Okay, so yesterday I was feeling that mid-week slump, you know? Needed to shake things up. I saw this “quick tennis outing” thing on the NYT app and thought, “Why not?” I haven’t played tennis in ages, but it sounded fun and, most importantly, fast.
First, I dug out my old racket from the back of the closet. It was dusty, the grip was kinda sticky, but hey, it would do. Then came the hunt for tennis balls. Found a can, miraculously still pressurized, under a pile of old sports equipment. Score!
Finding a Court
Next challenge: finding a court. I live in a pretty busy area, so I figured this might be tough. I opened Google Maps, and typed the name of the parks near me and find a free public courts nearby. I called the information number just to double-check they were open and didn’t need a reservation. All clear!
Grabbed my stuff, hopped in the car, and drove over. The courts were surprisingly empty. Maybe everyone else was still at work. I was expecting a younger audience and young people who play sports more often.
The “Quick” Outing
I started hitting against the wall, just to get a feel for the racket again. My forehand was rusty, my backhand was…well, let’s just say it needed work. But it felt good to be moving, to be outside, to be hitting something. I wasn’t aiming for Wimbledon, just a bit of exercise and a break from the screen.
- Warm-up: 5 minutes of hitting against the wall. Mostly awkward, some good shots.
- Rallying (with myself): 15 minutes. Trying to keep the ball in play, focusing on consistency, not power.
- Serves: 10 minutes. Realized I’d forgotten how to serve properly. Lots of double faults.
- Cool-down: A few stretches, mostly to prevent my ancient body from seizing up later.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was definitely a “quick outing.” I was probably there for a total of 40 minutes, including the drive. And you know what? It worked. I felt energized, a little less stressed, and I even got a bit of a sweat going. It was a small thing, but it made a big difference to my day. I am planning to call my friend and schedule a match.
Might even make this a regular thing. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get good at it again. Or at least, less terrible.
