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188-4C. ACTIVESG - Tennis - ASIG for Seniors 55+ - Sep 2026 onwards

BACK TO SCHOOL in 2026 - 
Oh, TENNIS... i'm back!
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4 Sep 2026 onwards
think the last time i played regularly was over 20 years ago!
signed up under the ActiveSG Sport Interest Group for Seniors Program!


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4, 11, 18, 25 SEPT 2026
Attendance Pics - left to right




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2 (Absent), 9, 16, 23 Oct 2026
Attendance Pics - left to right


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Tennis at Burghley on Fridays, 7am-9am 
(link to join open every month from 17th)
Sessions 1 to 4 SEP - 4, 11, 18, 25 Sep 2026
Sessions 1 to 4 OCT - 2, 9, 16, 23 Oct 2026 (5th Fri no tennis) - Absent 2/10

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Links
Tennis - Babolat - https://jt-write.blogspot.com/2026/07/188-4A-2026-tennis-BabolatPureDrive.html
Tennis - found 7 Rackets! - https://jt-write.blogspot.com/2026/08/188-4b-2026-tennis-YonexR22-7rackets.html
Tennis - ActiveSG Seniors - https://jt-write.blogspot.com/2026/09/188-4c-2026-tennisforSENIORS.html
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TENNIS FOR SENIORS 55 and Above
ASIG = ActiveSG Sport Interest Group Singapore
at Burghley Tennis and Squash Centre

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SEP SESSION 1 - 4 Sep 2026 Fri, Burghley
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4 Sep 2026
signed up for tennis at Burghley Centre - 7am to 9am. (a bit too early?)
- organized by ActiveSG interest group for Seniors 55 and above.
(FOC for me, fully paid by ActiveSG, Govt)

today is my first session.
omg. super tiring!


4 Sep 2026
i played with Thomas (german), Marcus (70 yo, used to be a scuba diving instructor) and Marcus's wife Shermin, Ann, Han (left hander, inventor), Jack (contractor, has double vision), Alan (youngest, at 55yo). the other court - Charles, Peter and some others whose names i can't remember. we're all mostly about the same tennis skill level.

today i played with the Yonex R22 and the 2 Babolat pure drive rackets.
i hit some good shots. i also had some wild shots, so typical of my game Lol
i'm surprised i didn't scrape the rackets and managed shots i never thought i could hit.

BABOLAT JUNIOR PURE DRIVE
- a little bit wobbly and the string a little soft.
can hardly find the sweet spot on this racket.
so i changed to the other Babolat.

BABOLAT PURE DRIVE (Old model)
- kinda solid, plus the L1 grip was perfect and so comfy!
i could hit quite well with this racket.
still need some practice to find the sweet spot though...

YONEX R22 
- the grip for the Yonex was too large (L2)
so the racket and my grip. kept slipping. the string was a bit soft as well.
very disappointed :( 

my game after a pause of over 20 years... 

my face all red LOL 
my hair was soaked through
my eyes blurred in the sunlight after 8.15am
and my right knee was screaming "injury pain!!"
chey. am i too OLD for tennis?

surprised that my stamina could hold out
(did not pant much)

AND i could even hit the balls!

YAY!!

unfortunately, i found it difficult to run. 

also injured my right knee or maybe recalled an old injury!
(or... i could have injured myself during pilates on wed... )

i was ACHING all over for at least 5 days!

UGGGH !!




Overthinking... 
on hindsight, i also realized that i should have left my bags on the floor - i left them on the seat and that deprived someone from using the bench :( i googled about overthinking this, causing anxiety and self-criticism... and google says - i should learn to practice self-compassion. omg. (now i know why my students are saying how youths sometimes turn to AI or google to help ease their anxiety or stress).

so... 

(google says... ) 
When you feel anxious over a past behaviour, you can ground yourself in the present moment through mindfulness, practice self-compassion, and take corrective action if amends are still possible

also, i wonder...
what is my NTRF rating or skill level?
now 2.5 to 3, 3.5 ? 
i guess during JC and Poly days, i'm prolly 3.5 - 4.0.

The National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) is a 1.0 to 7.0 numerical scale used to classify tennis-playing ability in 0.5 increments. Ref - https://www.usta.com/en/home/coach-organize/tennis-tool-center/run-usta-programs/national/understanding-ntrp-ratings.html

NTRP Rating Breakdown at a Glance

1.0 to 2.0 (Beginner): 
Just starting out, learning basic stroke fundamentals, 
and trying to get the ball into play 
or sustain short, slow-paced rallies. 

2.5 to 3.0 (Advanced Beginner / Low Intermediate): 
Can judge ball direction, sustain a slow rally, 
and hit medium-paced shots with basic directional control,
though depth and consistency vary. 

3.5 to 4.0 (Intermediate / Competitive Club Player):
Achieved stroke dependability on moderate shots,
controls placement and depth, handles moderate pace, 
and knows basic doubles positioning/strategy. 

4.5 to 5.5 (Advanced):
Varies pace and heavy spin, 
hits with power and accuracy on first serves,
covers the court effectively, 
and executes advanced game plans. 

6.0 to 7.0 (Elite / Pro): 
High-level competitive tournament or touring players


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SEP SESSION 2 - 11 Sep 2026 Fri, Burghley
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11 Sep 2026
my knees hurt but i still went, did my warm ups and started playing.
unfortunately, i couldn't really walk or run :(

both knees were throbbing by the time i reached home :((((

by night, my knees were swollen and i had to take the pain relief pill for arthritis (etoricoxib). good thing the pill worked - my knees swelling reduced and i had a good rest without feeling the knee aches.

i was quite relieved that i didn't have to go for taichi - taichi was cancelled after heavy rain all afternoon! (and the gardener came but couldn't do anything)

for tennis today, there were 9 of us, 2 courts.

after we left the courts, we had breakfast at serangoon gardens market.
it's nice that we're all about the same age.

breakfast till 10.30 
- marcus, alan, peter, jack, jasmin, ann.

those did not go for breakfast
- shermin, han and another guy (don't know his name and he hardly socialises) 

below: before (left pic) and after the tennis game (right pic)



today i got to use these rackets

BABOLAT PURE DRIVE (Roddick/2012)
used for warm up. string feels a bit softer this week...

WILSON PRO STAFF
string is quite soft and the racket hits as if i'm playing badminton.
can hardly find the sweet spot.

WILSON - FEDERER GRAND SLAM
this plays quite well except that the strings are getting soft.
not a bad racket to use - it feels as good as the babolat pure drive.
but why do i hear jingly sounds from inside the racket frame???

WILSON - HAMMER - (Marcus's racket) 
not sure which model
- surprisingly very light and hits very well!
possibly the right string tension and it's a popular racket.

below: after 2 hours of tennis... 
(didn't play as much as week before)
why do i look different in the group photo? ugggh



left to right
zhang yongping, me, jasmine, ann, han, jack, marcus, shermin, alan
peter came late, alan said he overslept
*couples - jack and jasmine, marcus and shermin*



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SEP SESSION 3 - 18 Sep 2026 Fri, Burghley
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18 Sep 2026

today i played ok!
knee still hurts and it's difficult to run, 
but my play is getting better,

haze was bad bad bad all week.
but this morning... uh... maybe ok lah

Rackets Used
1. Yonex R22 - Great!! (except some "wild" balls Lol)
2. Prince - no good - string too soft, vibrates, not sure if worth keeping the racket
3. Babolat Pure Drive - string too soft - can re-string


so i played ok...
BUT - i started off with the Prince racket 
and sprained my wrist on the first hit :(
the string is too soft and the racket vibrates.
is this prince racket worth re-stringing and keeping?

i changed to my Yonex R22 straight away!!
my shots were better and i think i managed hits on the sweetspot.
i LOVE all the "pop" sounds from my Yonex today!! 

the Yonex grip is defo too big but since i've been using the Yonex for years, the grip just felt right at home and my racket came back to life! maybe the racket plays better after i added 2 vibration dampeners on the strings Lol 

i LOVE my Yonex R22!!

later, when i tried the babolat pure drive L1 grip, 
i was surprised the racket felt "soft".
think the racket needs a re-stringing soon.

surprisingly, my stamina can hold up
and i managed roughly 2h base play without panting!

i try not to run for the ball (ran for just a few...)
and i let the ball bounce to me. 
knees still bad ... :((((

hope tonight got taichi - missed taichi for 2 weeks already!
(no taichi - had lightning and thunder LOL)



18 Sep 2026 fri
6.42am getting out of the house for 7am tennis!


18 Sep 2026 fri
6.45am gonna drive out for 7am tennis!


18 Sep 2026 fri
9.13am going home after 2h tennis!




18 Sep 2026 fri
12.35pm after 2h tennis and a very nice shower!




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SEP SESSION 4 - 25 Sep 2026 Fri, Burghley
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25 Sep 2026
i used the babolat and my Yonex R22 today.

7-8am - 1st half was good! used the babolat.

8-9am - SADLY during 2nd half, used the Yonex.
my balls were high and wild. very disappointing.
BUT i can run!! LOL
except for a left knee jerk which strained the left knee a little :(

9-10,15am - drinks/makan at gardens with Jack, Jasmine, Han.

Rackets Used
1. Babolat Pure Drive - today worked very well with the Babolat
2. Yonex R22 - no control today, many high and "wild" balls :/

below: left to right:
Zhang, Jack, (Charles? Johnson?), Shermin, Thomas, Jasmine, Me
Alan (behind me), Henry, Han Chew, Peter




below: original photo framing
(pics edited for colour and lighting)


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25 Sep 2026
Tennis Session #4
left pic - late for tennis - driving off at 6.55am
right pic - 9.20am - after tennis!


below: 
25 Sep 2026 - Tennis Session #4
left x2 - 9.20am after tennis, before
right x2 - 10.15am after tennis and tea/breakfast at serangoon garden market


25 Sep 2026
2.10pm after tennis, brunch and a good shower Lol


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OCT SESSION 1 - 2 Oct 2026 Fri, Burghley
(ABSENT - Car Battery died)
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2 Oct 2026
6.50am Car battery died. couldn't go for tennis :(

7.45am onwards - car battery replaced by AA



car done at 8.15am-8.30am, 
so decided not to go for tennis :(



2 Oct 2026 - ABSENT - Car battery died

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OCT SESSION 2 - 9 Oct 2026 Fri, Burghley
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9 Oct 2026
was unsure if i should play,
(haze is BAD) but went anyway.
and today played badly. wild, high, off balls...

rackets used x3
- my Yonex, 
- Wilson Grand Slam (Aluminium) 
- Babolat Pure Drive.

below: Shermin not in photo 


haze was bad BAD BAD!!!!! 
but the more i played, the more i wanted to play!
(eyes sting a little and throat a bit sore)

PSI Readings
North         - 7am 111        - 9am 115
South         - 7am 139        - 9am 150
East           - 7am 137        - 9am 143
West          - 7am 158        - 9am 164
Central      - 7am 163        - 9am 170

Band    PSI Reading    
1 -         00 - 55            Normal
2 -         56-150            Elevated
3 -         151-250          High
4 -         ≥ 250              Very High

below: PSI readings on 10 Oct 2026 - BAD bad BAAAAAD




left to right - 6.41am, 6.42am. 6.45am


below: 8.32am - taking a break in court



below: 9.08am - after tennis, at the car park


below: 10.21am after breakfast
- at serangoon garden market


below: 10.34am after breakfast, driving off...



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OCT SESSION 3 - 16 Oct 2026 Fri, Burghley
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Links
Tennis - Babolat - https://jt-write.blogspot.com/2026/07/188-4A-2026-tennis-BabolatPureDrive.html
Tennis - found 7 Rackets! - https://jt-write.blogspot.com/2026/08/188-4b-2026-tennis-YonexR22-7rackets.html
Tennis - ActiveSG Seniors - https://jt-write.blogspot.com/2026/09/188-4c-2026-tennisforSENIORS.html
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