Tennis Today

Was playing tennis at SAFRA Tampines today.  When I spotted two guys going into the next court.  They were decked out:  Carrying Babolat Tennis Bags, wearing this crimson red sleeveless shirt with two Adidas wrist bands (so long they reach up to the elbows) and the racquets they had were obviously those 300++ (probably more) Babolat racquets.  Babolat is a very famous non-mainstream tennis brand, like wilson but specific to tennis, used by players like nadal. 

And before they started, they looked like they were warming up, and talking about kicking each other's asses.  All in, they looked like serious tennis pros.  Like they could have kicked me and my tennis buddy's collective asses with one stroke of their racquet.  

And when he serves he bends all the way down, tosses the ball all the way up, and he LEAPS into the air and hits the ball, like how those professional tennis players do it on tv.

However, this served as a reminder that LOOKS ARE DECEIVING!

When he hits the ball, it connected in the same way a baby gal hits the doll with her pillow.  Absolutely no strength whatsoever, no control, and no skill.  He didn't how to serve at all.  When he did connect with the ball, it either hits OUT of the opposing tennis court (NOT just outside the serving box), or hits the net... and his rallies are so long, you can't count to 2 before it's over.  Every 10 mins they stop to take a "well-deserved" break.

Apparently we met one of those "SO LONG AS I DRESS WELL AT MY SPORT, I CAN PLAY WELL" types.  You've seen those:  Wear those headbands, and the compression wear tights and runs with a heart-rate monitor, a GPS watch, a visor, oakley Radar sunglasses, and those bluetooth wireless headphones connected to their iPhone.  and running slower than a grandma walking backwards, on her hands!

(btw, I just described myself, so i'm not like holier-than-thou)

But it's really hilarious to the passer-bys, that one can pretend that money can substitute true skill, ability and talent.  Not at all, it just shows how good Nike or Adidas' advertising dollars are.  And without a mirror, you'll never see the clown those apparel make you look like.

Should have taken a picture!  Rats!