Alright, so I found myself thinking about Connor Bruce’s game the other day. You see these younger players, and there’s always something, isn’t there? For me, with Bruce, it’s often how he just seems to grind out points, relentless from the baseline. So, I figured, why not try and bring a bit of that into my own mess of a game?
Getting Started – The Grand Plan (Sort Of)
Headed to the courts, feeling pretty optimistic, you know? The plan was simple: focus on depth and consistency with my groundstrokes. Really try to pin my opponent back, or in this case, the poor back fence. I wasn’t trying to hit flashy winners, just emulate that persistent pressure I see from guys like Bruce. Easy, right? Yeah, famous last words.
I started with some basic warm-ups, got the old joints moving. Then, I got my buddy to feed me a bunch of balls, just forehands and backhands, aiming for that deep, heavy shot. My main goals were:
- Get at least 7 out of 10 balls past the service line, deep into the court.
- Keep the trajectory reasonably high over the net to build in margin.
- Try to maintain this for a solid 20-30 minutes without my arm falling off or my concentration wandering to what I was having for dinner.
The Reality Check – Easier Said Than Done
Let me tell you, the first ten minutes were a disaster. An absolute shambles. Balls were flying long, catching the net, shanking off the frame. You name it, I did it. It’s one thing to watch these pros execute with such precision on TV, all smooth and effortless. It’s another thing entirely to try and replicate it when you’re built more for comfort than for speed, and your technique has, let’s say, ‘character’.
I kept telling myself, “Connor Bruce wouldn’t be spraying these everywhere.” But then again, Connor Bruce has probably hit a million more tennis balls than I’ve had hot dinners. The sheer physical effort to consistently generate that controlled power and depth, ball after ball, is something else. My shoulder started complaining pretty quickly. My footwork, which is never great, felt like I was wading through treacle.
I adjusted my swing a bit. Tried to use my legs more, focus on a longer follow-through. There were moments, fleeting glimpses, where a shot would land perfectly, deep and troublesome. Those felt good, I won’t lie. But stringing them together? That was the real beast. After about half an hour, I was gassed. My “consistent pressure” looked more like “occasional lucky thwack.”
What I Reckon Now
So, did I suddenly transform into a baseline warrior ala Connor Bruce? Absolutely not. Not even close. But it was a useful exercise, I suppose. It hammered home just how much work goes into that kind of relentless consistency. It’s not just about hitting the ball; it’s about the preparation, the fitness, the mental grit to do it over and over again, even when you’re tired or things aren’t going your way.
I think I’ll stick to my usual game of wildly inconsistent shots and hoping for the best. But, I did get a better appreciation for what these guys do. It’s easy to sit on the sofa and critique, but get out there and try to do even a fraction of it, and you quickly realize the mountain they’re climbing. Still, it was a decent hit-out. Maybe next time I’ll try to copy someone’s serve. That can’t be too hard, can it?
