Alone with Patience and Agility
Church on the court this morning was stunningly beautiful. A fantastic Austin day, crystal skies, light breeze, temp in the mid 60’s and the constant thump thump thump of the ball machine shooting out consistently low shots to my forehand and backhand randomly. This is one of my ultimate happy pictures and this morning I had more than an hour in my green field of joy.
Growing up the backboard was the only way to practice strokes without a partner or a coach. But the wall is an unresponsive and dull partner. Practicing serves was another by-myself pastime, but also, after about 20 minutes, quite boring.
So my amazement at experiencing the ball machine down the street as a willing and patient “partner” was quite an awakening. Some mornings before work, evenings after dinner, and instead of a lunch break, the ball machine was always ready to play, and always full of random tricks and good spirit.
As a high-level men’s tennis player there are several major weaknesses that are best addressed in practice rather than during match play. And finding a drill partner, though I have been successful in the past, is often a fruitless quest. So the ball machine and I have an understanding about what to work on and how to go about it.
