Last night's AAR
Last night was Halloween, my kids are 13 and 15, my 18 yr old went away for college. The 2 youngest went Trick or Treating after school. Even if i didn't go to TT, by the time i got off work and got home, it would've been dark. Plus they are older and the Halloween experience is not as fresh/exciting as when they were younger.
Not many members showed up, not sure if it was because it was Halloween or colder or not. For the night (and actually for the next few months), my intent was to only serve short pendulum motion sidedown or backspin. Also to go for 3rd ball slow topspin loop. I need to "pwn" this.
1) Warmed up with "K". I started blocking his FH loops. He then went to practice some new serves. I then served. I wanted to try out looping as last week, i was very inconsistent and my mental baggage knocked me out most of the week. With 4 days off, wanted to see if i could loop. If we played a match, K would probably win. I have lost all my matches vs him, one of which I posted a video 2 months ago.
A member showed up and wanted to play next. This gentleman played K last week. Not sure if it was their first time ever last week, but this gentleman always has fun and laughs as he plays. He took it easy on K, not playing his true level which I thought was 2000 and I asked NL and he confirmed it.
Asked K if i could video the match and he said ok. Lost 3 straight. Don't remember the scores. It was close but not close. I stuck to my gameplan and had varying success. During the 2nd game, I received a phonecall. I forgot to that phonecalls stops video recordings, so I only have 1.5 games vs K on video.
2) K played the 2000 player next, they both had a lot of fun. 'Fun' didn't play his true level but still was able to challenge K who likes to play defensive. 'Fun' played steady, side to side, in and out, some attacks ... they both had great rallies! Fun to watch! K lost in 5 with 1 or 2 games at deuce.
3) My turn, doubt if Fun ever watched me play, we have never played before, but he knew i lost to K this night. He didn't play his true level with me. As I watched Fun play K, i was of 2 minds: stick to my gameplan for the night (and next few months) or I was honored and forutunate at the opportunity to play Fun so I should play my regular game and perhaps give Fun a challenge ... either way, odds are i would lose.
In the back of my mind, my Ego was telling me Fun would remember his first impression of me based on the first match we ever played, and I'm not going to lie, I was very close to scrapping my gameplan for the night vs Fun.
I asked if I could video the match and he acquiesced. I stuck to my gameplan and only served what i thought was backspin and what i thought was sidedown with a short pendulum motion. Prior to leaving work, i refreshed my memory of what i wanted to do with my serves for the night by watching 1 of NextLevel's serves vid and also 1 of Brett Clarke's serves vid. After watching the video of my match, i see my muscle memory kicked in subconciously ... despite me thinking I wasn't serving my 'old' way. However, I think i was ok in the sense that I didn't use my long pendulum motion. And gameplan was for 3rd ball slow topspin loop, but i see that i went for some loop drives as well as loop kills.
At one point, Fun says to K that I would win 3 straight LOL. Without further ado, here's the vid... as always comments are welcome. I know I have a long way towards improvement.
4) Fun played K again and K lost. I played Fun a 2nd time. Again, my Ego said, ok, you stuck to the night's plan for the first match, now play your regular game and give Fun a better challenge.
So of course what did i do, i fought hard vs my Ego and glad in a way i 'won' and i stuck to the plan. Lost 3 straight. Have video but didn't have a chance to edit. This match though, i lost 3 straight, and i missed many easy shots especially my punch and short BH stroke. Strange as it was against moderate speed nospin/topspin serves.
May edit the video of this 2nd match just for highlights instead of the full match.
5) As I was almost wiped out from playing 3 matches already, didn't intend to hit/play more. Was going to sit, rest and cool down while watching others play.
"V" called me over to a table. I've hit with him before. I blocked for him. He has inconsistent FH and FH loops. At one point, he was kind enough to ask me if i wanted to work on anything. But i replied, i just wanted him to get better/consistent with his FH/FH loop and he thanked me for it. Hit for ~30 mins.
6) It was time to leave. But "J3" asked to hit with me and play a match. I told him i had to go home and he knew I already played quite a bit. I said ok, let's play. Was able to video the match but didn't have time to edit. I lost 3 straight. Played J3 once before, like K and T, he is defensive plays steady and away from the table. My younger me would have a better chance vs J3 and K and T, but the reality is, I'm me now, at 51 yrs of age, after 30+ yrs of not playing, came back to the game ... been playing almost 1.5 yrs now... still inconsistent with touch and timing. Not taking away from J3's play, but will try to play him in the future when I'm more fresh.
Got some good loop kills in and some smashes... but inconsistent on both.
Thank you TTD CCers as always for affording me the opportunity to share my joys and frustrations in my 'unretirement'.
. Rambo loop and let them block once in a while. With your power and athleticism, if you use your whole body to loop the ball on third ball, you will usually win the point outright. You can't be getting all these long pushes against so-so players and just be giving them pushes back. Loop that ball for a winner. You are fast enough to recover against weak blocks and over time, you will find the balance between going out of position and getting ready for the next ball.
