Tier 1 WPRO starts today (last night, Thursday, was sponsor doubles). Players looking good and I'll be routing for Paola, but I saw Rhonda rolling some out tonight...
Username: BillB
Reputation: 2011
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visiting NYC soon - where can I play - staying midtown Manhattan...
Galveston, Texas in March - where can I play? Thanks.
I'll be in downtown Montreal this weekend. Anyone want a game? Where do I go?
Gonna be in San Diego the end of this month. Where can I play?
I'm an injured A player - 1 bad leg, 1 bad racquet arm - so am functioning as a C player now. Hopefully back to B by then?
I'm an injured A player - 1 bad leg, 1 bad racquet arm - so am functioning as a C player now. Hopefully back to B by then?
After years of tennis elbow, with varying pain (from a little to a lot, lately), and doing the usual treatments (rest, ice, NSAID's, brace, pt, etc) I finally have a better diagnosis due to ultrasound imaging by a sports medicine M.D. There's a tendon tear of sufficient amount that those usual treatments aren't effective. Next week I'm going in for "PRP" - direct injection therapy with (autologous) platelet rich plasma. Will report on results.
There's also a nerve problem further down the forearm - that will be addressed, later, after the tendon, in a separate procedure if it continues.
I miss racquetball too much to not pursue this. I've played a few times lately with my off (left) hand - geez, I'm no good at all that way.
There's also a nerve problem further down the forearm - that will be addressed, later, after the tendon, in a separate procedure if it continues.
I miss racquetball too much to not pursue this. I've played a few times lately with my off (left) hand - geez, I'm no good at all that way.
It was hard to imagine that Kane or anyone could have a perfect season. But in my newspaper's "All-Met" selections for winter sports (high school), the area's "wrestler of the year" went 48-0 for the season (making for a 102 match undefeated streak going back to previous seasons). AND, he did NOT give up a single offensive POINT all season!!! That is superfreaky good. If he can do it in a one-on-one combat sport then Kane or someone in the future will do it in r'ball.
Posted: 04/09/09
in Men's Professional. Score: 0 Perfect season is possible (I changed my mind) 4 replies
You have to quit playing tackle football when you're in your 20's.
You have to quit basketball in your 30's. Have to quit jogging in your 40's. Have to quit tennis in your 50's. Have to quit racquetball - NEVER. Keep getting better. Compensate for older legs with more skills and smarts.
You have to quit basketball in your 30's. Have to quit jogging in your 40's. Have to quit tennis in your 50's. Have to quit racquetball - NEVER. Keep getting better. Compensate for older legs with more skills and smarts.
Tonight I brought my SPL (sound pressure level) meter to the courts. Was more fun than you might think - 'cause after I measured the first guy, others wanted to get in on the action too.
Methodology: I stood in the left side of the service box, and aimed the microphone at the front wall. From around the safety line, the hitter would crank several shots straight in to the front wall. I set the meter to record and store the maximum SPL, as measured in decibels (C-weighted).
Results: The B player got a maximum 105 decibels. Then the A/Elite/Open players started hitting, and they were doing 107 and 108 dB, very consistently. They tried to top each other and then one guy got 109 dB, and we declared him muy macho.
Summary: this is plenty loud enough to justify wearing ear plugs. Hearing loss is not reversible, so it would be wise to wear hearing protection. The soft, compressible foam ear plugs are cheap and effective. A few players I know wear them; it's a good idea.
We also wondered if there's a way to convert the SPL readings to velocity. That, say, 109 dB = 150 MPH (or whatever). Probably not a reliable way (too many variables, for one thing, such as wall type, closed/open back court, etc). (The court we were on is open in the back, from about 12 feet up).
Methodology: I stood in the left side of the service box, and aimed the microphone at the front wall. From around the safety line, the hitter would crank several shots straight in to the front wall. I set the meter to record and store the maximum SPL, as measured in decibels (C-weighted).
Results: The B player got a maximum 105 decibels. Then the A/Elite/Open players started hitting, and they were doing 107 and 108 dB, very consistently. They tried to top each other and then one guy got 109 dB, and we declared him muy macho.
Summary: this is plenty loud enough to justify wearing ear plugs. Hearing loss is not reversible, so it would be wise to wear hearing protection. The soft, compressible foam ear plugs are cheap and effective. A few players I know wear them; it's a good idea.
We also wondered if there's a way to convert the SPL readings to velocity. That, say, 109 dB = 150 MPH (or whatever). Probably not a reliable way (too many variables, for one thing, such as wall type, closed/open back court, etc). (The court we were on is open in the back, from about 12 feet up).
Posted: 11/12/08
in Racquetball Talk. Score: 0 This is how loud your shots get on the court 20 replies
Last week in doubles, I hit a defensive ceiling shot during a rally. My opponent's racquet clacks against mine at mid court, as he heads to the back wall. He gets past me, runs to the back, hits the shot, and misses it (a "ceiling skip"). He then says "Replay, hinder!"
Of course he has no actual legitimate case, since he took the shot and had plenty of time to call the hinder before swinging. We told him "You took the shot!", but he's a dummy and not a great player and so we gave him a break and replayed anyway. What would you have said?
Of course he has no actual legitimate case, since he took the shot and had plenty of time to call the hinder before swinging. We told him "You took the shot!", but he's a dummy and not a great player and so we gave him a break and replayed anyway. What would you have said?
This has come up a couple times in last few months:
I am moving to return the shot. My opponent backs up or moves so that it is clearly a hinder. I pull up so I don't bowl them over - I still run into them a bit but I've put the brakes on so they survive.
They agree they were in my way, but they say that the ball bounced twice. Well, yeah, AFTER the hinder occurred! On both occasions, I thought I would certainly have returned the ball - I'm not one to "take calls", and if the ball is down I call it down.
They don't seem to realize that I have to pull up short before I get to the ball, because they're in my way. They realize the hinder only after I contact them - but I have seen the hinder a critical second before them, and I clearly see that I would have got to the ball.
They seem to be thinking that the hinder "started" only upon contact - but they're a second or two off. Does that make sense to you?
I am moving to return the shot. My opponent backs up or moves so that it is clearly a hinder. I pull up so I don't bowl them over - I still run into them a bit but I've put the brakes on so they survive.
They agree they were in my way, but they say that the ball bounced twice. Well, yeah, AFTER the hinder occurred! On both occasions, I thought I would certainly have returned the ball - I'm not one to "take calls", and if the ball is down I call it down.
They don't seem to realize that I have to pull up short before I get to the ball, because they're in my way. They realize the hinder only after I contact them - but I have seen the hinder a critical second before them, and I clearly see that I would have got to the ball.
They seem to be thinking that the hinder "started" only upon contact - but they're a second or two off. Does that make sense to you?
I, Brad Pitt, was playing doubles on the right/forehand side, with my partner Angelina Jolie covering the other side. I ripped a low crosscourt shot away from my forehand opponent, Saddam Mussolini. His partner, Adolf Bin-Laden, moved forward to cover, he swung but missed. After Adolf missed, however, the ball continued behind him and hit Angelina. The Mean Team said it was their point since my shot hit my own partner.
We wound up playing it over - but what's the RIGHT call on that??
(BTW, there was NO WAY either Saddam or Adolf could have chased the ball down and returned it after it passed Adolf; the ball was low and moving fast and they were in no position to catch up.)
We wound up playing it over - but what's the RIGHT call on that??
(BTW, there was NO WAY either Saddam or Adolf could have chased the ball down and returned it after it passed Adolf; the ball was low and moving fast and they were in no position to catch up.)
IMO, Kane showed that he's going to be almost untouchable this season. Man, his game/skills/ability/desire was awesome. He tore up the field, and only the #1 player was able to stretch him some. And that was with Kane playing extra qualifier matches and Rocky playing at top form and with his own desire/motivation at a peak.
When Cliff was so dominant, it took Sudsy coming on the scene to raise the stakes again and they pushed each other to higher heights. I'm a big fan of Rocky and Jack, but I don't think they or the other top 10 players will be able to stand up to the 'Kane. Dang it. Are there any young SUPER talents coming up that will be able to hang with Waslenchuk??
When Cliff was so dominant, it took Sudsy coming on the scene to raise the stakes again and they pushed each other to higher heights. I'm a big fan of Rocky and Jack, but I don't think they or the other top 10 players will be able to stand up to the 'Kane. Dang it. Are there any young SUPER talents coming up that will be able to hang with Waslenchuk??
I'll be in Myrtle Beach, SC for several days - (actually in North Myrtle Beach). I understand there is a club in NMB and I'd like to get some games in - challenge court or arranged or whatever. I will be staying in a place that has one court also. Any takers? If so, use my cell 703-347-1435 - thanks. Bill B.
Will be in Greensburg PA this wknd; I understand there are a couple places to play there. Let's hit the ball. I am SuperPro level and only Sudsy and Kane can barely hang with me but am willing to play with lesser beings.
(j/k, I'm about an A player but happy to play up or down)
(j/k, I'm about an A player but happy to play up or down)
Will be in Greensburg PA this wknd; I understand there are a couple places to play there. Let's hit the ball. I am SuperPro level and only Sudsy and Kane can barely hang with me but am willing to play with lesser beings.
(j/k, I'm about an A player but happy to play up or down)
(j/k, I'm about an A player but happy to play up or down)
Will be in Greensburg PA this wknd; I understand there are a couple places to play there. Let's hit the ball. I am SuperPro level and only Sudsy and Kane can barely hang with me but am willing to play with lesser beings.
(j/k, I'm about an A player but happy to play up or down)
(j/k, I'm about an A player but happy to play up or down)
Played the other day with an Ektelon red, it was the one with a thin black stripe around it. I think that version is no longer made.
It was incredibly fast. My opponent's serves were tough to get - fortunately a couple of em set up off the back wall and I could nail them. Once I got the serve I was determined to keep it. I drove serve the rest of the game and my opponent mostly couldn't reach the serve.
Fortunately the ball broke near the end of the game and we could go back to a normal ball.
Adjusting to it: when receiving serve I started closer to the back wall. If it looked like it would come off the back wall, I moved way forward, sooner and farther than I would have normally.
1. That ball was famous for breaking anyway, wasn't it?
2. And it's no longer made, right?
It was incredibly fast. My opponent's serves were tough to get - fortunately a couple of em set up off the back wall and I could nail them. Once I got the serve I was determined to keep it. I drove serve the rest of the game and my opponent mostly couldn't reach the serve.
Fortunately the ball broke near the end of the game and we could go back to a normal ball.
Adjusting to it: when receiving serve I started closer to the back wall. If it looked like it would come off the back wall, I moved way forward, sooner and farther than I would have normally.
1. That ball was famous for breaking anyway, wasn't it?
2. And it's no longer made, right?