Alright, so today was all about getting back to basics with that Vit Kalina tennis approach. You know, some days you just feel like you need to strip everything down and really focus. That was me this morning. Dragged myself out of bed, grabbed my gear, and headed to the courts. The air was still a bit cool, which I actually like. Wakes you up a bit.
Getting Started on Court
First things first, I spent a good twenty minutes just warming up. Nothing too crazy, just some light jogging around the court, dynamic stretches, getting the shoulders and legs loose. I always tell myself, don’t skimp on the warm-up. Learned that the hard way a few times. Then I started with some easy hitting, just short court stuff, trying to find my rhythm. My strings felt a bit tight today, or maybe it was just me.
After that, I moved back to the baseline. The main plan for today was really hammering those fundamentals, specifically what I call the “Vit Kalina” drill. It’s not about fancy shots or anything. It’s all about consistency and depth. I had my hopper full of balls, and just started feeding myself, aiming for deep cross-court forehands. Over and over.
The Grind of Practice
Man, the first few baskets were rough. Seriously rough. Balls flying long, balls catching the net. It’s funny, you think you know how to hit a tennis ball, and then you try to do something simple, repeatedly, and it all falls apart. I was getting a bit frustrated, muttering to myself a bit. Classic me. I kept thinking about old Vit Kalina, or at least the idea of him – steady, patient, relentless. That’s what I was aiming for.
I focused on a few key things:
- Watching the ball all the way onto the strings.
- Getting my feet in the right position – lazy footwork is my enemy.
- Following through completely, out towards the target.
Slowly, very slowly, it started to come together. I’d hit a good one, deep, right where I wanted it. Then maybe shank the next two. But the good ones started to outnumber the really bad ones. That’s progress, right? I switched to backhands after a while, same drill. My backhand felt surprisingly decent today, which was a nice change. Usually, that’s the side that gives me more trouble.
Working on Serves and Wrapping Up
Then I moved on to serves. Again, not trying to blast aces. With the Vit Kalina mindset, it was more about getting a high percentage of first serves in, and placing them effectively. I worked on my slice serve out wide, and then some kick serves down the T. Spent a good deal of time just on the toss. If the toss is off, everything else is a struggle. I filled up my basket and just served, walked to pick them up, and served again. It’s meditative in a way, just that repetition.
By the end, I was pretty knackered. My shirt was soaked, legs feeling it. But it was that good kind of tired. You know, where you feel like you’ve actually put in some solid work. I did a proper cool-down, some stretching, because I knew I’d regret it tomorrow if I didn’t. Gathered all my balls, packed my bag, and just stood there for a minute looking at the empty court. Felt good. Still a long way to go with this Vit Kalina stuff, but today felt like a step. A small step, but a step.
Now, home for a shower and something to eat. Definitely earned it today.
