What is in my tabs today?
I am reading about learning tennis as an adult and whether it is really possible for someone to really get very good at a sports when they have always been really shit (sorry) at all sports. When I say someone, I mean me. That is me. Never been sporty. Although I did somehow get into my school’s 4 x 100 m relay race by some kind of fluke and we won at some competition or the other at the age of 13. I only remember it because we got free biscuits and samosas at the athletics meet and I loved it. Always been very clear of where my priorities lie. But I really needed to do something for my mental and physical well-being and when my children started tennis lessons, I started some lessons too on a complete whim. I quite enjoy my tennis lessons although occasionally feel very guilty about putting my coach through this ordeal.
This study talks about natural advantage. A meta-analysis in Perspectives in Psychological Science looked at 33 studies on the relationship between deliberate practice and athletic achievement and found that practice just doesn't matter that much. Ah makes sense now. But practice does matter even if across the board on an average, deliberate practice ultimately does not make much difference at a high level. The analysis also found that the age when athletes started their sports didn't change this figure much either, which is positive news even though I am not aiming for Wimbledon, you know! My coach keeps suggesting that I might try playing against others at some point, especially doubles. A girl can have dreams!
I really enjoy tennis lessons now, and I think I have a pretty solid forehand and an okay-ish backhand. It has really helped me develop my fitness too, especially after many months of lockdown and not moving much. In the first few sessions, I spent most of it lying on my back on the court thinking I was going to pass out or die any minute, and feeling very embarrassed about it, even though my coach found it hilarious. But slowly, my cardiovascular fitness has improved, and it is a huge personal achievement. I just recently found this piece by Miranda Larbi which was interesting: If I can learn to play and like tennis at 28, so can you
Erm, ok wasn’t expecting this: Starting Tennis over 40 is the new 51 Shade of Grey.
If you are a tennis fan, and watching the Australian Open, this might be for you: The History of Tennis
It is funny that I had never seen anyone play tennis in real life or even seen a tennis racket until I came to the UK in my early 20s to do a PhD. I remember when I was 14 or so, one night I found the French Open on TV, and my dad and I sat there figuring out how the game was played and how the score worked. The commentary was in French which neither of us could understand, so it was really fun! Good memories.
I could talk about inequality in sport at length, but I said I would keep this short, and so I will wrap up. I suppose what I have learnt while learning to play tennis at the grand old age of 44 years is that it is never too late. It is not late to start something new, to do something that you thought you could never do, to try something just for the fun of it even though you would never become a world-leader or a professional. You never know. Things can surprise us.
Hope you have the loveliest day. Do you think you will start something new today, and surprise yourself?
Pragya
Love the way you do something personal and also research around the topic. I played tennis on holiday and loved it, sometimes play doubles with pals. Not over the edinburgh winter tho