Had a bunch of matches where I split sets recently. Did so with the owner and his son and Blake the high schooler and Arvind. Also lost a couple times to the 6'7" high schooler who looks like a potential pro. And now also split sets with some reallyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR5VBz8amtg old guy. He didn't look like anything but I guess he was deceptive. Was pretty fast and didn't make unforced errors. Also I was taking it really easy on him. Working on a two hand backhand slice. Seemed like a good shot but he handled it no problem. And I wasn't trying to serve hard.

Still I made a ton errors. Just missed over and over again and split 6-1, 5-7. With all the previous set splitting I was thinking I just don't have my legs back yet. This time though, I really did like no running. Afterwards I hit with the lobster ball machine for an hour, having it run me all over the place and really working on the two handed backhand slice.

But that got me to thinking about hitting less topspin. Seems like less topspin would simplify because that's where I was missing agaisnt the old fellow. Looked up Jimmy Connors backhand and he has the top hand in a continental grip where I'm using a double eastern forehand. So I tried that this morning instead.  I've tried just about every grip but I'm not sure I had tried bottom hand eastern forehand, top continental on both sides. On the backhand side topspin is almost just about impossible. It may have worked for Connors, maybe I would hit less unforced errors but I don't like it and I'm not going to do it. No more grip changes. Just going to stick with double eastern forehand. On the forehand side I can hit it flat with sufficient pace. On the backhand side I have a little less pace. If you have less pace, putting topspin on it stops it from just dying. I don't like watching a flat hit ball die. It just sets up too nicely for an opponent. Yes if you hit it hard and get it in it can work, it did for Connors. But I just don't like it. I want to be able to put topspin on it. And as far as unforced errors, I guess slicing it is an option. No more grip changes.

Work instead on improving my agility. So running forwards and backwards. Skipping side to side. Touching the baseline side to side with my hand to get low.

No more grip changes! OK well I might mess around with an eastern forehand grip on the serve, since I'm hitting everything else with that grip. But otherwise, no more grip changes!

Great players have used all hinds of grips. I just need to improve my legs and practice enough if I want to get any better.