A truly awesome quote Dr. P! Maybe you could just use part of it as a sig like this part.
over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on court and also in life. I’ve found inspiration.
no, that'd lose all its effect. I'll leave it in my journal.
So me and mdshahid got to hit today. i thought it was beautiful weather. around 40 degrees was the high I think but it was a little to breezy for the game. still great weather. supposed to be 60s tommorrow. yeah. so much for winter.
we warmed up, hit around for a while, played a set, halfway through another set, then hit around for some more time. I liked the warmup and practice and was playing decently by the time the set actually started and even fired up some good serves 3rd service game in.
I won 7-5, second set 4-1 when we decided to just hit. I really really liked today's game though, especially in that set. I think mdshahid played the kinda tennis that I think is the best and the kinda tennis I try to play ( don't really know to what extent I am successful) and I think if he could have just stepped it up one notch overall he could have beaten me. I was really impressed, that's the kinda game that I think is really effective and efficient and really tests your tennis, all aspects of the game. We actually got to hit plenty of forehands backhands and we had quite a few really good rallies. And at the same time there was no shortage of volleys and passing shots. So it was solid all court tennis, very good serving and good returning all around. A very good first set all around.
I know this is winter and I never expected myself to play even as much as I have been and all, so its but natural that I don't take tennis as seriously now. But I realize that if I can improve my stamina/fitness even a little bit, it's going to make drastic improvements on my game. I need to get a little quicker overall and I can do that, just not for long which is why I think a little stamina is enough to push my game to a new level. This is something to really focus on this summer.
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ReflectionsLooking back over the years, I am really happy and proud of my tennis and what is becoming of it. It seems like finally all my "hard work" (not that something you enjoy as much is ever hard work) and hours and hours on court are paying dividends. To be able to pick up a racquet after long gaps, and in a few hours be up to a level where I can play a clean game is itself I think a big accomplishment. And I have realized that slowly and steadily I have become more than even that. I am able to think clearly, think about the big picture during matches, work my way into matches, work my game back into good shape.. am able to.. my whole game comes together more naturally and effortlessly than I could have imagined. I can think of my game so clearly and use almost every aspect of it now almost at will and let my game do the talking and catching up to my expectations.
I think my backhand made the difference. I have always had a good serve, forehand and everything. But since my backhand has started to click more often and I can rely on it and trust it more and more (and the more I do that, the sweeter the shots are) I have gained confidence in my whole game. I can actually go on court and focus directly on things like varying pace and depth, placing my serves with different spins, deciding when to attack and when to play safe.. things that I used to never think about unless my game was fully on. Now I can do this and expect my mechanics and movement to click the right way and do things for me .. and its just so cool that I made this unconscious transition to a higher state. My tennis still might be the same but mentally and confidence wise is where it flows so much smoother and neatly.
And it goes without saying and yet I have to add that T4U has been a big part of this through and through. Keeping me in touch with tennis even when I am not playing, all the talk about tennis and the game itself keeps me motivated, so that even if I have not played for weeks, I still feel in touch. And for everyone who has explained things to me and tought me so many things, listening to me whatever I have to say and offering advice .. and just making tennis enjoyable for me instead of something i have to just get better at and win.. what can I say? thank you.
happy
