Month: December 2018 (Page 3 of 3)

Sunday, December 9, 2018 (Court Day #232)

I checked the temperature. 44°F. Brrr. Cold. My big concern was how my tennis elbow was going to hold up. A smaller concern was my right ankle. I got to the courts at 8:50. John P. appeared a few minutes later, then Dave Allenbaugh showed up. We had three site coordinators. Nice. (Ok, John is technically a backup.) David commented, “The courts are a mess!” A bunch of pine needles had blown onto the courts. I used up my battery and, fortunately, Dave had brought his as well so I used his to finish the job.

I got into a few mostly unmemorable games. I did get in a game of Kim and Marianne against me and Chris. This wasn’t memorable for the challenge but just that it was dorky. Marianne is 2.5 level player. Kim, I’d call a 4.0, I’m a solid 3.5, and Chris I’d call a 3.0 knocking on the door of 3.5—he has moments of very good play (from his tennis background) and others of not so good. Like me, but at a slightly lower level. Anyway, we didn’t want to hurt Marianne and took it a bit easy. It was fun just because it was relaxed.

I had a first time visitor, Christian from Watsonville, sign the liability waiver. I signed him up in a court box and added myself. About two seconds later, I realized that I had previously signed up in a waiting box. Duh. (Distracted!) And I was on not too much longer with Marianne, Binh, and someone I can’t recall. Why doesn’t that stick in my mind? Read on.

Holy Crap!

Binh and Marianne were teamed up. We were a few points in and we were all at the net. The ball was hit a bit too high by my partner. Binh, directly across from me, wound up his backhand and drove the ball hard at my chest. It happened so quick. The ball grazed the top edge of my paddle and ricocheted up and hit me square in my left eyeball. My paddle was instantly falling to the ground and my hands were to my eye. How bad was this? I’d heard stories about detached retinas and other severe eye injuries. I opened my eye, I could see. That was a big relief. It still hurt, but, yes, I had vision. Whew. After assuring my game mates—especially Binh—that I was ok, I picked up my paddle and told them that I was going to take care of my eye.

From my backpack, I removed my water bottle that I had filled at home with ice and water and used it to ice my eye. While I was sitting with the bottle resting against my eye socket, Carrie asked how I was. I let her know that I’d be fine. She said, “You are regularly playing against tough players, they hit hard.”

A touch swollen. Someone said they could see the circular mark of the ball on my cheek. Coincidentally, Marianne and Binh caught playing their next game in the background. 

Karl offered me his safety glasses if I wanted to keep playing. Carrie offered me several sets of sunglasses she kept producing out of her bag. Stuart had me try on a couple of his yellow-tinted sunglasses. Dean checked on me, as did others. Pickleball really is a community.

I asked John P. to close and he was willing. I stayed another few more minutes debating then opted to just head home at 10:30.

My eyeball felt, like, well, when it does when you get whacked in the eyeball. It aches a bit. And my cheek was sporting a little welt. All told, I dodged a bullet. From here on out, sunglasses or protective eyewear.

The incident could have been a blessing in disguise. 1) Making me take eye protection far more seriously. 2) Forcing me to rest my tennis elbow. 3) Forcing me to rest my ankle. 4) Spending more time with my wife on her birthday weekend. (Probably, not in that order!)

Still, a bummer to have to call my day short as we head into winter and the constant threat of rain.

Monday, December 10, 2018 (No Play)

This morning as I dried my face after my shower, the pressure on my eyelid hurt some. My left eyeball was still very sensitive. I checked the dilation of my pupils in the mirror and they were equal. Well, that’s good.

When I got into my car to drive work, the brightness of the sun caused just a bit of pain in my left eye.

Eye protection going forward, no question. I don’t want to go through this kind of scare again—or worse. I’m a convert.

Number of days on a court: 232
Number of total hours: 635

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Friday, December 7, 2018 (Court Day #231)

Yesterday morning, I went to see my wife’s chiropractor. She used an ultrasound device to zap my forearm, worked the muscle, “reset my ribs” with a spine cracking, then applied elastic athletic tape to my right arm and my right ankle. We’ll see if it does anything.

Yep. Taped up!

Brommer

Arrived at 9:10 at Brommer Park. About a dozen people were already there. Two of courts had a full complement and Dean and Dan Bliss were warming up on another. I figured I’d just let them do their thing and I’d wait for an intermediate player to warm up with. I ended up doing so with Di, the short redhead. She said she’d been out for a month due to flu/cold/congestion. Di and I played a game as partners. We lost, but she was rusty and was breaking in a new paddle to boot.

I played a game partnered with an older woman named Patti with long white blonde hair who I’d never seen before. She obviously has a strong tennis background, but has yet to develop a soft game and learn ideal pickleball strategies.

I played a game with Karen (from Scotts Valley, I overheard) against Patti and—maybe it was Karl, I can’t remember. We were down 2 points but when on an 11-0 run and won the game. Quite the flip. Karen, I think I’d seen maybe once before, but I’d never met her. Both she and Patti are mostly bangers, though Karen is the stronger player.

Ted B. caught walking to get a ball. “Do I get to be famous?” Yes, Ted!

Mid-morning, I was paired with Dean against George and visor Tom B. Dean and I pulled far ahead—Dean probably won half a dozen points just on his wickedly fast serves. Dean is just on another level. (Dean was part of a mixed doubles team that won gold in 4.5/5.0 70+ at Nationals a month ago!) His shots over the net are low, fast slices that are hard to work with. George hit two passing shots down my right side. As Dean very correctly pointed out, I had failed to shift enough and should have been let Dean fully take care of the middle. On the third such situation, I did cover the side, but Dean was daydreaming and didn’t move over enough to cover the middle and George’s shot got through. I can’t blame Dean. I’d be like me playing with beginners . . . you aren’t focused and aren’t really “trying” particularly hard.

Over My Head?

Later on, Dave DiBiase was signed up in red in a box with Dean. Dave asked if I wanted to join them. “But I’m are a different skill level than you guys.” Dave assured, “You definitely belong in there.” I was excited, nervous, and intimidated. I wanted to do well. As we walked onto the court, I asked, “Dave and me?” Dean replied, “No. You and me.” Dean was easily the strongest player. Him wanting to balance the two teams meant playing with me. I’d put Steve as stronger than Dave, but it might depend on the day. I feel I can generally get into a game with Dave and Steve and be competitive. Dean? No way.

Steve was serving very well. One serve was the weirdest thing. The ball simply didn’t come back up—it stayed a mere 6″ off the ground. Dean suggested checking the ball for cracks, but it was fine. Dean did later swap the ball out for a newer one. “This one will be more lively,” he warned our opponents.

Our team lost and it wasn’t Dean. There there at least three dinks that I attempted to volley out of the air but the ball ended up in the net. Frustrating. “Look at me! I’m lame!” No, I didn’t say that, but I was thinking it!

After the game, Dave told me, “In the finals of that tournament, you were playing a solid 4.0 level. The problem today is that you were pushing. Before, you were waiting and being patient.” I was trying too hard.

Next

A man that i didn’t know named Jim signed up in red. I tentatively felt him out. He said, “I’ll play with anybody.” I signed up. Karl was right there, so he joined us. We needed a fourth. We grabbed Olga. I didn’t know Jim, but figured he and I would be the strongest, so I told Olga we’d play together. It was a good game that ended up 10-10. We did lose 12-10, but I played well. Mid-game, Jim heading back to his baseline commented to Karl in reference to me, “Whoa! Quick hands!” I think I earned his respect! Jim is a good player with good spin on his serves.

Olga and I played against John P. and a woman whose name I forget, but I’ve seen a few times before. I was expecting us to win handily and we did—11-3 or something like that.

A “Good Game”

I was on my way to my back when Kim called over, “Do you have one more game in you, Andrew?” I paused. “I really should go home and get ready for work . . . ok, one more.”
“I want to get in at least one more good game,” confided Kim. Gee, that’s nice. I qualify as  a “good” player! I’ll take that compliment!

Kim and I won both games against Cathy and Jim. I played quite well. The first game was a bit lopsided, but the second took longer and was a little more even. Oh, almost forgot to mention . . . I had what may have been my first backhand (around the left post) ATP shot. Cathy had hit a sharp and long crosscourt dink and I took it around. Jim said, “I was just admiring it!” (Instead of courtacting it.) I can’t remember if I’ve done one of those before. Regardless, they are rare. I know I hit an attempted right side ATP shot into the post earlier in the game. High risk, high reward!

And?

The tennis elbow seems to be getting better. Slices still hurt. I did one and won’t be doing those again for a while. And the elbow hurt on an overhead smash, so I have to be careful on those. A mixed day. I wish I played better in the game with Dean, Dave and Steve. But, it did end on a high note.

I left at 12:50. to race home, shower and get to work!

Saturday, December 8, 2018 (No Play)

Today my tennis elbow is sorer than yesterday morning. Playing does negatively affect it.

Number of days on a court: 231
Number of total hours: 634

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Sunday, December 2, 2018 (Court Day #230)

I arrived at Derby Park to set up at 8:45. The courts were a bit of a mess with leaves and worms. I could have used another 5 minutes on the blower battery, but not bad. The weather would be fantastic. Sunny. Cool. Not too breezy. And only little downtime between games, the field maxed out at about 34 players, instead of 40-50.

I was happy to see some better players trickle in. Kim, Leslie, Kevin. And more my level, Dave Cox and Eric.

My lower back was pretty tight on Friday and it was again today.

A surprise, John P. and I beat Kevin and Dave Cox 11-0. Dave bore the brunt of the errors. Though, John and I had already played two games and Kevin and Dave were just starting.

Dave Cox and I played against Kim and George. Kim played extremely well. She was quick to poach and made good use of angles. She made a few mistakes, but easily outplayed Dave and me, no question. Dave was still warming up, I think.

Dave Cox and I signed up in a box with Leslie and Kevin. I figured we’d split, but Dave wanted to be partners. Leslie was questioning the pairings, asking, “Are you two doing a tournament?” No, just Dave’s request. We lost 11-5 to Leslie and Kevin. The final point was me returning Leslie’s serve into the net. Embarrassing, but Dave and I were outclassed.

Kevin and John P. (sunglasses) and my shadow. “Will we appear in your blog?”, asked John. “Do you want to be?” With a smile, Kevin said, “For a small fee!”

John and I played a game against Eric and Ted. Before the first serve, I asked John, “What’s your prediction for this game?” “I don’t know . . . 11-7?” I had a hard time arguing with that. But it was a balanced game. Last week, Eric was rusty. Today, he was playing pretty well. And Ted played well too. It was back and forth and in the end John and I lost 13-11. Good game.

Eric, MaryAnn, Ted, Christine (in fuchsia), Kim, Allan (leaning down), Chris.

The last game of the day was Susy and me against John and Eric. Eric wanted to play with my new Prince paddle, so we swapped. John wanted to try a different paddle too, so I gave him Eric’s Selkirk and took John’s Paddletek Bantem. When Susy saw that we were all playing with unfamiliar paddles, she grabbed a new paddle from her bag. Johns paddle was heavy. It was like wielding a hammer. (My new Prince Paddle is 8.0 ounces and felt light in comparison to John’s.) Susy and I won, but it was close and we all knew we were playing with a handicap. Eric liked my Prince paddle and offered to buy it from me if I opt to not keep it. In that last game, my elbow was really starting to ache. Not enough to keep me from playing, but there was pain with certain shots. Someone online said a heavier paddle cured their tennis elbow—my anecdotal experience is the opposite. Also, partway through the morning, it tweaked my ankle. The same one I’m rolled about a year ago. (I’m not sure what I did, maybe rotating on it, but it went on to give me trouble into the evening, as did my elbow.)

So?

If I had to pick one thing today to improve, it would be my dropshots. I had a number end up in the net. And some others were a touch too high and were attackable. As they say, “The hardest shot in pickleball.”

Eddie, the woman who asked at Brommer Park if I needed help when my car wouldn’t start, kindly followed up and asked how my car was. I told her it was just a battery and all was well.

Karl, whom I hadn’t seen for a few weeks, asked what was new. I told him about my tennis elbow. “Well, at least it’s the winter season.” Rain does take its toll on outdoor pickleball sessions! Forced recouperation! Rain is predicted for the middle of the week. Thursday night or Friday morning will likely be the first opportunity to play again this week. I am not happy about my elbow. I don’t want to have to sit out playing for some long period of time.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 (No Play)

While at work, a customer shook my hand with a firm grip. Far from a crushing handshake but the corresponding pain my elbow was surprisingly intense. As much as I tried to hide it, I think it showed in my face, since a flash of doubt seemed to appear on his. Fortunately, it didn’t last too long, but, boy, did that hurt!

If I straighten my right arm and make a tight fist, I feel the pain on the back third of my forearm to my elbow. It’s kind of like a cramp or a charlie horse. The first time I do it, it’s very painful. If I do it repeatedly the pain subsides, but it has an ache that fades over a minute or so.

My wife has had a minor shoulder issue for some time, and recently has been seeing a chiropractor. She suggested I go see hers. Since the co-pay is only $10 and there’s was an early appointment, we set up an appointment online for Thursday morning. I doubt I’ll get a miracle cure, but any improvement would be a blessing.

Number of days on a court: 230
Number of total hours: 630.5

To start at the beginning of this blog click on “1st Post” in the menu above.