Who Learned the Most?

As a 30+ year tennis pro, I learn something new everyday on the court. Below was yesterday's lesson. They started at the service line softly hitting balls back and forth. Two close friends, one, a daily player, the other hadn't picked up a racquet in 15 years. It was quickly apparent to me what an accomplished player our guest was. His strokes were classic and his footwork impressive, he had clearly been well taught and his innate athleticism was obvious but playing with a racquet last strung in 1992 after a fifteen year layoff might even give Roger Federer a run for his money!

I intently watched them. While he struggled a bit in the beginning with his timing and anticipation, she very patiently worked on hitting every ball back with precision and control. Working together the play got better and better, it became a beautiful dance and within ten minutes they were hitting from the baseline. Was there frustration? YES! Was there triumph? YES! Was there patience, friendship, kindness, understanding, empathy, fun, even competition? YES, and that perfectly describes the game of tennis. As I believe to my core, tennis mimics life and I love that about the game.

Yesterday was a perfect reminder for me that every player across the net can teach you something, there will always be someone better than you and on another day a player not quite as good. If you're looking for fierce competition every time you walk on the court, what I witnessed yesterday is probably not for you but if you're looking to learn from every experience, perpetuate the game of tennis and feel great about the interaction with a pal then what I saw yesterday couldn't be beat, both players were winners.

If you are the better player on the court...

• Run after every ball and hit back to your partner

• Keep your feet moving

• Focus on good stroke mechanics

• Work on your consistency

• Be precise with your shots

• Practice hitting your weakest shots

If you are the weaker player on the court...

• Focus on staying in the point not necessarily winning

• Don't give up on any ball, run after everything

• Stay in the rally

• Work on constructing points

• Practice your strengths

• Figure out the other player's weakness and hit to it

• Relax and have fun

So, the moral of the story and the answer to the title of today's Blog is that the person who learned the most yesterday was me! Please say YES to tennis, if a beginner asks you to play, give it a try, hit with them, ... if a better player asks you to play, or fill in at a drill, feel flattered and do your best, it's how we all get better, ... if someone's been away from the sport for awhile, encourage and welcome them back! It's important to remember your own first months on the court; who hit with you, who was the pro who encouraged you, who was the friend who told you you'd get the hang of it, who promised you that if you kept at it, you'd feel comfortable enough to join a team and play competition tennis, who never gave up on you, what seasoned player said "sure, I'll hit with you for a half hour", who showed you the way to the player you would ultimately become? Now it's time for you to be that person! Yesterday I was reminded that encouragement, manners and friendship are alive and well on the tennis court. It keeps me coming back, I hope it will keep my new friend coming back and I hope to continue seeing all of you on the court! Barb