Thank you for having read Part-I of this series! Here is Part-II. There will be a Part-III sometime soon, for I am still working out how best to capture my newfound relationship with this addictive sport.
Portrait of an average session at the courts
Today, I will back (!) my backhand. Single hand, double hand, whatever. Slicing is not allowed.
Yeah, that’s all right, it’s just a friendly! Let it fly out, howlers into the net, the ground, even. Anything goes – just back yourself all the way.
Ok, maybe you can slice if the situation calls for it. It’s a valid defensive ploy, na? And some good revs on it there, yeah.
Ok, slice everything, just bloody keep it in.
Now that is a serve and a half. Perfect toss, trophy position, sweet contact. Almost rude of him to have sent a return on that one.
Perfect run around the short one, smooth conversion to forehand (no panic), cracking hit with top-spin out wide. So how the hell was he ready for it? Is it just unfashionable to (honourably) give up these days?!
Ah, the standing wristy flick – look ma, no feet – from the back of my deuce court to short on his; very Wingardium Leviosa of me to lift that low return (even if I do say so myself). Wish I’d caught it on video – maybe then I’d have noticed him shaping up for a running screamer down the line.
Global Note to Self. Friendly suggestion: stop admiring your own shots and maybe, just maybe, if your highness can deign to do so, watch your opponent and/or that fuzzy little green thing headed back to your side instead?
Ok, deep, calming breaths. Time to slow it down. Sure, you’ve thrown away most points, but there’s still a way back; let’s just keep the rallies long and induce the error rather than go for glory.
Not going for glory doesn’t mean answering a nervous dolly with a timid dink! You gotta channel your inner Hulk and cream those – come on, man!
Elbow feels a bit funny
knee, a tad niggly;
ankle, a bit iffy
…time to call it off?
Lol no. Play on or die trying, old man.
Ok, change in/introduction of strategy: time to implement some of those Insta-tips you’ve been stocking up on.
Return of serve: that’s right, wait for it, return into the body, cramp him for room and set up the winner. Can’t remember the part of the instructions which said to rush at the ball, cramp yourself for room and set him up for the winner.
The backhand. Easy does it, arms moving in a silky loop; no pause in movement of the racquet: back, across and smoothly through the ball… Ok, slice everything.
Hit into a corner and move up to the net, following the direction of the ball… That’s it, well done! Swiped at air a solid yard under that overhead, you did, but hey, at least you remembered to split step.
Feeling rather out of breath there – that last 5-shot rally…nearly killed me. Ah, the post-first set slump. Classic. That’s right, let the wheezes out. Better players have fallen prey, I’m just a 3-decade old has-been trying to keep up with the kids. How do they move that fast?
Drop shot incoming… There it is, sailing quite high over the net… Go for it? Pretend to? Back in the day… Never mind. Side change (luck change?).
Time to resume those 5k runs to get the ol’ feet dancing, eh? You mean the single 5k you ran in the last 4 years? That’s the one.
Now that’s a gun forehand if I ever saw one. Be cool; don’t try it again. Play the rally, not your ego.
Smash everything, today is a forehand day!!!!
…time for some forehand slicing, maybe?
Good game, good game. How long have I been playing? Oh, just over two
decades.
Pithy!!
loved this!