Archive for May, 2009

Achieving my Goal

Posted by Jim Bill on May 31st, 2009 under Match Reports Tags:  •  No Comments

14th Match with Marty
5/31/09 Sunday 10:00A.M.
Chico Racquet Club
Score: 6-3, 6-4
Today I was a 4.0 player. This is really the first time in my development process that I have felt that way. I played very well for about three quarters of this match. I did many things right and in so doing won with relative ease [...]

Playing a 4.0 Tournament

Posted by Jim Bill on May 24th, 2009 under Match Reports  •  No Comments


Comprehension At Last: The Forehand Drive

Posted by Jim Bill on May 18th, 2009 under Lessons with Eldon  •  No Comments

Lesson #17 with Eldon
5/18/09  Monday 10:00A.M.
Chico Racquet Club
 
In today’s lesson I wanted to work on my forehand and backhand drives and also short balls on both sides just inside the baseline.  Eldon went along with this after we talked a little about some of my last few matches.
 
Forehand drive
 
1.         Step into the ball with knees [...]

The Best Tennis Strategy: Have Fun, Relax and Be Creative

Posted by Jim Bill on May 17th, 2009 under Match Reports  •  No Comments

Multiple Matches
5/13/09 - 5/1709 Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sun
Chico Racquet Club
 
I played four matches in five days this week and some point games with my son on the fifth day.  Here is a brief synopsis of what happened in all of those matches.
 
On Wednesday I played Jeremy who is a strong 4.0 player.  I felt like [...]

Adding the Backhand Slice

Posted by Jim Bill on May 11th, 2009 under Lessons with Eldon  •  No Comments

Lesson# 16 with Eldon
5/11/09  Monday  10:00A.M.
Chico Racquet Club
 
 
Today we talked strategy, hit some backhands drives, worked on backhand slice technique, hit some forehand drives and hit some short balls trying to advance to the net for a volley.
 
1.         Coming forward on short balls it is absolutely imperative to stay down through the shot and take [...]

Hitting the Penetrating Shots at Last

Posted by Jim Bill on May 9th, 2009 under Match Reports  •  No Comments

12th Match with Marty
5/9/09  Saturday  1:00P.M.
Chico Racquet Club
Score:  2-6, 2-6
 
I don’t know why but I left this match feeling very disappointed.  I guess it’s that thing about winning again, but frankly through the first set I wasn’t thinking or caring about winning at all.  I was just focusing on strategy.  And I was constructing points [...]

Putting Two Strokes Together

Posted by Jim Bill on May 4th, 2009 under The Practice Court  •  No Comments

Practice Court #2
5/4/09  Monday  11:30A.M.
Chico Racquet Club
 
On the practice court lately I have been working on my footwork. 
 
On my lesson of 24 April, Eldon and I decided that I was going to change my stance on my forehand drive from open to closed.  I think this was a very good decision. 
 
Eldon had video [...]

Playing In The Wind

Posted by Jim Bill on May 3rd, 2009 under Match Reports  •  No Comments

11th Match with Marty
5/3/09  Sunday  11:30A.M.
Chico Racquet Club
Score:  2-6, 7-6 (4)
 
This was another windy match:  wind blowing from the south, randomly moving balls in and out of the court.  With the wind at my back, balls I hit from inside the baseline were easily and often flying long while balls I hit from behind the [...]