw up backwards towards the court.  They were good deep lobs but he was tall and still took care of business.  

Still fun, I would do it again.  She will only get better at doubles.

[Jamesdster]

I'm sorry Scott but I did my best

[Tennis4you]

Played a 4.5 league match today.  I took 3 weeks off from matches (minus my mixed dubs match) and that was a mistake.  Tonight was easily the worst I played in a long time.  I could not return serve, I could not hit a first serve in either.  My partner did not volley solid and in the end we lost 5-7, 4-6.  Not the best match for either of us.  I need to get another match or two in before our next big team match, that was painfully obvious tonight.

[Tennis4you]

My knee has been aching pretty good since Tuesday night, and unfortunetly I am talking about my good knee, not the one with the knee brace.  I hate to say it, but I think I will be wearing two knee braces for a while to see if it helps.  It is either that or not play, and that latter option sux.

[Tennis4you]

Played twice today.  The first time was just good practice.

The second time I had to face the greatness of Jeffro and Jamesdster teamed together.  We won the first set 6-2 as Jamesdster whined about his back.  I tried not to feel sorry for him but he looked so pathetic.  But then just as I had guessed, he was just playing mind games and then won the next two sets for the win.  They had us down 1-5 and had match point.  My partner dinked a ball over and I was at the net.  Jeffro steps up and puts the ball down, but I read the sheeeeeeeeeeet and volleyed it for a clean winner.  We broke Jeffro and then I was down 0-40 on my own serve.  I saved another 3 match points and held my game.  Jamesdster served it out with his oh so achey back (pfft) and held at love for the match.  At least we saved some face and did not lose 1-6 (In yo face Jeffro!)

My partner (not my normal partner) was getting chewed up on his serve.  I think he held twice all day.  He wasn't serving too hard today and Jeffro and Jamesdster made him pay for it.   Next time I will not feel too sorry for Jamesdster's broke back and beat him down to the ground.  

[Jamesdster]

Coming soon to a theatre near you.... "Brokeback Tennis"

You played pretty well and as you said, your partner was not serving well at all and we were jumping all over it.  Nevertheless, it was fun. Man, if you would have won after being down 4 match points...oh perish the thought!

[Creecher]

I could feel the excitement just reading about this match. Way to keep it together and save face.

[Jamesdster]

It is considered an instant classic thus ESPN Classic wil be showing a replay of the match.  I hope it doesn't run the same time as the Wimbledon final because I'd hate for the final get low ratings.

[Tennis4you]

Played last night.  Luckily it was only a practice because I played pretty crappy.  I had several set points in the first set and they were all volleys, my favorite part of tennis.  I missed 4 easy volleys on 4 set points.  We lost the set.  We were up a break in the second before rain hit but we were all breaking a lot last night so serving up a break did not mean a ton.  We had actually just saved break point to stay at duece when the rain hit.  I have not played too many matches in the last month so it is time to change that.  The good news is that my shoulder felt fine, I hurt it pretty good Sunday, I think I pulled a muscle or something.  I wasn't suppose to play last night so I should be happy I got out.  But I probably hit 6-7 errors in the tie-breaker which we lost at about 12-14 or so.  I also hit about 2 errors per game (sometimes more) which would put me at about (12 games @ 2 errors) 24+tb errors = 30 errors.  If I could of hit like I should have been it would of been a lot easier on us.  That is what I get for not playing much recently.

I saved 2 set points from the other team.  One with a return of serve down the alley with a backhand.  The other I guessed right and caught up with an angled put away and I hit it pretty much with at least one foot in the court next to us.  I threw up a weak lob, they slammed it and my partner got a racquet on it and we save the point.  The last set point I returned the serve with a forehand sharp angle (inside out shot).  The server who was a foot from where the ball landed didn't call it.   His partner on the other side of the court who was pretty much in bad position to call the ball called it out.  That prettty much sums up that set for me.  

I will seek my revenge next time.  There is no way I can produce that many errors next time.  I dished out a set of errors.  sad...  A 3.5 would of handed me my butt in a sling last night.

[Tennis4you]

I played some doubles tonight.  It was just 4.0 doubles, I did what I had to do to just get by.  But what I was anxious to get out and try today was the new string.  I hit with the Cyber Flash byTopspin Germany, or so I think that is what this stuff is called.

It was very hard to string with, it was just so stiff.  That alone made me nervous, so I strung it 2 pounds less than I am use to.  

The strings felt good.  I will continue using them and see how long them last before I decide if I will use them or not.  They had good feel and gave me good pop when I needed it.  I do not think stringing 2 pounds lighter was necessary, and that suprised me.  I am using 16g now, I will try 17g next if I continue to use it.

Not too shabby...

The post above was posted May 10th, it is now June 29th.  The string in my racquet has still yet to break.  Amazing.  I usually break strings anywhere from 3-5 hours.  I am really liking this stuff.  I was joking the other day that my racquet might break before the string.  Last night I noticed I had officially chewed through the racquet.  I slice a lot and eventually the racquet knicks the ground enough that I chew a hole in the racquet.  There is indeed a hole in my racquet.  I think the racquet will cave before the strings do.  So in about 50 days I have probably played at least 20 times and the string has not broken.  Good stuff!

[thejackal]

I usually cut out polyester after 3-4 weeks.

[Tennis4you]

These are suppose to not lose their tension and they still feel fantastic so I am going to leave em in there and see what happens.

[Tennis4you]

Played doubles yesterday, I did well but it was kinda hard to judge overall.  One of my opponent's had an off day and missed more than he usually does.  Happens to the best of us.  My partner and I won 6-2, 6-3 (or 6-4, I forget).  I served well, I did not return great but I did OK.  I hit with the 17g string yesterday and it felt like it gave my serve a little more spin.  My second serves were staying deep and popping up nicely, they were a little harder to attack which was nice.  Then we all drilled for about an hour.  I was on the court for 3 hours.  That was a minimum for me in high school, but now it made both my knees ache all night and my shoulder ache as well.  I am old...

I hit with dmastous today from the forum.  I just walked in the door 5 minutes ago.  He is pretty tall, made me look all the shorter.  He has money strokes but he has not been playing so his timing was a little off.  But when he connected he could hit some solid shots.  He was in town visiting family so it worked out well.  Next time he is out I will set up some doubles, should be fun.  Super nice guy, I believe that was the first time I hooked up with someone I met through the site.

[Jamesdster]

So, did you play with the boys at the Country Club on clay?

[Tennis4you]

Regarding my grass court experience just yesterday...

I was never broken and I returned VERY well.  I was able to chip and charge on everything.  I never once hit a topspin forehand.  I won 6-3, 6-2 and then switched partners and won 6-4.  Grass rocks.  You have to get use to the ball just flat out dying when it hits the grass, but WOW!!!

We were at 3-3 in the first set and the dude hits a nasty drop shot at break point.  I run up, find a way to scoop it up the line for a winner.  I left a 5' long streak in the grass from the slide.  It was sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!

I need to do that more often, that was an absolute blast!!!

[Tennis4you]

Played Open GCTA today.  It was my USTA partner and I against (2) other 4.5 players.  They were pretty good, they were opposites of each other so it was a little tough to get into any kind of rythm.

We saved a set point against us at 4-5.  They served to my backhand, I sliced it up the line.  The net man got to it and volleyed it at my partner's feet.  My partner scoops it up and got it down the middle between the (2).  The guy who hit my return was wide to get to the volley so it opened up the court.  It was a money volley may partner hit, I thought we were screwed.  We win the first set 7-5.

Second set we are up 1 break 5-2.  We blink and it is 5-5.  That sucks like no other, I got broke serving for the match.  5-5, we hold and then we dig deep for the break and get it.

7-5, 7-5.  Felt good.  Next big Match, Tuesday, USTA doubles again.

[Tennis4you]

Jeffro played USTA tonight.  We had a rough start.  First off we found out we were playing (2) tough guys.  If I am correct (Jeffro should know) I think the older guy use to play for Yale back in the day.  He is probably 55-60 now, but he is cash money without a doubt.  His partner was probably 50 but he is cash money as well.  I think the older guy has competed in National doubles and such.  Again, Jeffro might know more about it than me.

Anyway...

We got our a$$es handed to us the first 5 games. We got broke, and broke and broke.  We were down 0-5 in a matter of 15 minutes.  It was brutal.  

Jeffro and I quickly talk about what is going on.  These guys just do not miss, anything.  They are known for it.  So we decide to cut out some of our options and play more balls down the middle and make these guys play more tennis.

1-5, wow we won a game, better than that, we actually broke them.
2-5, I hold.  Feeling good about going into the second set with some momentum and some games under our belt.  We have officially saved SOME face.
3-5, broke again, sweet!
4-5, Jeffro holds.  We are just down a break.
5-5, oh yeah, you know I am pumped now.
6-5, easy hold for me, pressure is on them now, is this really happening?
7-5, BOOYAH!  Holy crap!

We raised our games so much, we stopped missing shots, started playing smarter, quit going for fancy shots which these guys make you feel like you have to do to win a friggin point.

Jeffro up to serve in the second.

1-0  Jeffro holds
2-0  We break
3-0  I hold
4-0  We break again
5-0  Jeffro holds
5-1  They finally hold again
6-1  I serve it out for the win.

Jeffro and I were like school girls after that win.  Unbelievable!  These guys were owning us and we turned it on big time.  Jeffro's returns were amazing.  He was tearing the cover off of the ball.  I was volleying like I want to.  I was pushing the opponent deep when I needed to, dropping short angles when I needed to and I also poached for some sweet angle winner that even impressed myself.

Overall the team won 4-0 and we put ourselves in position to go to Districts at the 4.5 level.  We have one match left, we are in first place.  The team we beat tonight WAS in first place.  What a sweet night!!!

[Jamesdster]

Nice job.  Remind me not to play against you guys anymore..at least till I am playing more than every other week.

[Jeffro]

Scott:

It was your court last night, I just got out of your way (after the first 5 games).  You hit some incredible volleys, that is probably the best I've ever seen you volley.  We both need some work on our overheads, maybe we could get Jamesdster to give us a lesson on that, I don't think I've ever seen him miss an overhead.  I guess all the drills and hitting I've been doing lately are paying off, I was grooving on the forehand.  Felt good to hit the ball and actually have it go where I wanted it to go.

Jeffro

P.S.  I'm not sure I like the "school girl" characterization in your post, you need to come up with something a little more manly.

[Tennis4you]

Scott:

It was your court last night, I just got out of your way (after the first 5 games).  You hit some incredible volleys, that is probably the best I've ever seen you volley.  We both need some work on our overheads, maybe we could get Jamesdster to give us a lesson on that, I don't think I've ever seen him miss an overhead.  I guess all the drills and hitting I've been doing lately are paying off, I was grooving on the forehand.  Felt good to hit the ball and actually have it go where I wanted it to go.

It was our court yo.  We were feeding off of each other.  I think we broke fairly easily to go to 1-5 in the first set which means we both raised our games at the same time.  You were crushing returns.  I was pumped and I am still pumped about that win.  You can best believe that is a beating they will hope to forget.