Saturday, June 16, 2007

Wednesday Aftermath

As usual, it was fun once again at the club. I got a Viscaria and I was finally able to beat Alan (just once, but it's something).

My backhand loop could be better but it's pretty strong. I still have that problem of flicking my wrists when looping from the forehand. I'm so used to flipping opponents' serves that I still try to flick away from the table. When I play in front of my mirror, my wrist remains perfectly stationary, but when I play, everything goes out the window as does my footwork practice.

The motto seems to be 'just retrieve the ball, damnit!' 

Josh revealed to me that he's completely clueless when I attack from my backhand because he doesn't even see it coming. Now if that isn't something, I wonder what is.

So here we are, with a very spinny racket with good control, and I'm hampered by my inability to handle it's speed. I'm going to start picking the ball right off the bounce from now on.

"Speed is your friend," Alan said to me when I told him I was still trying to get used to the speed. I'll keep that in mind.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Butterfly Viscaria

So I got the Viscaria this Wednesday, just in time to try it out.

It's has the highest spin among the Butterfly pro rackets (100), control of 100 as well, but the speed is about 95, which is just behind the Primorac Carbon -- not that 95 wasn't too fast for me.

I'm still trying to get the hang of handling it. My attacks are pretty unstoppable (when they do land ;-)) but for the most part, they fly too far.

The control isn't too far-hyped -- it's a very lightweight racket with a very good 'sweet spot' and speed aside, I think I did pretty good with it.

I suppose it's time to begin kicking butt with it.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Wednesday Aftermath

Things were slow yesterday at the Y. Gary didn't show up (he's hurt), and neither did Alan, or Josh for that matter. An Asian guy and his Japanese girlfriend did turn up, but they couldn't really play well so it was down to Vito, Dennis and I on one table.

I'm beginning to hit a curvier, more spinny loop from my backhand, and both Vito and Dennis (I thought he was the wall!) couldn't handle most of them. I lob better now as well -- amazing what playing in front of a mirror, watching dozens of matches and playing only once a week can do.

I can't wait to play Alan and Josh next week.

PS: I recently had enough money to invest in a Primorac Carbon, or even a Viscaria but I decided to get a new hard disk -- and donate to some charities -- instead. What's the point doing the paying for a new racquet when you only get to use it once a week?

Monday, June 04, 2007

Footwork

Skip left, hit. Skip right, hit. Skip left, backhand, skip right, forehand.

I'm standing in front of my mirror doing the 1-2-step, racket in hand, an image of a ball somewhere in my head but not in front of me. For some reason, the only thought that comes to mind is that if someone were to walk into my room at this moment, the person'd think I've finally gone crazy.

'You play like a robot,' Alan and Kip told me at the WV State Championships.

I know I play like one -- I hardly move, and stretching allows me to retrieve a lot of balls although my waist begins to protest after an hour or two... which is why I try to do the Falkenberg or the 1-2-step in front of my mirror nearly everyday. I don't stand in one place as much as I used to before, but I'm still a long way off from good footwork.

I'm getting there...