FRAT (Frag Reading All That) aka SHORT VERSION
Hit/Played well enough with my Nexy Amazon CPen/MX-P setup after previously having a tremendous challenge with it after coming back from a few months break.
2 partners last night
#1 - SH with good, fast, spinny FH loop... BH LP ... can BH smash with it ... doesn't twiddle, at least vs me he didn't
#2 - Mark Berg - ~1800 give or take 100-200 pts, 65 yrs old ... Lefty SH ... anti on BH ... has good ball control and move partners side to side
LONG VERSION
Last night ... no video
... wished i filmed some of the games last night. My 5th or 6th time hitting/playing since my ~5 months off break for shoulder achiness.
Add in my right ankle acting up ... hasn't acted up in quite some time. I took it easy. Had an ankle brace on. Didn't move as much as I wanted to
1) Warmed up with my arch-nemesis/friend "K" for ~20 mins - no match ... used the hinoki blade ... hit some as a SH and tried some modern PH with it. K made a comment about the MX-P on my Nexy blade, so i tried hitting with it.
After my ~5 months off from shoulder achiness, Block/Punch came back ... or perhaps K was making strong shots and I blocked and letting MX-P do the work, i just angled/guided/aimed the blocks back. Prior to last night, after the time off, I wasn't able to return balls with the Nexy. Perhaps partners hitting softly and not strong shots like K.
Was a little happy at making progress in being able to use the Nexy again.
2) SH ... FH inverted - fast wicked loop .... BH LP - kind of knows how to use it. He doesn't twiddle. Able to BH LP Smash. i kind of know how to play vs LP but kind of don't ... my club doesn't have a LP player ... let me rephrase that ... there are at least 2 LP players but they generally don't play with lower level members like me ... dude had next on our table, K wanted to take a break so I played LP dude
-0, 9, -8, -4
LOLOL at losing first 11-0. Need to rewatch that vid posted here sometime ago and relearn how to play vs LP ... didn't pace myself with hydration which factored into the rest of the night
Played with the Nexy... served mostly rocket serves to his BH and middle and got some easy 3rd ball HULK SMASH WINNERS ... a shame that i didn't capture to video ... although with video like that, i may not get 9 pts from ttmonster, Suga D, JeffM, Boogar, Shuki, NextLevel, ... LOL
Tried to serve short nospin to varying spots ... still need to work on this.
Dude was king of the table, Mark Berg had next. I rested waiting to take on the winner. Mark Berg's anti vs dude's LP ... Mark Berg won a close match.
3) Have not won a match vs Mark Berg ever ... would be good barometer for me to see if my game is at a steady level if i do ever beat him ... previously lost either 3-0 or 3-1... only 1 time 3-2. Again, not looking to win just to notch a win onto my belt, but to use it as a gauge on my progress.
I have a lot of fun playing Mark. Lots of banter. We both angle shots to move partner side-to-side.
First match = 9, then 8 or 9, then he got into my head and i jedi mind tricked myself LOL ... marveling at how well some of my shots were and that I'm getting aspects of my game back, lost 3 straight to lose the match LOL ... -5, -8, -4
Despite a brief break and hydrated, hydration was still a factor ... sometimes have fun and in the moment and don't remember to drink water lol felt a little weak/tired
When I play Mark, we generally have seemingly a lot of net and edge balls ... so part of my wins were a result of the net/edge balls ... i got them early, he got them late. Some nice HULK SMASH shots... only 1 heat-seeking loop drive from me. Varied serve placement as well as varied BH and FH serves ... made some punches down the line , missed many ... if i get my punch down the line consistent, i may be asking for only 7 points instead of 9 ;-)
No one had next, we played a 2nd match ... bit tired, but all along we both banter and have fun. lost 3 straight mostly at -5. Part of my success was consciously looking to "pick" (1980's term, think modern term is "flick") the ball ... despite gimpy ankle, looked to being more mobile vs mostly immobile opponent
Despite losses, had some progress in getting some consistency back on my shots... was a little pleased.
~3 hrs total
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Originally was going to rest tonight, but inadvertently left my shoes at club last night. will stop by to pick up, may hit a little for 60-90 mins. Rushed out of house, didn't remember to grab sneakers lol
Ankle not as gimpy as previous days. still have brace on, will see how it goes tonight
Thank you CCers!
