Well, I guess it depends on how much time the kids are taking up. Maybe Oliver wasn't playing for weeks/months at a time. But anyway, glad this thread could become part long pip player-part parenting tips corner
Just saw this thread 1 year after it was posted....
Since my daughter was born in November 2012, I went from practicing 4 times per week to practicing 1 time per week.. I still maintained mid to high 2100 level.. In February 2015, I reached 2199 at my last Celluloid Ball Tournament. Started dropping in rating due to the plastic ball and also tore my meniscus in May 2015 and could not move well. I decided not to have the surgery and eventually, later that year, the pain went away.
In 2016, I injured myself at the US Nationals at my 2nd match of the tournament and kept playing.. Dropped to low 2000's.. I stopped practicing completely due to the pain of the tennis elbow.. I only played tournaments as practice. Most of 2017, I was remodeling a investment home and did not practice (my only practice was tournament play) until just before the 2017 NA Teams.. I did prepare for the Teams and my rating want back to 2198.
Injured myself again (tennis elbow again) in June this year.. Could not practice at all from June to mid September.. Played a tournament in September and got my rating back to 2173 which is my current rating.. Recently, we started having a rec room at my office and I play about 4 times a week with approx. 900 to 1600 level players. Playing lower level players has helped improving my forehand attack and I'm playing my best ever since the plastic ball was introduced.. The plastic ball definitely took about 75 rating points level off my game as also off most other long pips blockers game. All of them dropped at least 100 points or more. Just about all of the long pips blockers dropped significantly since the plastic ball as the reduced spin greatly reduces the effectiveness of the LP blocking game. I'm playing as good as I can possibly play with the plastic ball, frequently beating 2200's. I still got moderate pain in my elbow and I'm afraid that stronger pain can return any time. Tennis Elbow is a injury that takes a long time to fully heal.. My torn meniscus also acts up from time to time but right now, I'm pain free.. If it comes back again, I may need surgery which will put me out of action for months. Getting older is no fun.... 47 now...