half way through the summer

It is about that time when us married people are saying its half way to having the kids go back to school.I am starting to see a small drop in the attendance at the junior/parent classes. I guess it only makes sense with time winding down for summer with the kids.I have never worked with a person on their game for extended periods of time and I realized that Rick and I are very different on the courts with the kids.Rick is there to make sure the kids have fun primarily.I think he is a big kid watching him work. He is really great at coercing the kids on the courts with ladder drills and crazy ball games.Sometimes he is out there having so much fun and he must be, because the pay is only minimal at best.Anyone who personally knows Rick knows he has a daughter that is handicapped and I do believe that a lot of his motivation does come from that. Me on the other hand have always loved analyzing players,whether kids,adults and even senior players.I love to compare mentally what this person is doing so well or so poorly,or even better why a person is so successful at executing a shot when their mechanics are so flawed.I ask during games to myself why is this person constantly getting passed,or why is this person skipping all of the time.It has brought me to a greater appreciation for watching the pros,and probably why I love the diving aspect of the game because as illogical as it is it feels like you are beating the odds by getting that "unplayable"ball.Which will tell you that I am the one with the more technical teaching method though I do try to remember I am talking to kids.There is a greater satisfaction watching a junior player execute a shot though.Half the time I think I am the only one noticing the improvements.I have a feeling when this junior thing runs its course I am going to learn many things and hopefully it teaches me how to stay like a child.

On a side note the Club at Woodbridge held its annual Fran Davis Camp with Jason Mannino.I understand that Jason got Sudsy on the court Thursday night along with Eric Mueller,two on one that is.Despite Sudsy's explosive power and Eric's experience I heard the J man came out on top.Maybe Jason can get Sudsy to stop making bagels and start giving them out on the court again,prob not.I would like to thank Fran for autographing a ball for my daughter also,see you all on the court soon enough.Jon" Hit Smarter not Harder"

Second time around

For those of you that used to follow my blog this is my new place. I was starting to get very jealous of Mike Grab and Joe Delgado in the spotlight.Enough about them lets talk about a very important topic,me.My summer so far has comprised of lessons and drilling,drilling and drilling. Soon my right arm will look like Clays ,one inch bigger than the other. Drilling is strange because as physically challenging as it is it does not provide an aerobic workout which has led to many questions such as :Have you started drinking beer because you are getting a beer belly,What happened to you and hey whats up you fat bastard.Yes I put on a few pounds but it will be gone before the season,I promise. Many of my friends have converted to playing outdoors for the season,myself I have been there,done that .I am truly an indoor person at heart. Maybe it is the nice air conditioning,or the lack of the blaring cancerous sun,or the fact that outdoor diving brings blood to the surface much quicker,chasing after the ball every time someone misses it or the schmuck playing tennis on the other sides ball stopping play every five minutes giving you shell shock,cancelling plans because of bad weather,breaking racquets on the concrete and lack of uniform rules from city to city .I mean otherwise I think it is awesome.To each their own ,I may make a guest appearance here and there but otherwise I will be in my indoor cocoon .