Alright, so today was all about getting out on the court, trying to work on some stuff, you know, the usual grind. I’d been watching some clips of Kase Schinnerer playing, and man, that dude’s got some smooth moves, especially that forehand. So, that was kind of in the back of my mind, not that I’m anywhere near that level, but a guy can dream, right?
Getting Started – The Usual Fumbling
First things first, I got to the courts. Spent a good ten minutes just finding a decent ball. Half of them were flat as pancakes. Finally got a basket that wasn’t completely tragic. Then, the warm-up. I always tell myself I’ll do a proper, dynamic warm-up, like the pros. But most days? It’s a few arm circles, some leg swings, and then I’m itching to hit. Today was one of those days. Definitely need to be more disciplined there.
Started with some mini-tennis. Just trying to feel the ball on the strings. My buddy, Dave, was with me. He’s usually pretty patient, which is good because my first few shots were, let’s say, adventurous. All over the place. One nearly took out a pigeon. Classic.
Down to Business: Forehands and Serves
Okay, so the main goal today, apart from trying to get some of that Schinnerer magic, was to work on my forehand consistency and get a bit more pop on my serve. Easier said than done, let me tell you.
We did some cross-court forehand drills. Here’s what I tried to focus on:
- Keeping my eye on the ball. Sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often I look up too soon.
- Getting my body into the shot. Not just arming it.
- Trying for a bit more topspin, get that nice arc.
Some felt good. You know that feeling when it just clicks? Sweet spot, ball goes exactly where you want it. Had a few of those. Then, of course, followed by a series of shanks and frames. Tennis is a great humbler, that’s for sure. Dave was just feeding them in, and I was trying my best not to send them into the next county.
Then, serves. Oh, the serves. My eternal struggle. I wasn’t even trying for aces, just get a decent percentage of first serves in with some pace. Toss was all over the place initially. Too far forward, too far back. Spent a whole basket just on the toss. Eventually, it started to come together a bit. Got a few good ones down the T. Felt powerful. Then, naturally, double-faulted the next imaginary point. Story of my life.
A Little Bit of Schinnerer Inspiration (or Attempted Inspiration)
Towards the end, I did try to hit a few forehands thinking about that smooth, effortless power Schinnerer seems to generate. Tried to stay relaxed, really use the kinetic chain. I think one or two actually felt a bit like it! Probably looked nothing like it, but in my head, I was him for a split second. Then reality hit with the next ball I dumped into the net. It’s a process, right? You gotta try these things.
Winding Down
We played a couple of tie-breaks just for fun. Lost both, naturally. My consistency just wasn’t there today. But it wasn’t about winning, more about the practice. My shoulder’s a bit sore, probably from trying to murder those serves. Legs feel it too. Good tired, though.
Packed up my stuff, feeling like I put in some decent work. Still a long way to go, obviously. This game, man. One day you feel like you can beat anyone, the next you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. But hey, that’s why we keep coming back. Definitely need to get some new grips soon, these ones are starting to look pretty sad. Anyway, that was my session. Back at it again soon, I hope.
