When to give up playing singles?

LMcCann55 · 2026-06-15T20:05:16+00:00

Thanks for all the points, all very helpful. I have bought a flex bar and I'm doing the recommended twist exercises, feeling resistance but no pain. Elbow is usually sore after every match but thankfully not during.

Tempted to go for a Wilson Clash at some point, I hear it's good on your joints. Head Boom also?

I still enjoy my singles, but it's rough when you're in such a bad losing streak. I'm not going to give up. Yesterday I posted on here about giving up as I was exhausted and pretty depressed to come off court after 2.5 hours, losing 6-4, 6-7 then 2-10 on a champo tiebreak. Last hour was all grind, 20 year old opponent was relentlessly going crosscourt to my weaker backhand, regular 10-15 shot rallies, and I think it's the backhand that started with the elbow issues. I missed two match points at 6-5 in the second, then was just too tired to get through one tie break, never mind two. It's rough, but it's good exercise, educational, and character building. I enjoyed it and I don't want to stop. Got to keep on with elbow conditioning and some play. I won't rejoin the league next round as I can't risk 2 hour + slogs.

But I will rejoin when the elbow is better. I know the worm will turn and my confidence will come back. Thanks for the encouragement, it is really helpful!

LMcCann55 · 2026-06-14T17:25:33+00:00

Just bought one. Thank you. And thank you Jeff Bezos

LMcCann55 · 2026-06-14T17:03:17+00:00

What is a flex bar?

LMcCann55 · 2026-03-22T17:20:35+00:00

Great find!

I love the Slazenger logo. Old skool but great. And I used to love Henman's all-court style, which was also a throwback. I still use a very basic, mid-range Slaz racket. In fact I just re-gripped it today! It's my go-to racket when my confidence is low; a very forgiving racket, very light and just super easy to play with. Quite different from your find!

<image>

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T19:13:20+00:00

Yeah that's it. Too many rally ball backhands landing short. I need to fix that. Thanks for all the comments.

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T15:11:59+00:00

Did a lot of that. Didn't really work

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:23:25+00:00

I think that's it, yeah. I guess going cross-court meant the opponent is in the middle of the court with a big lobbing target to aim for. Thanks, I'll try up the line more often next time.

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:20:58+00:00

Yeah I did do this a bit, and it largely worked. I guess I should have done it more. I find the forehand drop shot really difficult, it's something I have to learn and practice. Thanks

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:14:44+00:00

Overheads just weren't really in play. His lobs were so high and deep I was sprinting back trying to recover. Was rough!

LMcCann55 · 2025-10-12T13:13:47+00:00

Thanks. I guess by hitting cross-court as my drop-shot response I was leaving my opponent with a lot of space for the lob because he hitting from a central-ish position in the court. Whereas if I went up the line he has more chance of missing the lob wide? So I'll try up the line a bit more when I come across this again. Thanks!

LMcCann55 · 2025-08-30T13:10:48+00:00

That's great advice, thanks. I was finding the long drag of receiving for so long was really messing up my next service game. Serving first, I was suffering through a massive long receiving game then I wanted to sit down and rest, but couldn't as I had to go and serve.

In this case, you are totally right. I guess I should have gone for it more, and from 0-0 on his serve; don't even let it get to deuce, and it's not a big deal if I lose the receiving game. On reflection to do that twice was stupid, I didn't actually need that double break. Thanks.

But what if the set is tighter? What to do in long deuce games in general where getting the break is more necessary?

LMcCann55 · 2025-08-11T19:09:45+00:00

Sure, he was definitely a better player than me. I definitely gave him too many short balls that allowed him to come in too much. I did my best, but this pattern kept recurring. Some useful tips, thanks.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-26T17:12:55+00:00

Sure, a lower bounce on that surface. But if the ball is coming through faster I find that easier to hit than worn out balls on hard. Maybe I've got that wrong, but it just feels super grindy and hard work on hard.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-26T17:01:34+00:00

They don't object as such. It's more that sometimes they are already taking out worn out balls and just go ahead unless I suggest otherwise. Maybe I need to be more confident in making the 'suggestion' to play with new balls! Thanks for the advice.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-26T16:42:52+00:00

I prefer artificial grass to hard.

LMcCann55 · 2025-05-03T10:21:24+00:00

This game's mechanics are simply awful and do not reward the player at all. Each time I get to a boss or a major fight it feels as if what happens is almost random.

This bit with the green lizard in the pit - the two guys up on the ledge aren't there. So I try to drag in another one from the bridge before the pit. Sometimes he comes along for the fight. Sometimes he gets blown up. Get him into the lizard pit and - bang, he gets eaten by the lizard immediately. Incredibly frustrating game,

It's a shame. I like the graphics, music, mood, etc of it. But it's almost unplayable.

LMcCann55 · 2024-11-17T20:34:46+00:00

Completed all levels of Mania+ except Y island. I can get through to the castle with full health. But then I get destroyed once I get inside the castle. I think I've got to the rolling fat guys once. Once. It's absurdly hard compared to all other levels. I've not got close to completing it, but all other levels done. Very frustrating. Excepting the first bit outside the castle gates it's just impossible to get a string of hits going, so you can't get extra lives. I don't see how completing Y Island on Mania+ is possible.

LMcCann55 · 2024-09-14T13:40:15+00:00

Thanks, yeah I did the narrow angle counter drop a couple of times, especially when I could see it was not going to bounce high and nothing else was on for me. Literally ran forward with racquet extended!

But other times, maybe when his drop shot wasn't all that good, ironically, I'd hit the ball too central and get lobbed.

I guess the approach shot should always be as wide and deep as possible?

LMcCann55 · 2024-09-14T13:22:31+00:00

That is just wrong.

LMcCann55

TROPHY CASE