Benchmarking your progress

Inside The Lines – My Tennis Journey

Benchmarking your progress-Practice with players you can’t beat

November 27, 2009

Volume 1: issue 2

I don’t like losing. I am not sure I have met anyone who does. However, there are things one can learn from losing. If losing or failure helps you get to the next level, then, there is some merit to losing. It is necessary for winning.

Losing simply becomes part of the process.

Tennis is a sport that forces you to take a different look at losing.

If you enter a tournament, there is only one winner. Everyone else loses. When you play a match, you are the only one on the court and unlike team sports, there is no one else to blame for the loss.

I am reminded of commission sales when I think of tennis. Commission sales are quite pure in this respect: if you make a sale, you get rewarded. If you don’t make sales, you don’t eat. Tennis is similar. If you play well, you have a possibility of winning a match. If you don’t play well, you may still win the match. The key factor to consider, however, is your opponent. You have the opportunity to affect the match, just as a salesperson has an opportunity to affect a sale. I think it is one of the sports that truly promotes personal responsibility. I think that is why I enjoy it so much. Our society needs to emphasize personal responsibility more and steering young people to tennis might inspire that. The topic of personal responsibility is for another time, but I find it interesting that when I look at the team sports and I compare them to tennis and/or golf, is it really a mystery that the popularity of football, baseball, basketball, and to a lesser extent, soccer, reflect the decline in our society’s culture to hold individuals accountable for their actions? I think it is interesting. Nevertheless, today I ponder the idea of losing being beneficial. One way I look at losing in tennis as a benefit is when you have an opportunity to regularly play against players you are not able to beat.

I had a couple of practice sets today that reminded me of the value of losing. I don’t purposely seek out better players to absorb a beat down on the tennis court. It has happened as a by product of my tennis development. I have met many players over the course of the last three and half years. Some of the guys I actually consider friends, which doesn’t make the losing feel any better; but, at least the games are civil. Today I played against two people, neither of whom I have ever played in a real tournament. They are part of a group of players of varying skill levels who meet regularly to play, trade barbs, and give tennis advice. The tennis is good. The camaraderie is better. And, the losing is never welcome. But, the lessons learned after each set is what makes playing worthwhile.

Today’s practice session involved my tennis friends, Nicolas, Alex and Richard. Nicolas and Richard are clearly better players than I. Alex could be better when he figures out that being left handed is an advantage. I play as a left hander, so I have some insight. People tell me all of the time that being “lefty” is an advantage. Some times I can make it work. Part of my growth is to make it work all of the time. Alex and I are very similar in our tennis skills, but I have stepped out and up a bit more and taken more losses than he has. This simply means that I started playing at a higher level with better players sooner than he did. This is why I think at this point in time I am a better player. Plus, Alex does not usually beat me when we play for practice; and, the only time we actually met in a tournament, I won. The tables may turn one day, but not if I can help it.

Practice starting by me playing Nicolas a couple of sets. Nicolas was motivated to play today. I think he remembered the last time we played several weeks ago, I beat him 4-1 in an abbreviated set of “first player to four wins”. I knew on that day Nicolas did not have his “A” game and I played pretty well. Today was another story. Nicolas played very well. The beat down was swift and thorough, efficient, like a surgeon’s knife. His forehand was consistent. His backhand kept me honest and off balance and his serve percentage was high for first serves. He did everything required to beat me and he did. The final score was 6-1, 6-3. I started to make some progress in the second set, but Nicolas was too good for me on this day. However, I learned something about my game. I have to look for more opportunities to attack to play at the next level. Nicolas is probably a good 4.0 player. He tends to stand on the baseline, but his ground strokes are very aggressive. He can hit the corners and his backhand is a weapon to set up the big forehand. I was on the defensive for most of both sets. Even when I hit what I thought was a good offensive shot, Nicolas was adept at turning it into an offensive shot for him. I lost both sets, but I fought hard and I knew it took Nicolas playing well to win. If I play against my peers the way I played against Nicolas, I will win a fair share of matches.

Richard has a nickname amongst our group that is fitting for his style of play. We refer to him as “The Great Wall of Merritt”. Playing with Richard is like hitting against a wall. He will get every ball back unless you move him around and execute a winning shot on the opening you create. It is easier said than done. I had the pleasure of playing Richard a set today. I had not played Richard in a long time. It may have been last year. I don’t remember. What I do remember is that he waxed me pretty good. It was probably 6-0, but who really wants to remember the bagel? What I remember from that beat down is that I could not hit a second serve, my forehand was very erratic and I frankly did not have enough consistency to compete. Richard is consistent and mentally tough. Those are his weapons. He hits decent ground strokes and his serve is serviceable, but if you looked at Richard from the sidelines, you might think, “I can beat this guy.” It looks different when you are on the court with him. Nevertheless, today I realized my game had improved. I lost to Richard 6-4. I would not be exaggerating if I stated that I should have won. I had a 4-2 lead and multiple chances to stay in the set, including serving at 4-5 to push it. But, I did not execute good enough when it was absolutely needed. I played well, but at crucial times I made some errors that I would need to avoid when playing someone as consistent as Richard. Richard outsmarted me. He did the same thing I did to my opponent the other night. He decided when he was down 2-4 to make me hit more balls and force me to make the errors. The strategy worked, because when I started going for winners to finish off the point, even after some extended rallies, I made errors. There are still some shots I can occasionally hit, but I don’t own them yet. When I start gaining consistency on those shots I intend to hit as winners, I will be a difficult opponent. Until then, I will play close sets, but I will not win. The goal is to win. This means I have to work on my strokes even more.

I lost today to Nicolas and Richard, but they exposed some things in my game that I can use to motivate me for the next practice session. Losing is not fun, but learning is.

It is okay to benchmark your progress, even by playing with those you can’t beat…yet!

Tennis and Life coupled like man and wife.

A commitment to excellence takes hard work and may cause pain.

Some days will be sunny. Other days may bring rain.

And when the story is told by others and it is time to reflect,

Life will teach how to forgive. Tennis allows you to play a “let”.

Copyright © 2009 Milton A. Brown

Momentum-The pendulum does swing both ways

Inside The Lines – My Tennis Journey

Momentum-The pendulum does swing both ways

November 24, 2009

Volume 1: issue 1

I started playing tennis in May 2006. I had just moved back to Houston in February. I was settling into my new job and routine. I was a regular participant in pickup basketball at the Downtown YMCA and my physical fitness level was decent for someone my age. At 45 I could still hold my own against most guys in terms of skill and fitness, even some in their 20’s. The problem was that sometimes it took me days to recover. As much as I enjoyed basketball, I was not enjoying the pain, especially in my right knee. I was ripe to pick up a new sport. I figured I would pick up a sport that was easier on my body. I clearly did not do my homework, because I started playing tennis. I had a similar brain cramp many years ago when my doctor suggested I find a new job when I was working at Texaco. I was bored at that time in my position, although the job was great and the money was adequate. I was getting headaches and not sleeping. The doctor felt I needed a challenge. I left Texaco to go work for Enron (What was I thinking?). Many folks know how that worked out. I cured my headaches, but I ended up broke in the process. Choosing tennis, however, I expected to get better results.

Tennis was introduced to me by a friend who was simply seeking a hitting partner. I started going to the tennis court to hack around. Next thing I know I was participating in drills, taking an occasional lesson, and participating in leagues. September 2006 I started playing competitive tennis at a beginner’s level. In July 2009 I was rated as a 3.5 level player according to the NTRP (National Tennis Ratings Program, the USTA rating system), which is an intermediate level – not advanced, but not a beginner. I set a goal to become a solid 4.0 level player in five years. Rated at 4.0 I could call myself a tennis player. At the 3.5 level I am considered a weekend hacker in real tennis circles. I think I am on the way to becoming a tennis player if I continue to progress and stay healthy.

I did not seek out tennis. I believe tennis found me. I am reminded of my relationship with God. God has always been there. It was up to me to seek Him out. Tennis was like that. I was introduced to the game many years ago by a good friend, but I had no interest in playing at that time. I played basketball and I did not view tennis seriously. Thus, it would be over 15 years later when I would pick up the racquet. I really believe God put tennis my life to teach me some new lessons. My destiny will involve tennis, but I don’t think it will end with tennis. The beauty of it is that tennis is one step in the journey. I am embracing tennis and the journey too!

In the early 90’s I was still relatively young athletically. It wasn’t my time for tennis though. I was not ready to play then, at least not mentally and emotionally. At this stage in my life, midlife and mellow, I was ready to play tennis. The game would be different for me. I am realizing as I progress in my tennis game, I learn more about my mental and emotional self. The lessons of tennis are far different than the lessons of basketball. As a result, I often find myself wishing I had picked up tennis when I was younger. Granted, I might be a much better tennis player today. But, I also believe playing tennis would have given me a level of patience and emotional stability that far exceeds what I have managed without the game. I thought I was a patient person. Then, I started learning tennis.

I have often heard it said that, “nothing ever stays the same” and “the only thing that is constant is change.” This is true in life and in tennis.

How do you deal with frustration in your daily life?

Do you have the insight to know that whatever situation you are in currently, it will change?

If you continue to live on this earth, your situation will not stay the same. This is true whether times are good or bad, you are sick or healthy, or rich or poor. It is easy to forget this when things are going well. The “golden goose” will not always lay eggs. Conversely, your tin cup will not always be empty. But what does this really mean?

Can you maintain your composure when things are not going well? Or, as I like to often say, “Can you operate with grace under pressure?”

A recent tennis experience helped me respond to these questions.

I have known my opponent, whom I’ll refer to as John, for approximately three years. I consider him a tennis friend. He is someone I can chart my progress against. When I started playing in May 2006, several months passed before I decided to participate in a Friday night mixer where people would get together to play doubles at one of the local indoor tennis facilities. I was told that playing doubles would help me improve my game. I met John there and it was quite evident at that time that he was a better player than I. As I recall, he had been playing a year earlier. Based on his strokes, I could see that. I could also see that if I continued to progress, I would eventually catch up to his ability or even exceed it. I received confirmation of that premise during this recent practice session. John and I have played off and on over the last two years and he has usually won, even when I have played well and it was close. The last time we played a couple of weeks ago, I lost a set in a tiebreaker 6-7(5). I really felt I would have won if I decided to play more conservative in the tiebreaker, but I was practicing. It was important for me to go for my shots. The time before that, which was a couple of months ago, I had a breakthrough. I played a close first set, which I lost 6-7 (8) in a tight tiebreaker and I won the second set 6-3. I think John walked away knowing that my game had improved vastly and I was no longer a player he could count on beating.

This was supposed to be a simple practice session. John and I agreed to play several days earlier. I was prepared to play and I jokingly told him I would try to bring my “A” game. We were scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m., but I overslept and I did not make it to the courts until 7:40 p.m. I was clearly at a disadvantage. I had been rushed. I was still a bit groggy. John had been hitting on the wall, so he was pretty loose. I typically need at least a half hour to get going and this was not going to be the case this time. But, I knew it was simply “practice.” It was not meant to be competitive, at least in the extreme sense. I always play to win, but when I am practicing, I have certain things in mind. If I lose a match working on those things, I feel fine. If I win, that is simply icing on the cake. I don’t go out of my way to win, if it will compromise my program. (That is, working on specific strokes, strategy, or weak areas).

I did not plan to compete too hard. It was simply practice. Allen Iverson would have said, “Practice man…that’s all…practice…not a game.” Anyway, my “practice” partner had other ideas I think. He wanted to play a set. I guess he wanted to prove he could beat me handily and exert his superiority over me as a player. I am usually content with hitting and working on my strokes, but I often encounter guys who must keep score, so they will want to play a set. I will oblige, which is why I have a variety of practice partners. Nevertheless, we started and I let John serve first. I don’t think he noticed it, but my cavalier attitude about him serving first was just one exhibit of the confidence I felt. Remember, it is just practice for me. I practice putting myself under pressure, so when I play a real match I can better adjust.

John won his service game, but it was not easy. I felt like I could make some headway eventually. The problem for me was that he came out playing very solid. He broke my serve to lead 2-0 and I had no answers. He tracked down every ball, hit every volley, and he was aggressive at net. I could not lob or pass him. I was down 0-3 and it was my serve. I pressed a little because I needed to win my service game. I felt the pressure for the first time. I cracked and I lost my service game. Now, I was down 0-4, but a funny thing happened. At 0-4 I felt no pressure. I decided I would just try to hit balls and get a rhythm. I knew I was not really warmed up. It was John’s serve and I had no momentum. I thought if I could break his serve, I can get inside his head and anything could happen. I decided I would get every ball back and make John beat me.

Then, it happened.

The momentum shifted. I broke John’s serve. John did not seem too affected. He was still ahead 4-1, but it was my serve and I know had a little bit of confidence. Plus, I felt warmed up. This would be the time to push and dig deeper. I felt that if I held serve and made it 2-4, John would start thinking more and pushing the ball (playing safe), especially when he served. This proved to be true. I started to get a rhythm and my serve was getting better. When my serve is working effectively, (lots of spin and slice) John can not get a good look at it. I started to win some free points. It was now 2-4 and I was gaining more confidence. I really felt John could not sustain his level from the first four games. He was on fire, but the flame was flickering. The pressure was on him to go up 5-2. He probably wanted to beat me 6-0 and at 4-0 that looked like a real possibility. But, he cracked. Now, he was simply trying to close out the set. He felt the pressure. I started attacking his serve and hitting balls deep to his backhand. If I hit heavy topspin, many players at my level will have trouble with the high ball to their backhand. John was no exception. I tried to give him my best Rafa Nadal impersonation. I hit high looping forehands followed by low slice backhands. The constant back and forth coupled with my defense began to wear him down. His serve is not a weapon, so I was confident that if I broke his serve, the real key was to hold my serve. I tied the match at 4-4 and this is when my opponent self destructed. He tossed his racquet in disgust. I saw signs earlier that he was cracking. He was mumbling and grumbling after missed shots and pounding the ball into the ground prior to his serve. He was visibly irritated. He probably could not believe he lost a lead of four games.

The next game, game #9 was a big turning point. The game lasted approximately 7 or 8 deuce points. I was up 40-0, but John fought hard. He hit a couple of good first serves and I hit a ball long on a forehand. It was now deuce and he probably thought he would hold his serve. I had other ideas, however. I think I lost focus at 40-0, but at deuce the game really began. I attacked his backhand and it eventually broke down. He hit a ball out on the ad side after trying to respond to a high cross court forehand I hit. He was beyond pissed. The difference in my stroke was that I tried to hit it harder. It traveled deeper than he anticipated and he could not get over top of it. The ball went flying and I knew I had him at this point. It was evident that I was the tougher player mentally. Now, it was my time to close the set and prove it. I had won five straight games after nearly going down 0-5. I was leading 5-4 and it was time to close the set.

Game #10 did not start well. I lost the first point. I was down 0-15, but I felt like I could attack with my serve. I got more aggressive – higher ball toss and more racquet speed. I was either going to win this set 7-5 or I was going to close it now. I gambled on closing it now with my serve. I won the next 4 out of 5 points on a variety of shots. I hit a drop shot winner off of an aggressive first serve to John’s body. I followed with a serve to his forehand that he did not expect at 15-15. It was now 30-15. I followed up with a short top spin forehand after driving him deep behind the baseline. He could not catch up to it. He over hit the ball. The ball went flying into the fence. It was now 40-15. I decided this was the time to go for it. I hit a serve deep to the middle of the box. John tried to hit a backhand return. The ball traveled just beyond the service line. I lined up to hit a forehand. I hit it hard down the middle rather than going cross court. The ball jammed him and he hit a backhand way wide on the ad side. I pumped my fist as I went into the corner to retrieve the ball. That was my first real sign of emotion, but it was time. I had done it! John was another story.

I won the set 6-4. John blew a gasket. He lost the set and his composure too! You could see it in his eyes. He said, “You won six straight games.” His words seemed like a combination of disbelief and contempt. It was like, “how dare you beat me?” I think John felt he was supposed to give me the bagel. Instead, I spotted him four games, then, I gave him the bagel. Yikes!

I hung in and it paid off.

It was now approximately 8:40 p.m. The courts would be closing at 9:00. John wanted to start a second set. He wanted to get rid of the bitter taste of defeat. I agreed to start. Once again, he started serving. I broke his serve. I am leading 1-0. He’s probably thinking. Here we go again. The problem was that I did not hold my serve. He won the second game. He held serve in the third game. It had to be close to 9:00. He was leading 2-1 and I was content to walk away. But, he wanted to continue. I am thinking in his mind that a 3-1 lead and suspended play would make him feel better. I can’t be certain. But, I was totally okay with stopping. He wasn’t. So, we continued. I won the game and we left at 2-2. This will be continued.

During most of the first set and the portion of the second, there were moments when I could have lost my composure. Behind 0-4 in the first set could have been a breaking point for me. But, I have learned that things can change. John could not continue to play at a high level and I knew I would eventually warm up. The key was whether I could hang in and if there would be enough time to recover. I played with “grace under pressure”.

I believe if you continue to hang in and don’t give up, whatever the venture, eventually things will change. A momentum shift is in the works. When the momentum shifts and the pendulum swings the other way, will you be ready for the challenge? Quitting will ensure you are not ready. But, if somehow you can manage to hang in and continue to do your best, different results may be in store for you. I learned this again on this night. I was down and out and nearly put away, but I hung in.

I maintained composure because I knew things would change. I would eventually play better and John would eventually not play as well. If John had continued to play at the same level, I would have found solace in the knowledge that it would just be his day. Three years ago, I may have thrown my racquet. I may have lost my cool because I was not playing well. Today it was different.

Hang in during your tennis matches. Hang in during life.

The momentum will shift. The pendulum does swing both ways.