This morning I dragged my lazy butt to Fall Creek courts again. Cold as heck but figured I’d try those “pro tricks” everyone whispers about. Spoiler: my first 20 minutes sucked.
Lesson 1: Stop Choking the Racquet Like a Lifeline
Coach Mike saw me whacking balls into the net like a frustrated woodpecker. Grabbed my hand mid-swing – “Grip’s dead wrong, pal.” Showed me how to hold the dang thing like a… hammer? Yeah, kinda sideways. Felt weird. Wrist complained. But after mangling another bucket of balls? Slapped one clean over the net. Actually landed in. Miracle.
Lesson 2: Watching the Ball? Nah, You Ain’t.
Thought I was staring that fuzzy yellow demon down. Mike laughed. “You’re glancing, not seeing.” Made me call out the damn BRAND NAME as it smacked my strings. Sounds stupid. Felt stupid. Tripped over my own feet twice. But then? Saw the damn seams spinning. Whacked one deep to the baseline. Pure luck? Maybe twice.
Drills That Made Me Feel Like a Clumsy Dancer
- “Little steps shuffle!” Mike yelled. Felt like a crab on ice. Practiced sidestepping the painted lines, switching directions fast. Knees screamed. Lost balance. Almost ate court.
- Tried that “split step” jump right before the opponent hits. Looked easy on YouTube. In reality? Jumped too late. Landed like a sack of potatoes. Got smoked.
Serve Meltdown & The Fix
My serve? Total chaos. Wild throws. Weak arm flopping. Mike showed the “trophy pose” – freezing like a statue at the top. Felt awkward as hell. Then he got medieval: “Chop down on it! Like splitting wood!” First tries? Wild swings, misses. Practiced just tossing the ball consistently into that same dang spot until I hated tennis balls. Suddenly – THWACK. One actually zipped over. Low. Fast. Didn’t look like a sad balloon. Small win.
Finished exhausted. Sore. Out of breath. Drank water like I’d crossed a desert. But my last rally? Lost, but chased down three shots I would’ve ignored before. Hands blistered. Shirt soaked. Grinning like an idiot walking back to the car. Tricks aren’t magic. It’s sweat and feeling clumsy first. Worth it.