The Third of Six Lessons for Lester Elder
Volley and Lob
by
Robert J. Ray
Lesson Three started with a refresher course on the Backhand Chip shot—with the focus on arms separating.
The Coach demonstrated the open arms movement to help Lester remember to aim with the palm.
He placed Lester in the deuce service box, six feet from the net, while he tossed balls.
The targets were back. They felt familiar, old friends.
Lester aimed his backhand chip at the targets, the long ball tube, backstopping a triangle of six orange cones, feeling the added power when his arms opened.
In 30 seconds of toss and hit, he nailed two orange cones.
He put two balls into the net.
He slapped six balls beyond the target.
His brain was tired.
His legs felt weak.
His volley was off.
Lesson Three whizzed by.
Why was he tiring so fast?
As the lesson ended, four women players walked onto court 9, next to court 10, the teaching court. Saved by the foursome.
The coach called out, Good Morning Court 9—and four ladies in tennis attire yodeled Good Morning, Coach.
*****
Lester’s energy came back in Iron Man Doubles. Better serve—he was getting used to the desert air—and cleaner winners. His goal now was to win all three sets of Iron Man before heading back to Seattle, back to playing indoor tennis.
Read More about Lester Elder’s Quest for Ultimate Tennis in Robert Ray’s new book called
Play or Die: Senior Tennis and the Art of Spin
