learn to play tennis

Yesterday I met the captain of our Tennis team…

I played well yesterday. I never lost my serve. I never lost a set.

It was overall a great day.

Today I played.

I played probably the worst Tennis ever. I would really like to have done tonight over again as far as my Tennis is concerned.

I’m feel as though I’m much better at Tennis than I showed tonight.

Very poor serving, poor volleys, and poor backhand.

I felt quite disrespected by a few people tonight. That’s not a good thing, especially when these people are supposed to be on your team.

I’ll learn from this.

I still hate doubles Tennis.

-Dickard

So played Tennis against the guy I lost to…

Going into the match I was very low on confidence…

I felt like I had to win or else I just regressed and sucked at Tennis.

I got a bit carried away with wanting to just quit Tennis since things weren’t going my way. I’m over that now. I’ll be keeping my Tennis equipment and working on my Tennis playing ability.

Back to the rematch…

Started, I immediately found myself down 0-3.

Absolute nightmare. It seemed now matter how well I played, I’d also send the ball long. Basics…

The situation was going to worsen, since it was my serve and I lost the last game I served due to THREE double faults.

I finally got myself together enough to play my game. I stopped trying to win points quickly and just relaxed.

I improved my 1st serve percentage simply by standing further back from the baseline. Instead of being on the line, I stood about 5ft back and it greatly improved my serve.

I ended up winning the next SIX games in a row, to win the set 6-3.

I couldn’t believe, and still can’t believe I ended up just dominating and taking six games in a row.

I started to relax and seriously started playing some perfect Tennis.

We also played a tiebreak (10pt) that I also won 10-8.

I’m completely back! I’ve got all the confidence in the world as far as my Tennis ability goes.

-Dickard

So apparently I’m a doubles player these days. I was willing to give it a try. My doubles partner hit me with the ball while I was playing up at the net. That pretty much sucked.

I hate playing doubles, because I have to stand at the net and that sucks. I prefer to stand back and then have the option to approach the net…

Anyhow… I played another singles match…

I lost 3-6. I thought I would have won, but apparently I suck at Tennis these days…

I also got a chance to play a practice tie-break. First to 10… I was up 7-2, but yet I lost 10-8. Why? I don’t know… I should have had that game. I won 1 of the last 9 points played and lost.

I have another practice match lined up for tomorrow. It’s against the same guy that beat me last night. If I lose to him again, then I quit.

I’m seriously quitting.

Perhaps your boy isn’t a Tennis player… I’m great at a lot of things, and I thought I was a good Tennis player, but I’m a bit low on confidence.

I’ll see how tomorrow’s Tennis match goes before I decide to hang it up.

I’ll let everyone know how it goes!

-Dickard

So I haven’t added an entry in ages.. Mainly because I just never got ‘round to it.

So, since the last time I updated I’ve…

Had a few more lessons. I now: forehand, backhand, serve, volley, overhead, approach shot… So, that’s cool.

I bought a Tennis ball machine. It helps and it’s a good workout.

Joined the USTA…

Joined a Tennis League…

So, I’m pretty much doing work on this goal.

Yeah!

-Dickard

So, I just got a new Tennis Racket on Saturday… Very odd that it happened, but it did…

Price checked it online… I got a fairly good deal.

I took it out for a test today. Have to say it was very official.

I like it a lot. More than I thought I would. More than I even hoped I would!

Put in about 100 serves today… Hit the ball back and forth as well. About an hour of testing…

It’s great! Very, very light.

Could be just me, but I think it is more accurate. I don’t feel like I generate any additional power, but my first serve percentage went WAY UP!

-Dickard

So last night I had my third lesson…

I got to play against another guy… Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong with playing with girls…

The people that take part in my class are a retired married couple and a girl around 26 or so.

It’s not really much of a challenge overpowering them with a forehand or on the serve (when it goes in the service box).

Anyhow, so I played against a guy last night… And to my surprise he didn’t have as powerful of a shot as I thought. I assumed he’d be able to trade shots with me, but it didn’t seem like he could. I could return his shots with relative ease…

The big difference I noticed with him was that he was really willing to attack the ball. My normal people don’t do that. He’d charge the net and hit volleys which sucked, because my doubles partner wasn’t always ready for them.

The guy has actual match experience and plays tournaments… I assume that’s good practice…

I had a good time last night and I’m even more addicted to Tennis.

I’m not ready to make my entrance in a match yet, so I looked up some off court practice things…

LAME! LAME! LAME! The tips are jogging through rough paths… I’m not doing that, it just sounds stupid.

Also, try hitting a tree as hard as you can with your serve… Then do it again, but this time from wherever the ball lands… LAME! Totally not doing that either…

I’ve decided tomorrow I’m going to do work on an actual court. I’m going to try to hit 250 serves from each side (500 total).

Tennis lesson was not on yesterday… Bummed about that, but it’s okay…

We’ll either go twice in a week, or just extend it a week… No big deal…

It’ll still be good.

I’ll be out practicing my backhand in a bit.

-Dickard.

It has been raining on and off all day…

Says it will be over by 5PM, but that means I’ll be driving to Tennis in the rain…

She might cancel on me…

If she does, I’ll be sad… I’ll be angry if she doesn’t call me and I drive all the way down to the courts…

Currently, it’s pissing it down at my house…

-Dickard

Spent about an hour practicing my backhand today…

I hate the two-handed backhand, but I need to learn it… First the two-handed to improve control, then I can use the one-handed version.

Tennis lesson tomorrow, hopefully I’ll have improved!

-Dickard

I would like to learn to play Tennis. Tennis is a sport I have been interested in for as long as I can remember.

This year it is time for me to man up and learn!

I have already started with lessons and my Tennis coach sees potential in me!

I have had 2 proper Tennis lessons and I am really enjoying the game.

-Dickard