Today, I wanted to share my little adventure into the world of tennis, specifically inspired by Leah Kosanovic. I’m not really a sports person, but something about tennis, especially after watching Leah play, just got me hooked. So, I decided to give it a shot myself.
First things first, I realized I needed to get in some kind of shape. Tennis isn’t just standing around; it’s a lot of running and quick movements. I started with some light jogging and basic exercises, you know, just to get the blood flowing. Nothing too intense, just enough to not feel like a complete couch potato on the court.
Next up, I had to get the gear. I borrowed a racket from a friend who plays, and bought some cheap tennis balls from a local sports store. For clothes, I just wore some old gym shorts and a t-shirt. No need to look like a pro when you can barely hit the ball, right?
- Learning the Basics:
I found some beginner videos online to understand the basic rules and how to hold the racket, how to stand, and the basic swings – forehand, backhand, and serve. It looked way easier on video than it was in reality. I spent a few days just practicing the stance and swinging the racket in my backyard. My neighbors probably thought I was weird, swinging a racket at imaginary balls.
- Hitting the Court:
After getting somewhat comfortable with the basics, I went to a public tennis court nearby. Oh boy, hitting an actual ball was a whole different game. Most of my attempts ended up either in the net or flying way out of bounds. It was frustrating, but also kind of fun in a weird way. I was really bad, but hey, I was doing it!
- Footwork and Coordination:
One of the hardest things I realized was moving around the court. It’s not just about hitting the ball; you have to get to it first! I tried to practice some basic footwork drills, like side shuffles and quick steps. Let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks. I was tripping over my own feet half the time, but I kept at it.
- Scoring System:
Then I tried to get a grasp of tennis game scoring. I got to know that there are four points in each game i.e. 0,15,30 and 40. So I got an idea of how it works. It seemed tough at first but I got it later.
- Finding a Practice Buddy:
Practicing alone is okay, but it’s way more fun and helpful to have someone to play with. I managed to convince another friend to join me, and we started having some casual matches. We were both terrible, but it was a blast. We were laughing, running around, and occasionally hitting some decent shots.
- Staying Patient and Persistent:
I’m still very much a beginner, but I’m enjoying the process. It’s tough, and I’m definitely not going to be the next Leah Kosanovic, but that’s okay. The important thing is that I’m having fun, getting some exercise, and learning something new. I had to stay patient and persistent because that’s how you get better at anything, right?
So, that’s my tennis journey so far. It’s been a mix of fun, frustration, and a lot of running around. If you’re thinking about trying tennis, I say go for it. Just be prepared to be bad at it for a while, and remember to have fun with it. Who knows, maybe you’ll get hooked just like I did!
