Okay, so today I decided to get back on the court and try out this “Alvarez Tennis” thing I’ve been hearing about. I haven’t played seriously in ages, so I figured it would be a good way to ease back into it.
First things first, I needed to find a court. Luckily, there’s a park nearby with some public courts that are usually pretty empty. I dusted off my old racket, grabbed a can of balls that were probably way past their prime, and headed over.
Getting Started
When I got there, the courts were free, score! I started with some basic warm-up, you know, just hitting the ball against the backboard, trying to get a feel for it again. My forehand was feeling okay, but my backhand? Oh boy, that was rusty.
- Forehand: Decent, needs some work.
- Backhand: Yikes, a total mess.
- Serve: Let’s not even talk about it.
The “Alvarez” Part
So I am not really sure about the principles behind it, I found a wall to myself, I started with some simple drills. I tried to focus on really watching the ball, keeping my eye on it all the way to the racket. It sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly hard to do consistently. It is about footwork, It makes me do these little steps and adjustments, I started to feel a little more in control. It helps warm up my body.
I spent about an hour just hitting balls, working on my strokes, and trying to remember how to serve without double-faulting every time. I definitely wasn’t playing like a pro, but I was having fun and getting a good workout. Sweating like a pig, actually.
Final Thoughts
By the end, I was tired, sweaty, and my arm felt like it was going to fall off, but it was a good kind of tired. I think I need more practise, but the drills are useful, I am sure if I keep at it, I’ll be back in shape in no time. I’m definitely going to try to make this a regular thing. Maybe next time I’ll even try to find a partner to play with, as long as they don’t mind chasing down all my wild shots!
