Getting Started with This Tennis Thing
Alright, so I figured it was time. Sitting around too much, you know? Felt like I needed to actually move. Someone mentioned tennis, and I thought, why not? Seemed like something different. Didn’t really know where to start, honestly.
First thing, needed gear. Looked online, way too many options. Just confusing. Ended up just going to a local store. Grabbed a racket that felt okay, wasn’t the cheapest, wasn’t the most expensive. Got some balls too. Figured that was enough to see if I’d even stick with it. Didn’t want a pile of fancy gear collecting dust.
Then, finding a place to play. Checked out the local parks. Found a couple with courts. Some were busy, some looked kinda rough. Picked one that seemed alright, less crowded. Booked a slot, which was easier than I thought.
Hitting the Court (and Missing A Lot)
So, the first time out there… man. Felt clumsy. Just trying to hit the ball over the net felt like a huge challenge. Swung too hard, swung too soft. Balls flying everywhere. Felt pretty stupid, not gonna lie. But, nobody else seemed to care, everyone was focused on their own game. That helped.
- Tried just hitting against the wall first. That was okay for getting a feel.
- Then tried serving. That was… humbling. Way harder than it looks on TV.
- My arm was definitely feeling it the next day. A good kind of sore, though.
Went back a few more times. Slowly, very slowly, started to get a tiny bit better. Like, maybe one out of ten shots would go where I kinda wanted it to. It wasn’t pretty, but it was progress, I guess.
Making It Stick (Sort Of)
The hardest part is just going consistently. Easy to make excuses. Weather’s bad, too tired, got other stuff. Had to basically force myself sometimes. Put it on the calendar like an appointment.
Found an older guy down at the courts who just likes to hit casually. Not lessons, just rallying back and forth. That made a big difference. Way more fun than hitting against a wall or serving into the net repeatedly. Having someone else there kinda keeps you accountable too.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still no pro. Far from it. Some days I play okay, other days it feels like the first time all over again. But, I’m out there, moving around, getting some exercise. That was the whole point, right?
So yeah, that’s the story. Added tennis. Still doing it. It’s a process. Some days are better than others. But hey, better than just sitting on the couch.
