Alright, let’s talk about today’s session. I got this idea stuck in my head after watching some points between Musetti and Perricard. You know, seeing those guys play, it always makes you wanna try stuff.
Getting Started
So, I grabbed my rackets and headed down to the local courts. Wasn’t really packed, which was nice. My main thought was trying to replicate a bit of Musetti’s style, especially that smooth one-handed backhand, maybe mix it with a bit of the aggression I saw from Perricard, particularly on the serve.
The Actual Grind
First thing, I started warming up. Just some easy hitting against the wall, getting the feel. Then, I moved on to serves. I really focused on trying to get more kick, thinking about how Perricard was hitting his spots. Man, it’s tough. My shoulder started complaining pretty quick. It’s easy to watch them blast serves on TV, but doing it yourself? Whole different story. My toss was inconsistent, and half the serves barely cleared the net.
Then came the backhand practice. I spent a good chunk of time just trying to get that fluid motion Musetti has. Here’s what I did:
- Fed myself balls to the backhand side.
- Tried focusing on the footwork first, getting set up right.
- Then worked on the swing path, trying to brush up on the ball.
Honestly? Most of them sailed long or dumped into the net. It felt awkward. That timing and wrist action he has… it’s just natural for him, I guess. For me, it felt forced. I shanked quite a few, felt like a total beginner again sometimes.
Mixing it Up
After getting frustrated with the backhand, I decided to just rally against the wall again, trying to hit with more pace, more like Perricard’s flat groundstrokes. That felt a bit better, more natural for my game maybe. Just hitting hard, focusing on depth. It was less about fancy technique and more about just hitting the darn ball consistently.
What Came Out Of It
So, end of the day? Didn’t suddenly develop a world-class one-handed backhand. No surprise there. And my serve didn’t magically gain 20 mph. But, you know, it wasn’t a waste. I think just trying those things, feeling how difficult they actually are, gives you perspective. It highlighted some weaknesses, definitely. Like my backhand footwork needs serious help.
And focusing on the serve toss consistency, even if the speed wasn’t there, was probably useful. It’s always about the basics, isn’t it? Watching pros is great for inspiration, but the real work happens just by hitting ball after ball, figuring out what works for you. Felt good to sweat it out, anyway. Better than just sitting around thinking about it.
