Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get back into tennis for ages, and today was finally the day. I decided to hit up the local park courts – you know, keep it casual and all. First thing I did was dig out my old racquet. Man, it was dusty! I gave it a good wipe down and checked the strings. They seemed… okay, I guess. Probably should get it restrung soon, but for a casual hit, it’ll do.
Getting Ready
Next up, finding some tennis balls. I rummaged through the garage and found a can that was probably older than some of the kids at the park. I popped it open, and the balls… well, they weren’t exactly bouncing with excitement. More like a sad, deflated thud. But hey, beggars can’t be choosers, right?
I threw on some shorts and a t-shirt – nothing fancy – and headed out the door. Sun was shining, birds were chirping, it was a perfect day to be outside. I was feeling pretty good, pretty optimistic.
At the Courts
Got to the park, and the courts were pretty busy! Lots of people out enjoying the weather. I managed to snag a court that was just finishing up. I did some quick stretches – don’t want to pull a hammy on my first day back – and started hitting against the wall.
First few hits? Rusty. Very rusty. The ball went everywhere but where I wanted it to. My timing was off, my swing was… well, let’s just say it needed some work. But after about 10 minutes, I started to get into a bit of a rhythm. Muscle memory started kicking in (thank goodness!), and I was actually getting some decent rallies going with the wall.
After about half an hour of hitting against the wall, a guy came over and asked if I wanted to play a set. I figured, why not? I was feeling warmed up, and it’s always more fun to play with someone.
Playing a Set
We started playing, and… well, let’s just say he was a lot better than me. I mean, A LOT. But it was still fun! I got a good workout, chasing down his shots. I even managed to win a few points here and there (mostly because of his unforced errors, but hey, a point’s a point!).
We played for about an hour, and by the end, I was wiped. But in a good way. It felt great to be back on the court, getting some exercise, and enjoying the game.
Wrapping Up
I thanked the guy for the game, packed up my stuff, and headed home. My legs were definitely feeling it, and I knew I’d be sore tomorrow. But it was totally worth it.
Things I learned:
- I definitely need to get my racquet restrung.
- I need to buy new tennis balls. Those old ones were pathetic.
- I need to practice… a lot.
- Playing tennis is way more fun than hitting against a wall.
- Even if you’re rusty, it’s still fun to get out there and play!
So, that was my parks tennis adventure. Not exactly Wimbledon, but a great way to spend a Saturday. I’m already looking forward to getting back out there next week – hopefully with some newer balls and a slightly less embarrassing backhand.
