From Portugal Pastries to 4.5 Dreams: My 30-Day Plan to Start the Climb
Now that my not-so-secret goal of winning a Gold Ball and somehow clawing my way to a 4.5 rating is officially out there—on the internet of all places, where it will live forever—it’s time to get to work. No more dreaming, no more excuses, and definitely no more extra-large portions of dessert (well, maybe just on Sundays). With 934 days to go until I am eligible to play in the 70’s Age Group, I need a plan, and I need it now.
I’m calling it my Mission: 4.5. Some may think Mission Impossible! And while I won’t rule out calling in a pro for a tune-up here and there, I’m mostly relying on the mountain of tennis knowledge I’ve stockpiled over the years. Private lessons, group clinics, a treasure trove of online courses—I’ve got more resources than I know what to do with. Seriously, I might be the tennis version of a hoarder, but instead of old newspapers, I’ve got courses bookmarked on my browser, videos, dusty eBooks, and unopened courses that I once believed would magically improve my game just by owning them. Spoiler: they didn’t. But now, with a purpose and a deadline, it’s time to dust them off and put them to use.
The Big Three: Fitness, Strategy, and Mental Game
From the feedback I got on my last post (Can a 67-Year-Old Tennis Player Go from 3.5 to 4.5 in 3 Years?), and from years of conversations with coaches, I’ve narrowed down the most critical areas I need to tackle. My top three priorities are:
- Fitness Level
- Strategy and Tactics
- Mental Game
That’s not to say I’m ignoring technique and footwork—trust me, I’ll be working on those too—but these three will be the cornerstone of my plan. Let’s dive in.
Fitness Level: Shedding the Portugal Pounds
Let’s start with the obvious: I just got back from two weeks in Portugal and Madeira, where I indulged in enough pastries, deserts, and bread to fuel a small army. The result? Five extra pounds in all the wrong places. So, priority number one is getting down to my “fighting weight,” which for me is somewhere under 205 pounds. That means I need to lose 22+ pounds. OK so I had some extra before I left on vacation.
Pastries I enjoyed in Portugal – Pastel de Nata
But it’s not just about the weight—I need to rebuild my strength and stamina, not only to keep up during long matches but also to recover faster. It’s been over 6 months since I stopped my daily workouts, and let’s just say my garage gym isn’t exactly inviting in the winter, when it’s a brisk 38°F. I also got lazy with mobility and stretching, which means I’ve been relying on Advil way more than I should. (Although, I hear certain gummy bears are a game-changer… but I digress.)
The days of skipping workouts are over. It’s time to stop taking shortcuts and start putting in the work.
Strategy and Tactics: Turning Theory Into Action
Here’s where I get to geek out on all the courses, books, and match videos I’ve collected. I’ve been lucky enough to have my matches reviewed by some incredible coaches—Craig O’Shannessy, Brent Abel, Ryan Reidy, Pete Freeman, Jeff Jacklich, and Mark Vines—and I’ve learned a ton. But here’s the thing: it’s not enough to just watch the videos or read the books. I need to pick one strategy or tactic at a time, take it to the court, and drill it until it becomes second nature.
Luckily, I have 934 days to do this, which sounds like a lot—until I remember how easily I can get distracted. But I’m determined to put my tennis IQ to work and turn theory into action. Maybe I’ll finally put that Swingvision subscription to use
Mental Game: Managing My Monkey Mind
Yogi Berra once said, “Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.” Well, in tennis, I’d argue it’s even more lopsided. For me, the mental game has always been the toughest part. I have a textbook case of Monkey Mind—the kind that tries to cram 70,000 thoughts into every waking moment. Mindfulness and meditation? Tried it. Mostly just fell asleep.
But now, with a clear mission in sight, I’m ready to give it another shot. My plan is to start small: a 5-minute visualization practice every day for the next 30 days, building from there. I’ll also be working on my between-points routine, which has been a struggle for me. I’ve tried a few different approaches, but in the heat of battle, I tend to forget them entirely. If you have a routine that works for you, please share—I’d love to borrow it.
The Plan: One Bite at a Time
They say, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” First of all, who’s out here eating elephants? I mean, a double-double animal style from In-N-Out seems much more relatable. But I get the point. With 934 days—or 31 months—until I can play the 70’s, I’m breaking this journey into 30-day blocks.
Each block will have specific goals (and yes, one technique to perfect each month) and a tracking sheet to keep me accountable. And because I’m putting all of this out there for the world to see, there’s no turning back now. At the end of July, I’ll share how the first 30 days went—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and outline my next steps.
My Weekly Schedule (If everything falls into place
My Daily Tracker (to keep me motivated, or depress the hell out of me )
Your Turn
What do you think of my plan? Are there any glaring holes I’m missing? What would you change? I’d love to hear your feedback, especially if you’ve tackled a similar challenge—or even if you’re just trying to level up your game from 2.5 to 3.5.
Stay tuned, because this journey is just getting started. Will I reach 4.5, or will I come up short? Maybe FanDuel will start taking bets. Either way, it’s going to be one heck of a ride.
Until next week!
