Author: andrewlenz (Page 268 of 331)

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 (Court Day #173)

Rob and I arranged a game tonight at Brommer Park. Eric and Oleg were available. I got there shortly after 6:30 to find the others there and dinking. Rob and I played game after game against the two of them. Early on we won one or two, but as the evening progressed, we lost repeatedly. Some games by more than others. A consolation was losing the last game only 13-11, in a very contested game. Most games were hard earned.

Rob and I need to work on further developing our chemistry. Also not making dumb shots—slamming/driving into the net, hitting would-be winners too deep, not popping the ball up. Our play wasn’t bad, but there’s work to do to improve.

One fun thing was a young couple on the other court. Sporting tattoos with their skateboards parked off to the side, they represent the trend in pickleball—younger!

We wrapped up play as it got dark, just after 8:30.

Eric, Oleg, Rob and my SCPC cap rest after our sparring.

Tournament

The email with the schedule for the tournament this weeeekend arrived in my inbox today. Rob and I will be playing bright and very early on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. I was hoping it’d be later, but maybe I should count my blessings since the weather prediction is in the 80s in Concord on Sunday.

It’ll be a big tournament. What’s really fun is I/we will be playing in the same tournament as Kyle Yates, Ben Johns, Morgan Evans, and Tyson McGuffin. Christine McGrath will be playing too. Maybe it’ll work out so we can see a pro match.

Number of days on a court: 173
Number of total hours: 480

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

Sunday, July 22, 2018 (Court Day #172)

When I got to Derby Park at 8:50, Brennan and Wayne were already there. “You boys are anxious!”

Today, was pleasant. Another breezy day under partly cloudy days. Though not quite as much wind as the previous Sunday.

My artsy shot of the day!

There were fewer players there today. About 30. We had over 50 last Sunday. There was very little waiting between games. Karen Long came and stayed for about an hour, but I didn’t get a chance to play with her.

It was a day of mixed competition. An early game included David Black. There was one shot when I thought “winner!” only to have the ball come back over the net! That’s one of the reasons that it’s so important to get games with strong players—it keeps you on your toes. When in a game with weak players, one can get sloppy, or at least I do.

I may have shared it in this blog before, but there’s a saying that applies in music, including bagpipes, but it applies in pickleball too:

”Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”

Focus is important. I sometimes find myself letting my mind wander. Particularly while waiting for a serve. But focus I said key for good performance. That’s one of the things that makes tournaments so draining. Intense concentration for extended periods of time.

I made some dumb shots today. But also some excellent shots. One of my biggest issues is hitting balls that would otherwise fly out. When was playing with George, he called me on it a number of times in one game. George, while he admit that he’s not fast (or super quick hands at the net), has very consistent shots and placement. “If I have time to set up,” he said. But I think that’s with a lot of people. Including myself. I’ve been making a concerted effort to not move through my shots, but set up. Generally, there are better results.

Was I happy with my play today? Eh. Not really. Too many mistakes. Taking too much off a drive and not getting it back over the net. A few dinks that I didn’t get back over. Some returns that sailed long. A drive from Eric from his NVZ line that I wasn’t ready enough to properly return.

Touurnament Coming

Next Sunday will be the Concord tournament with Rob. I need to have someone open and close Derby that day. Dave Allenbaugh, Tom Sherwood, and I will all be gone. I checked pickleballtournaments.com to see if John P. would be there too. No. I emailed him first. While there, I saw that they had the groups figured some. Rob and I will be in 3.5 35+ group of 9 teams.

We’re listed, that’s good news. Interesting. We’ll have three 60+ men and even one 72-year-old in our 35+ group. Katrina Briones emailed on Thursday saying the schedule would be emailed out on Monday. That will determine where I’ll be sleeping Saturday night. Home? Or in a firehouse in the South Bay on Rob’s invitation?

Number of days on a court: 172
Number of total hours: 478

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

Thursday, July 19, 2018 (Court Day #171)

I had a board meeting with the Santa Cruz Art League at 6 p.m. I wrapped things up there about 7:30. The question afterward was: Go back to work and finish up some things so I could squeeze in some play at Brommer tomorrow morning or go home then out to Scotts Valley? Unfortunately, I figured it would be irresponsible to miss work and obligations tomorrow. *sigh* Stinks. Too much to do. Scotts Valley it would be. I haven’t been to club play at Brommer in months.

I got to Skypark a few minute before 8 p.m. Things were hopping, Janet joyfully offered her congratulations on Eric and my tournament medal. I took a spot on the bench with a woman to wait for a game.

My first game was with Rochella against Sharyl and a woman whose name I forget. During the name, I did a body drive off of a dink right at Sharyl. It went a bit higher than I’d intended and I almost got her in the face. Understandably, while polite, she was not happy with me. I apologized. I felt bad. I dialed it back after that. It’s like a youngster with firecrackers. There are appropriate times to use them and inappropriate times. I have some weapons now. I just have to be aware of when not to use them. My goal after that was to not hit anyone with the ball and not play too hard. Just keep the ball in play. Not everyone has quick hands.

Rob and I lost three games to Oleg and Dave Cox. An example of a failure was me attacking a dropshot where it didn’t bounce high enough and it went into the net. Oops. As the games went on, I shifted my goal to not making mistakes. It helped. The third game was very close, but they came back and won. The one consolation was winning the last game 11-5. Those were challenging ones.

One thing Rob and I learned is that I don’t have the natural chemistry with Rob like I have with Eric. We had a shot go down the middle with neither of us going for it. There was a lob where it was Rob’s forehand where I should have done a better job of knowing he was there and getting out of the way. More communication between us is necessary. And more playing time, if possible, before our tournament in a little over a week.

I was in the car to head home at about 9:30. My right knee was a bit sore. There seem to be more aches and pains lately.

Number of days on a court: 171
Number of total hours: 474.5

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