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Learning Tennis for Baby-Boomers (over 45)
by Mark Gallagher

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Purpose of this site:  Share experience of a 50 year old guy with no tennis experience as he learns the game, attempts to become a competitive 4.0 club player,  have fun, and get some good exercise.

December  2004

Coming to the end of the Winter 3.5 league, my record is 5 wins and 2 losses.  I have two matches to go and if I win them both, I will consider moving up to the 4.0 league. 

My goal for 2005 - become a competitive 4.0 club player.  This requires a fairly big jump to my current game.

I was also invited to fill-in on the "traveling team" of my tennis club and I won a singles match 6-1, 6-0, so that is the highlight of my tennis career to date.  The next day I struggled with my serve, so the improvement in my game still comes and goes. I need to smooth out my serve motion and bring my racquet back behind my back and then up.  I kind of chop at the ball when I serve.  Not easy to change swing motion habits.  I have a basket of used balls and I go over the club and just hit serves for an hour.

October / November  2004

Finished the Fall 3.5 league at a record of 5 wins, 4 losses and 1 tie.  So this is my best performance to date.  My goal is to win most of my matches in the Winter 3.5 league and move up to the 4.0 level early in 2005.  I'm also playing more doubles as a sub in the 3.5 doubles league.   I'm playing 2 or 3 times per week and trying to workout twice a week with free weights and leg and hip strengthening exercises.

The racquet above (Wilson Pro Staff 5.1 Surge) purchased from Tennis Warehouse for total of $126 including Wilson NXT Tour 17 string, at 62 lbs, grip size is 4 1/2.

Note, stringing at 62 lbs is a tight stringing giving you more control but less power. At my age and experience, my game benefits more from control and this racquet still delivers good power when you want it.

September  2004

I'm playing in a new 3.5 league for the Fall.  So far I have won 3, lost 1 and tied 1.  Playing a lot this summer has helped my game.  I can see the skills I need by watching the better players.  I know my first serve needs to be a hard, flat serve and my second serve more of a spin serve but also with pace.   I still need a good top-spin forehand.  I need a harder and more accurate return of service.  I am making some progress.

My conditioning is better. I alternate a treadmill and hand weights routine 3 times per week.  The pain in my Achilles seems to be gone for now.  I have tried to build up my hips with a lot of lower-body lunges.  I read that stronger hips and butt help a 50 year old tennis player avoid Achilles and lower- leg muscle pulls.

August  2004

I sub twice in a 3.5 doubles league at Wheaton Sports Center.  Most of the players are older in the 55 to 65 age group.  I tell myself, this is your game in  the near future when single becomes too physically tough. I have not played much doubles, and I don't play well in this league.  These guys hit the ball slowly, but always with angles and spins.  Overall a good experience and I may continue to sub from time to time.  I'm trying to cram a lot of tennis into this summer and play different skill levels, opponents both younger and older, outdoor and indoor courts and doubles and singles.

I played 4 times last week and my hips are very sore. During the 4th match of the week, my legs are weak and I setup late for my ground stokes and I lose badly to a player of equal skill, so I decide to take a few days off and not play more than 3 times per week. 

June / July  2004
I'm trying to play three times per week during the summer.  Through the leagues at Wheaton Sport Center I met several players at my level and I'm playing once a week with two different guys.  We play games up to 11 points using a neutral feed to start a point.   To ensure a neutral start to each point, the ball must travel over the net twice before the point is live.  Either side with a ball can start a point.  This game allows almost continuous play for an hour and is a terrific workout.  You can also work on your strokes during the game because if you lose a point or two testing a new stroke, no big deal. You have time to get back in the game.

 I also signed up for Tennis 3 at College of DuPage for the summer.  This is a two hour class on Saturday morning and we do drills and can just work on strokes using a ball machine.  My top-spin shot is improving. View a good video of top-spin swing.

April  / May 2004
Startup of new Spring 3.5- 4.0 men's tennis league at Wheaton Sport Center.

League Results : 4 wins and 4 losses and 1 tie.

These were the matches over the last six  weeks.

I won over Mike 8 to 7.  A long match and both of us were not playing well with many unforced errors.  I started the match trying to hit nothing but top-spin ground strokes, but while I hit a few winners, my error rate was high and I returned to my flat swing after I lost the first two games.

I played John and we tied at 7 - 7 (I was up 5 to 3 in the tiebreaker but we ran out of time and had to leave the court).

I lost to Tim 4 - 8.  Tim is younger, faster and has this spin shot that had me confused. I should have done better.

I won over Peter in a hard match 8 to 6. Peter injured his leg in the first match of this league and was not very mobile.  I was lucky to beat him because he had much better placement of his shots.

I won over Tony in a hard match 8 to 7. When the match was tied at 7 - 7, we play a 12 point tiebreaker and I won that 12 to 6.  Tony was not serving well, and I think I caught him on an off night because he had better  ground strokes and more experience.

I lost to Mark 4 to 8.  A disappointing loss because I usually do better  against him in our Wednesday night drills. He changed his strategy and went into a conservative, hit everything back safely strategy. That's my strategy and he executed it better.  After a rally of 4 or 5 safe shots, I went for more of a winner and did not get it done.

Second league game I won 8 to 6 over Jerry.  I had some great drills the night before with three guys that were half my age.  The younger players use a total top-spin game.  I learned a lot from them.

I lost my first match to Haskell by score of 4 to 8.  Is my skill level going backwards ?

March, 28 2004
Overall Results - my first tennis league experience:  3.5- 4.0 level Tennis League (Wheaton Sport Center), Winter quarter

Mark Gallagher,  Won 3 matches, Lost 5 matches,  Finish in 4th place out of 6.

Not bad, I've only been playing tennis for about 11 months.  This is not an easy game.

March, 28 2004
Sunday:  Lost in a tiebreaker to Haskell for a final score of  7 - 8 .  But I am playing better in the second half of this league.  The first time I played Haskell I only won 3 games.  This time I almost beat him.  My second serve is too soft.  I need to work on that.  Also, my conditioning is better, but at 49 years old, I need to really work harder.  Haskell and I played for almost an hour and a half, and I was breathing hard.

Good drills on Wednesday night.  Mike had us working on doubles drills and it was fun.

March, 21 2004
Sunday:  Played well against Mark W.   We worked on volleys and serves and then played about 9 friendly games and I think I won about 6 of the games.  

March, 7 2004
Sunday:  Lost my 3.5- 4.0 league game to Dave with a score of 5 - 8.  But Dave is the guy I lost to in the first round 8 to zip.  I played much better against him today.  I don't think I double faulted once and I setup better on my ground strokes.  I still hit the ball flat, but I have better control putting the ball in the corners. I should have finished stronger as I was up 5 to 4.  But I can't complain.  My game is getting better.  Dave's looping serves still gave me trouble, and he hits solid, top-spin ground strokes.

Excellent drills on Wednesday night.  Mike, the club pro, had us running with many two on one drills. After an hour, I was really breathing hard, but I played well.  The other two guys in the drills were in their twenties and could run all night.   These drills are helping my game, and Mike makes it fun.

February 29, 2004
Sunday:  Won my league game today, 8 - 5.  Before the match, Mike (the club pro) loaned me a new racquet - Wilson Pro Staff 5.1 Surge   It felt really good.  I played two hours today and my conditioning seems to be better.

Good drills on Wednesday night.  We did this "volley, touch the net, run back, hit one overhead and run forward for second volley"  drill.  I sucked at this drill, but it was fun. We also worked on serves.  I need a lot of work on my serve.

February 21, 2004
Saturday:  Lost a league game to Haskell, 3 - 8.  Haskell played a serve and volley game and I don't have the skills yet to attack this type of play.  I need harder and better placed ground strokes to attack a player at the net.  At my current skill level, I play a lob or weak ground stroke that is easily converted into a winner by my opponent.  My serve sucked today.  I'm 2 wins and 3 losses overall for the first half of this 3.5- 4.0 league.  My goal for the second half is to develop better ground strokes and more consistent serves.

Haskell is fun to play, and he gave me a couple tips after the match.

February 12, 2004
Thursday Night:  This is my fourth league match.  Tonight I played Jerry and I won 8 - 6.  So I am 2 wins and 2 losses overall in this league.   Jerry was older, in good shape and his game is very similar to mine.  All are games were close with some long rallies. I went up 6 - 2 and was serving well.  Once I thought about what a good lead I had, I lost the rhythm of my serve and allowed Jerry to win the next three games to go 6 - 5.  I held on at the end as Jerry had some unforced errors on some key points. 

February 8, 2004
Sunday Afternoon: I got killed again. Lost a league match 0 - 8.  I had a good chance to win the first game being up 40 - 15, but I blew it and lost the game.  It all went downhill from there. Randy, my opponent, had a solid game with a hard, looping serve and good, low ground strokes to the corners.  He had me running back and forth to each corner from the beginning.  My game right now is to just hit it back and wait for my opponent to make a mistake.  But Randy made no unforced errors.     Frustrating, but one more learning experience.  I need to work on my conditioning.  And my ground strokes need more pace.  I can play better than this.

January 27, 28, 29, 2004
Tuesday night: I played three nights in a row.  On Tuesday night I had my first league game (3.5-4.0 level men's singles).  This is the first match in my tennis career.  The rules are first player to win 8 games wins the match.  How did I do?  I lost 8 to zip.  I played Dave a 30- something player with a great serve and volley game.  I had no answer for his looping spin serve.  I would just punch it back and he was there for an easy volley.  My serve was bad. I was nervous from the beginning thinking I was overmatched and double faulted on my  serve several times.  I had game point against Dave twice and double faulted on the serve.  Dave hit excellent top-spin ground strokes, deep, and I frequently felt unprepared for a ball that comes at me too quickly. What I really liked about Dave's game was how few mistakes he made. He played very controlled. I learned a lot tonight.  Dave  has the game I am looking for.  The serve is 80 percent mental - you have to be confident as you toss the ball up for the serve.   I was nervous and my serve had no rhythm.  I sucked tonight, but I can play better and this was a good experience. But do I belong in this league?  I got killed.

Wednesday night: Group lesson with advanced beginners and intermediate players and Barry the tennis pro. I played OK during the drills and tried to shake-off the negative thoughts from Tuesday night. I have my second league game tomorrow and maybe I can play better and at least win a couple of games.

Thursday night:  My second league game is against Jerry.  I heard Jerry has a big first serve.  He is about my age and I can tell during warm-up he may not be as good as Dave - the guy that killed me on Tuesday night.  Jerry wears a black T-shirt that says "Army of One".  I serve first and win the first game (wow, I won a game!).  Jerry hits a hard first serve, but I can punch back most of them and he faults several times on his first serve.  The match goes to 4 - 4 with several long rallies. Jerry starts to double fault on some key points and makes some unforced errors in the later games and I win the match 8 - 5.  Amazing, I actually won.   I did not play well, but my serve was better.  Maybe I can play in this league.

I'm amazed my Achilles tendon held up OK playing three nights in a row.  My hips and legs are stiff on Friday.

January 24, 2004
 I took a 30 minute individual lesson with Mike - the club pro. We worked on my ground strokes (trying to develop top-spin) and my serve.  Mike demonstrated the following and had me make the following adjustments:

- bend my legs and get down more
- get my racquet back earlier when setting up for normal ground stroke
- but when hitting the ball on the run use very little back swing
- and on my forehand I tend to jump at the ball just at the moment of contact....I tried to keep my feet planted better
- and on my backhand I tried to move by body motion forward during the swing and not lean back
- On my serve he asked me during the toss with my left hand to keep my left hand extended upward for a moment after the ball leaves my hand.  Also, as I bring my right hand up and over, I need to take my elbow up more. 

My rhythm seemed a bit better, but my serve is still a work in progress.

Mike also had me practice my footwork by hitting a forehand, circling back around a ball placed on the ground and then a backhand, repeat the quick footwork around the ball.  I got winded quickly and figure I need to add more cardio to my workouts (usually do three miles fast walk on a treadmill with 10% incline).  Also working on more leg strengthening exercises including lunges and knee bends holding 20lb weights in each hand.

January 20, 2004
Group lesson with three other 3.5 level players. We played some good drills and I  was playing well.  I have a consistent,  flat ground stroke and did not have many unforced errors.  I just hit the ball back and wait for my opponent to make the error.  My serve was OK and my volleys are generally good.  When my opponent comes to the net, I usually play a low lob just over his head (to his backhand) and this is pretty effective against players at this level.

 The Achilles tendon problem was not bad today. The best therapy seems to be to massage the tendon with my fingers (back of ankle) before and after playing tennis. I also try to warm up better before each tennis match by exercising on a stationary bike for 10 minutes and after the legs are warmed-up I do the calf stretch that also stretches the Achilles tendon.

I also purchased the best New Balance tennis shoes (CT1000) from Holabird Sports. These shoes feel great.  I'm hoping they help relieve my Achilles tendon problem.

January 17, 2004
I played a younger, 5.0 level player today .  He won all the games we played but we had some good rallies and I was able to return (punch back) his big serves most of the time.  He also had a strong spin serve as a second serve and after a couple tries, I moved up in front of the baseline for these serves and was able to return them.  My ground strokes were only fair today, the top-spin swing seems to have gone and I hit a very flat and dead ball.  I find playing better players a lot of fun and don't get upset losing the games.  I can tell my game is getting better, but probably not much fun for my better opponent.

January 2004
Playing twice a week at the Wheaton Sport Center.  My ground strokes are better and starting to hit with some top spin. Seem to hold my own at times with 3.5 players.  Joined a 3.5 - 4.0 league that starts in a few weeks. My serve is a total work in progress.  Achilles tendon is still tender. 

November - December 2003
Group lessons at private Tennis club - Wheaton Sport Center (Wed. night from 7 - 8:30p). I'm playing with 3.5 level players.  I am over my head but my game is improving playing with these better players.  Our  instructor, Mike,  suggests I work on my stroke in a racquetball court to try to develop a low to high swing. I'm working on that now.  My serve and basic ground strokes are inconsistent.   But I take the leap and join this tennis club at the end of December.  My goal for 2004 is to become a competitive 3.5 level player.  These are the tennis skill levels rating system.

July - August 2003
I take Tennis 102 at College of DuPage.  I'm playing better but I still do not have a good low to high swing to produce top-spin.  My backhand is better than my forehand.  One night we play for almost three hours and the next day by Achilles tendon is killing me. I do some research and find this is a typical injury for over 40 players.  I do some research on the internet and find some conditioning exercises to strengthen my hips and legs and this puts less pressure on the Achilles.  I buy some good New Balance tennis shoes.

May - July 2003
I learn the basic tennis strokes, scoring, serve and play some doubles. The class is a good mix of drills and playing real points in games.  After about three weeks of playing, I am put into the intermediate group.  Here I learn a lot, but am a bit over my head.  My basic stroke is wrong.  I tend to chop down on the ball producing a slice, but the best swing is a low to high swing with good follow-through to produce top-spin.  I buy a better tennis racquet on Ebay (new) - the Wilson Hyper Hammer 4.0 with synthetic gut string (picture to right). Cost is about $95.

May, 2003
I enroll  in Tennis 101 at the College of DuPage at the age of 48.  I have no experience with Tennis.  The four month PE course meets every Thursday night for two hours and costs me $55 tuition.  I buy a $49 racquet at Wal-mart - a Wilson US Open pre-strung racquet. Class of about 20 players is fun and the practice balls,  ball machines and 8 courts are included free.  the course is a good mix of ages and skill levels - half the students in the class are total beginners like me.

I played squash racquets in college (over 25  years ago) and this experience helps me a bit with racquet control, but the tennis swing is very different and I tend to chop down on my tennis swing. 

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Last update: January, 2005
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