Had a great time over the last week.

I was sad about working so before the Vancouver Open and not seeing results.

I played some matches in Kamloops last week.

I had a completely different attitude this time.  Goal focus.  Getting my serve in the box.  The goal was not reducing double faults but increasing balls in.

You learn your serve.  But how do you bring it out of a lesson and into the game?  I usually get into a match and pretty much forget how to do everything.  However I have been focussing on my shots lately.  Observing them and trying to input what I have learned over the many years of learning.  However I cannot see myself from the outside.  This weekend was about the serve.

I know I have been able to serve above 70% when I its practise serves.  But in a match it has been inconsistent.  The rules for my serve are as follows.

1.  Sit in my chair so my body is leaning over above the ball I am bouncing.

2.  Look at the location of my opponent.

3.  Look were the target is.

4.  Bent over, bounce ball, look at the target.

5.  Start to straighten up looking at target with hands in the start position.

6.  Bring the racket up and swing its face down behind my left shoulder blade.  At the same time raise the left up with ball in hand.

7.    Release the ball stretching.  Holding my arm high and keeping it in that position.  My left shoulder is raised.  The right shoulder is dropped.  Back straight.

8.   Accelerate the racket head towards the ball.  A millisecond before the racket face contacts the ball the right shoulder rises and the left hand comes down dropping the left shoulder.

9.   Shift body forward for more inertia in the racket face.  finishes leaning to the side of the chair.

After the third game of the second set we changed ends.  As we passed Carlos said you are leaning back on your serve.  I thought about it.  I was not aware I was doing that.  On my next service I followed the list above.  Making sure I did not miss a step.  He was right I could feel the difference even though I was not aware it was happening before.

My success were instantly higher.  I could feel the difference.  I could maintain the same form for all serves.  It was the only serve I had to use now.  I kept it at about 70%.  There was no hesitation my arm was swinging through. Serves were going in but with every serve my arm hurt.  As I played the points out it felt okay.  It was a longer game.  On the third deuce I thought I could not go on.  On the fifth deuce I have to call for a physical exam and was excused from the match.  Thank you for the tip Carlos.

Healing time.  It is hard to heal when I also use a wheelchair, crutches and a cane daily.  Icing a number of times each day now and I will continue that for more days.  I see my physio tomorrow morning.  The right arm pulsates with pain at different times of the day and when I wake at night.  I can not lift it without pain.  It did not work well yesterday.  When driving I tried to give my left arm a break but my right arm could not handle the steering wheel by itself.

It will be a few weeks if I am lucky.

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