One of my favorite things to do on a weekend afternoon is pick up my black Prince ThunderHead tennis racquet and head to the local courts for a competitive game. Whether it's a perfectly sunny day or cloudy and cool it's a great way to get outside with my close friends and get some much needed exercise.
The great thing about tennis is it is more than just physical activity that requires moving your muscles. There is a mental aspect involved in the game that requires strong concentration and decisive moves akin to that of a chess match.
When I play a singles match against an opponent I always try to assess his strengths and weaknesses in the warm ups. Does he have a whipping forehand but struggle with his backhand shot or is his serve powerful but inconsistent. These are things I have to measure before getting into the heat of battle in order to better my chances of coming away with a victory.
Another thing I love about the sport is the pressure that is put on you with every swing of the racquet. I need to determine the velocity and bounce of the ball before it hits my racquet so I can decide which kind of shot to play. And I have about a half second to make that kind of decision.
Winning a match or a game or even a point is a great feeling but the most important thing to me is that I give my full effort even if that means losing sometimes. I came to the realization a long time ago that I'm never going to be crowned champion of the U.S Open so I'm going to have to make the best of my limited talent.
The sport of tennis is also great because it teaches things like the value of sportsmanship, playing fairly and gives me a sense of humility. These are all attributes that I can take with me off the court and incorporate into my everyday life.
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