Getting Started
Okay, so I wanted to play tennis for real, not just whack balls around. Saw this Metroplex Tennis League thing for newbies. Sounded perfect.
Found their signup stuff online. Damn registration form was long! Name, phone, how bad I suck at tennis – all that. Asked if I even owned a racket (hell no). Clicked “Submit” and hoped they didn’t laugh.
Got the “You’re In!” email a week later. Relief! Also panic. What did I just sign up for?
First Day Nerves & Gear Shambles
Showed up at these public courts. Sun was baking. Saw other folks holding rackets, looking just as lost. Coach dude was chill. Handed me this beat-up loaner racket. Thing felt like swinging a tree branch.
First task: Hit the ball over the net. Sounds easy? Nope. Swing. Miss. Swing. Miss. Ball hits the fence behind me. Swing. WHACK. Finally! It went… straight into the net. Coach just grinned. “More wrist, less arm!”. Right. Like I know what that means.
Mostly spent the hour chasing balls. Sweaty mess.
Actually Learning Stuff (Slowly)
Went back every week. Started figuring things out:
- The Bounce Count: Coach made us bounce the ball on our rackets. “Hit 40 without dropping!” Mine rolled away every single time until maybe the fourth session. Felt like winning the lottery when I hit 15.
- That Mini Obstacle Course: One day, they set up cones. Had to balance a ball on the racket and weave through them. Dropped mine like six times. Saw a mom and kid nailing it together during the family drill part. Felt jealous.
- Hitting Targets: Felt super dumb throwing tennis balls at a net target. First three throws? Missed everything. Fourth hit the edge. Fifth? YES! Dead center. Surprised myself. Coach yelled “FINALLY!”. We both laughed.
Feeling Like Less Of A Disaster
Weeks rolled by. Stopped swinging like a crazy person. Stopped hitting myself in the knee. Still missed easy shots, but way less. My serve? Don’t ask. BUT: Got that basic rally going!
Big moment: First actual mini-match in the league setup. Played this lady who started same time as me. We were both awful. Serves landing short, balls flying everywhere. Lost every point, basically. But somehow managed to hit it back and forth like four times once. Grinned like an idiot afterwards. The coach handed us water, said “See? Progress.”
Got one of those little “You Survived!” keychains they give beginners. Felt prouder than I should have.
Where I’m At Now
Still can’t “play” tennis, really. My backhand is tragic. Someone serves fast? I just duck. But I show up every week. Sweat buckets. Hit some balls. Chase most of them. Found out I kinda love how it feels when you smack that sweet spot. THWOCK! Satisfying.
Biggest surprise? The other newbies. We’re all terrible together. Now we just moan about sore arms and laugh when someone trips chasing a ball. Found my people, I guess.
Metroplex League for losers? Nah. It’s for folks willing to look dumb to learn something new. Best damn stupid decision I made this year. Still gotta conquer that damn serve, though.