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Deleted member 23235
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Yeah, I think anyone that can hit a spin serve (topspin slice, or kick), will get that action on a paddle court (the sand paper surface will really convert any RPMs on the ball into a change in direction).I watched this clip a few weeks when it was posted, and thought "Wow. Look at that serve! There is no way I can do that myself, since I'm even less experienced in paddle than as a 3.5 level tennis player, and I had neither the skills or the young back needed to pull off an American Twist serve, the tennis equivalent of this. This will definitely be out of reach for me."
Then I had a chance to play paddle last week (Ardsley). Just for fun, I decided to try one casual effort at this serve, figuring I'll try it once and then never again after I fail miserably. But it worked like a charm! Spinning one way, then hitting the ground and spinning in the other direction. Totally unreturnable, at least by the similarly lame folks I was playing with.
Now, I'm not saying I could do this consistently enough to use it on most every serve, but the fact that I could do it all, and that it seemed fairly easy, was astounding to me. So thank you for posting.
Still like to the know the answer to this one.
Question is, can you do it consistently given that you only get one fault. I still can't consistently.
Regarding singles.
I asked the same question when I first started. I think it really requires a high level of athleticism and endurance to play singles. I watched the annual singles tourney at Greenwich Country Club a few years ago, and basically, it's a huge advantage for the server to get to net, and dominate the point, and the winner generally the person who can hold serve. Returner basically gets one chance to return well as the server is coming in... and if the server gets that first volley, the returner is just sending up lobs, and running from corner to corner. (It's tough to consistently hit passing shots)
My guesses as to why singles is not as popular (or seldom seen being played):
1. is that most of the folks that are picking up the game are older (30+) and generally not in the same shape as they were in, in their teens and 20's, and don't want to play singles (or don't have the endurance to).
2. you don't get same groundstroke-hitting-satisfaction that you get playing tennis in singles (basically it's all serve, one volley, and lots of lobs)
3. it's way more interesting to play doubles, where you really have to think about out maneuvering your opponents (vs. just winning by attrition).
Even the folks that can playing singles, they are using paddle tennis as something new, and when given a choice will play to play singles, will choose tennis.
Also all the "nationals, regional, local" tourneys are doubles... don't know of any (except at GCC) singles tourneys. so maybe it's a catch 22. No touneys, no interest to practice singles, no interest in play/practice singles, no tourneys,...)