"...and the more I practice, the luckier I get."

[f4f3]

I played badminton tonight for the first time in about four months, and it was very, very easy. I didn't win all of my games, but I was competitive in all of them. I knew where to stand, where to hit the shuttle, how to play tactically against different opponents. I played a couple of really good shots, and one which was as good as any shot I've ever played - it even drew an involuntary cry of  "I love this game" from me. I enjoyed myself, and it got me to thinking about the difference between badminton and fencing for me. At fencing I don't know where to stand, I'm not sure of what I'm trying to do, and I have no idea how to alter my style to counter an opponent. I'm still loving the fencing, but a lot of that is to do with how much I'm learning balancing out how basically incompetent I am. Something the same thing applies to driving - I'm comfortable with it at an unconscious level, and I'm a much better driver than I am, say, a bike rider. I enjoy driving, and can be heard giving little whoops of pleasure as I drive, apparently. I think that's for much the same reason - I've played badminton for around 30 years now, I've been driving for 22. At one point I was playing badminton three times a week, and at least two of those would be matches. I've driven at least 25,000 miles a year for the most of the last twenty years.
I've also played golf for around 20 years, but I've never got much better than an 18 handicap. I'm wondering now if this is because I haven't played more than once a month, regularly, in all that time. This raises some interesting questions about the things I'm taking up now, aged 44. If I don't fence more than once a week, I might not get any better - in fact, I probably won't. I had a chat to one of the other badminton players tonight, about arranging piano lessons for the winter. How much time will I need to give to that, I wonder?
I like my current life, and I already feel as if I have more free time than I've had in ages. I think I'll make a conscious effort to plan some of that time, and see what I can get out of it.

Comments

[sha-d.livejournal.com]

So much to do, so little time!

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

So much fun!

[these-pearls.livejournal.com]

I love that; the more I practise the luckier I get!
xxx

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

It's one of my favourites too. I think it was Gary Player, to a spectator who'd just told him he was lucky for holing out a bunker shot.

[littlescot1.livejournal.com]

Ah....that would be like me buying a guitar on Saturday - never having played a musical instrument in my life. My fist lesson last night was a perfect example of how I must crawl before I can even think of walking. My tutor said I did good - but I bet he says that to all the boys!

[littlescot1.livejournal.com]

Hah...."fist lesson" was a perfect typo in this case!

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was a TYPO... Right...

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Well, that's the thing about fist lessons - they go in hard, but after a while you'll thank them for it.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

You see, getting guitar lessons would be much more sensible - I mean, can you imaging me taking a piano to parties?