How do you play your tennis and what gives you the most joy?

[The Unknown]

How do you play your tennis? Do you play in competitive leagues, or just hit around with friends? Do you play in social leagues, or just play social tennis at your local club every Saturday afternoon? Do you just like hitting against the ball machine or wall? How do you play your tennis, and what give you the most joy?

Reason I ask is because at the moment I play (very) competitive league tennis all summer and all winter. Its called pennants where I am. Long Saturday afternoons, singles and doubles best of 3 sets. The range of players I come across differs greatly. Some very, very good. Some not so good. Some/most very young and fit. Some old and slow. Some playing for sheep stations (taking it very seriously), others just having a hit and giggle.

I also have a hit a couple of times a week at least with a couple of hitting partners, usually they just want to play matches after a quick hit so there is not much opportunity to work on technical things. I hit with them all the time so I know their game inside out - which probably isnt a good thing. I go down to the local wall a lot too, to work on grooving strokes and just for a work out. When I get the opportunity I get the ball machine out to work on a particular stroke. I really enjoy this - being on the court and no one around. A lot of stuffing around setting everything up but.

Basically I pretty much hit balls every day. Even if its 20 minutes against the wall. Cant get enough.

But Im getting a bit tired and losing the enjoyment of playing competitive league matches. I still get nervous and often feel the pressure of wanting to do the best for my team. Plus the guys I play with and against- they are so serious and there is always some f****** altercation or drama with the opposition or even other teams at the club - fighting for players, or sandbagging, or being unsportsmanlike, or calling/being called out for cheating. Im just sick of this all the time. Its all taking away my enjoyment of the game.

Plus playing competitive matches all the time, I don't get enough time to work on technical aspects that I want to improve. Like I can work hard on changing things about my forehand by hitting against the ball machine or getting a lesson with a coach, but I simply cant get enough reps in to get to implement it in a match situation effectively and I'm forced to just resort back to my bad habits and lose all progress.

SO, Im wondering where to go next. Im thinking about giving up summer pennant tennis and finding some people who want to actually train as opposed to playing matches all the time. And playing more social tennis in more friendly environments - get back to having fun. Maybe a fresh start even, at a new club.

Anyone else been through a similar predicament?

 

[heninfan99]

I like playing with friends around my level.

 

[graycrait]

One thing I like to do now that I am nearly 62, is take a few hours and help other adults get better at tennis, by feeding, live ball play, soft serving, etc. I meet with 3 folks twice a week and once in a while another fella will show and help out. Trying to hit every errant shot that comes off those 2.5-3.0 rackets back into their wheelhouse causes me to learn stuff about myself. I also like the wall. I try to hit 150-200 practice serves in a session 3-4 times per week. I'm having fun with a ball machine one of my 24 yr old hitting partners lent me for two weeks while he is on vacation. I do play leagues in the winter, and am subbing in the summer. I find a lot of league play counterproductive to actually getting better. Most league play here is doubles and you are often paired in a mismatch partnership. If paired with an ill tempered partner I have been known to stop and forfeit the match. I told one such partner, "You have sucked the fun out of the game for me today, I quit." I apologized to our opponents, stowed my gear and left. As the great golfer Lee Trevino told an amateur who was throwing a fit at a Pro/Am tournament, “You aren’t good enough to get mad.”

 

[rchjr2091]

Good post. I started back playing about 18 months ago not having picked a raquet up in about 20 years. I enjoy getting the ball machine out and working on technique and getting a good work out at the same time (although picking the balls up gets very old).

I enjoy the doubles action on Monday nights that I sometimes get to play at nearby, it's about 10+ courts that a captain coordinates setting up competitive matches, I'm about the worst player there (3.5), so it feels good when my side of court comes out on the winning side.

Flex league is good for me in the aspect you can meet new players and there is no ranking points to worry about if you have an off day which can happen for me more frequently than I like to admit.

I did a tournament this weekend (3.5 singles), I love the feeling of winning (Friday), but hate the feeling of losing( Saturday).

I love practicing with my coach. We use the college courts he attended and played on, while on the courts I'm probably trying to relive my youth seeing all the kids.

What sticks out as providing the most joy is playing with my dad who is around 66, he still has 3 sets in him from time to time. I know he won't live forever and one day those matches on the tennis court will be the ones that I relive.

 

[The Unknown]

Good post. I started back playing about 18 months ago not having picked a raquet up in about 20 years. I enjoy getting the ball machine out and working on technique and getting a good work out at the same time (although picking the balls up gets very old).

I enjoy the doubles action on Monday nights that I sometimes get to play at nearby, it's about 10+ courts that a captain coordinates setting up competitive matches, I'm about the worst player there (3.5), so it feels good when my side of court comes out on the winning side.

Flex league is good for me in the aspect you can meet new players and there is no ranking points to worry about if you have an off day which can happen for me more frequently than I like to admit.

I did a tournament this weekend (3.5 singles), I love the feeling of winning (Friday), but hate the feeling of losing( Saturday).

I love practicing with my coach. We use the college courts he attended and played on, while on the courts I'm probably trying to relive my youth seeing all the kids.

What sticks out as providing the most joy is playing with my dad who is around 66, he still has 3 sets in him from time to time. I know he won't live forever and one day those matches on the tennis court will be the ones that I relive.

Awesome mate!

I used to hate doubles now I love it. Maybe Ill try find a social league and play more of it.

 

[TennisSamurai]

As for me, I really enjoy the competitive aspect of tennis. Played on my high school team, but now since I'm graduated I will hopefully play college tennis. At the time being I am enjoying my level 5 tournaments and trying to improve my game with matchplay.

 

[rkelley]

A long time ago I got into playing USTA and leagues. It was fun enough, but at this point in my life I just don't care about winning and losing in tennis. I have plenty of stress in my life. Mostly I'm looking to tennis for some Zen-like calm and exercise. It's supposed to be fun. Some folks love the competitive aspect of it and that's totally fine. If the leagues aren't floating your boat then take a pass for awhile.

 

[NuBas]

That was a lot to read

 

[Todd Hicks]

I mostly play with whoever will hit with me. The aspect I enjoy the most is playing my best - it bothers me when I play horribly even though I'm a good sport. You can just hit around for a while on some days. You can also work on your ground strokes by playing 10 points; in this game, you play until someone accumulates 10 points first - once the score is nine-all, someone must win by two consecutive points. The person serving the ball must drop the ball on the ground then get the ball past the server's line and once the ball is play, you volley until the point is won.

 

[10isMaestro]

I like rallying quite a bit. I also like to go out and hit self-fed balls, trying to focus on some technical details or grooving habits to hit shot combinations.

And I also get some fun out of match play. My game has improved a lot and I'm starting to focus on tactical matters and it is exciting. A little known secret is that I'm working on incorporating more in-court shots into my game and it seems to pay off in various ways -- and I feel like I felt when I first started working on my forehand, except now I'm looking to build something less technical and more tactical.

You could try to do that to get excited about matches again. Go on youtube, find a pro you like and watch a few highlights. See if you can spot shot combinations that keep coming back. Usually, they are two or three specific shots that simply go well together. Then, pick a few and implement them in your matches. Start thinking about playing an opponent or opponents as a game of chess -- except, chances are, you will be the only person on the court doing this purposefully and consciously. Getting really good at identifying tendencies, habits and combinations of shots your opponents use, consciously or not, can make you incredibly more dangerous -- without having to improve your technique too much.

 

[ChaelAZ]

How do you play your tennis? Do you play in competitive leagues, or just hit around with friends? Do you play in social leagues, or just play social tennis at your local club every Saturday afternoon? Do you just like hitting against the ball machine or wall? How do you play your tennis, and what give you the most joy?

All of that, though I didn't play league this last season at all. For me, I just really enjoy being out and working to improve myself. I have a lot of competitive drive and it is good and bad for me, and I love being part of a team or playing solo. I play with beginners in drop-ins, I hit with a lot of juniors and high school players, tennis coaches, college players, some pros, and generally anyone who will hit with me. I spend about 3 to 5 hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings at our club and mix it up often, though I do have a regular hitting partner as well. If I am playing leagues we throw in another couple evening practices during the week as well.

The biggest problem I have, and that I see with a lot of the kids, juniors and high schoolers (not pros) I hit with is being able to apply practice techniques properly in matches - i.e. drilling too much without match play. So for me I know I need to get back to tournaments.

 

[The Unknown]

All of that, though I didn't play league this last season at all. For me, I just really enjoy being out and working to improve myself. I have a lot of competitive drive and it is good and bad for me, and I love being part of a team or playing solo. I play with beginners in drop-ins, I hit with a lot of juniors and high school players, tennis coaches, college players, some pros, and generally anyone who will hit with me. I spend about 3 to 5 hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings at our club and mix it up often, though I do have a regular hitting partner as well. If I am playing leagues we throw in another couple evening practices during the week as well.

The biggest problem I have, and that I see with a lot of the kids, juniors and high schoolers (not pros) I hit with is being able to apply practice techniques properly in matches - i.e. drilling too much without match play. So for me I know I need to get back to tournaments.

Howd you go not plaing league last season?

Im in a bit of an opposite situation - not enough time drillling to practice things I want to work on with my technique.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Howd you go not plaing league last season?

Im in a bit of an opposite situation - not enough time drillling to practice things I want to work on with my technique.

Had a great season last year even with a few injuries, and then in the year end final in January I ended up having a pretty bad neck issue (compressed disc and pinched nerve. Apparently I can't play and lift like I used to, but long story). So I spent since then without a serve or anything above my head. By the time I was ready to work on that my leagues were done. Spent most of that time working on drills and skills stuff, but I miss match play. Have only played a half dozen matches for fun with some of the high school kids and coaches since then and I really feel out of sorts with positioning, pace, and general competitive play.

I am thinking of not doing leagues and just doing singles tourneys this next season. Will have to see.

 

[fuzz nation]

If paired with an ill tempered partner I have been known to stop and forfeit the match. I told one such partner, "You have sucked the fun out of the game for me today, I quit." I apologized to our opponents, stowed my gear and left. As the great golfer Lee Trevino told an amateur who was throwing a fit at a Pro/Am tournament, “You aren’t good enough to get mad.”

Loving this!! I know that I've endured at least one or two matches in my "career" where looking back, it would have been better to pull the plug than to waste my time tolerating the behavior of some stooge. Hopefully you actually changed somebody's mind along the way.

I love occasionally playing and working out on the courts, but I also have lots of fun teaching and coaching. Doing that is great on its own and it also inspires me to learn, stay in shape, and keep honing my game, too. The fun and the joy can take many forms I guess.

 

[The Unknown]

Loving this!! I know that I've endured at least one or two matches in my "career" where looking back, it would have been better to pull the plug than to waste my time tolerating the behavior of some stooge. Hopefully you actually changed somebody's mind along the way.

I love occasionally playing and working out on the courts, but I also have lots of fun teaching and coaching. Doing that is great on its own and it also inspires me to learn, stay in shape, and keep honing my game, too. The fun and the joy can take many forms I guess.

For me, Ive never felt more disappointment in tennis that when my partner started getting angry at me in a doubles match, then gave up trying. That was the last time I appeared on a court next to him.

 

[BlueB]

Lessons once a week;
Serve practice when I have a chance;
Hit or sets with my wife or few friends;
Informal but competitive singles matches with few good players I know;
Informal local doubles league, we've got about 12 people that play very often; Singles with my nephew and niece, strong juniors, when I go to Europe;
Also in Europe, giggle doubles with some old friends, low level really;
Last but not least, what I liked the most while it still existed, was our club's singles league, which was a combo of round robin and ladder. Won that one twice

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

[The Unknown]

Loving this!! I know that I've endured at least one or two matches in my "career" where looking back, it would have been better to pull the plug than to waste my time tolerating the behavior of some stooge. Hopefully you actually changed somebody's mind along the way.

I love occasionally playing and working out on the courts, but I also have lots of fun teaching and coaching. Doing that is great on its own and it also inspires me to learn, stay in shape, and keep honing my game, too. The fun and the joy can take many forms I guess.

Thats what contributes to making it such a great game.

 

[Capulin Zurdo]

I like to play/practice with friends. I don't play competitively, but I do once in a while to get a good taste of matches. I'm the type that mostly likes to just play, to practice as much as I can, and I like to do lots of drills.