Game 3: 9th January

 Score : 2 sets (6-2) and (6-7)

Rating: Nice Flow

Venue: The Local - 60mins Covered and, again, a bit chilly and damp.

Report: nice friendly game with work folks. There was a bit of spice as we split into intermediate/improver pairs then swapped after the first set.

Plus points

my lobs were on point again. None hitting the glass, vast majority being behind the service line. Is it greedy to want to be so comfortable in other shots?

Second set I helped carry us to the brink of winning the set, just failed at the end for reasons outlined below.

I had some really nice tactical rallies from the net where I was building a point rather than reacting all the time.

Just a nice flow about my game, not that I am unhurried but my reading of the ball is getting better so less energy lost to demented running

Things to work on

Be a better partner. 

The person I was playing with in the second set is always looking for the cloud around the silver lining. There's lots of negative self chat from him and, frankly, it drags you down. 5-3 up and the point we "lost" the set was where we both went for a ball that was bouncing through the middle into my side. I called for it, again, then again, then had to move quickly out the way as he pushed in front to get to the ball. Which he dumped into the net. 

I said, after the point, in no uncertain terms that I'd called for it.I was on the right hitting backhand, had set my feet and had pulled the racquet back when I first called "Mine!" as I saw him coming. Then he kept coming and I had to hold my racquet under tension with my non dominant hand to let him push in front of me and take the shot. I was actually really worried about hitting him accidentally which contributed to my over reaction.

But I think that was enough to break his always fragile confidence and it was unforced errors after unforced error. We lost 3 games in a row, managed to force a tie break but absolutely collapsed 7-1. I need to get it into my head that if I am the better player in the pair, I need to be a bit more patient. I can be too competitive when really it's a bit of fun. On the other hand, a drip drip of negative self talk absolutely kills the mood.

Bottom Line, be a better partner.

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