With the Dunlop Max Predator I won the first set against Jay C 6-1. First time I ever won a set against him. I think he won 16 sets in a row at least and now suddenly I almost bagel him. And then I completely fell apart and he won the second 7-5 and the tiebreak 10-7. But that was entirely mental. I got tentative. Completely quit doing anything with my backhand and forehand. Except for being a total headcase I could have won 6-1, 6-0. Oh well.

On serve trying a bit more of a Sampras motion to get more topspin on the first serve and I find I naturally want to come into the net. It was a little shaky this first time but I still almost won the second set by playing serve and volley a lot since I completely forgot how to hit groundstrokes.

I think I would have fallen apart maybe a bit less if I had continued to hit topspin. I got extremely tentative instead of taking a rip at the ball. Of course this new racquet has so much power I can't remotely take a rip at it unless there's plenty of topspin. But no. On the other hand I quit being smooth also. Got jerky/shaky. Whatever I was doing that got me up 6-1, 3-1 I needed to just keep doing. I really shouldn't jump to a new grip on the forehand and backhand yet again here. I keep on coming right back to the A Murray backhand grip it seems anyway. Just need to keep being smooth in order to be precise. I quit doing that. Ought to write it on my racquet.

So far since using it I've won 6-1, 6-3. 6-1, 6-1. And now lost 6-1, 5-7 (7-10). I may need to increase the string tension a bit. My elbow feels great at 48, but the ball definitely trampolines at times with this huge racquet face. Also may experiment with adding a bit of weight. Serve is a bit slower with having it at 12.5 instead of my usual 14+, though second serve is better.

Tennis Serve:
1. Lean back on right foot.

2. Toss ball up. Left arm goes up all the way and after letting ball go goes even higher. Wrist is like handing a cup of coffee up high to someone on a ladder. Use shoulder to toss, not fingers. During toss left arm is parallel to net.

3. Take step forward with right foot while at the same time raising racquet up to throwing position. Left arm stays totally up and even higher if possible. Left arm is much higher up than throwing arm.

4. Bring down left arm as you swing right arm to hit the ball.