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58 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2021 As we continue to experience chaos in our day to day lives, from spreading wildfires to flooded cities to a COVID virus that seems to find a new variant every day, we always have the opportunity to escape to the air conditioned Courts room to play table tennis (also affectionately known to many as ping pong). This game not only can provide everyone with a great cardio workout, but it has also proven to be an excellent activity to stimulate our aging brains through quick reflexes and deft hand-eye coordination. Although The Courts multipurpose room is a space used by various groups such as yoga and the Italian American Club, the three ping pong tables are usually set up starting at 10 am and are available for play until The Courts facility closes. On most days, we have a group of beginner and intermediate players who arrive at 2 pm and play for a few hours. On Tuesdays at 10:30 am, we have a group of advanced players and a few guests play until their aching backs and aging joints plead for surrender! The Four Seasons Table Tennis Club is open to all residents, regardless of prior experience and level of skill. If you don't possess your own ping pong equipment, there are numerous paddles and balls that we keep in house at all times for anyone to use. As we approach to our last half container of very worn balls, we have to give a big shout-out to Soo Lee, our newest member (and an excellent table tennis player), who donated a dozen brand new balls to the club while we wait for our new supply to arrive. Thank you, Soo, for your kind generosity. So get out of the foul air and long summer heat and join us at The Courts for some table tennis. You'll be glad you did. ~ Bob Rubenstein, brube88@gmail.com Table Tennis Whether you are a beginner or a superstar tennis player, chances are you have gone through the process of choosing a tennis racket. Playing with the right racket is just as important as how you play the game itself. So, how do you know if the racket you are playing with is the right one for you? In a nutshell, here are some things to consider when buying a tennis racket: Weight – Rackets vary in weight somewhere between 240 grams to 310 grams. Light-weight rackets (240 – 265 grams) provide better control, generate less power, but are easier to move on court. Mid-weight rackets (270 – 295 grams) provide a combined balance of power and control. Heavy-weight rackets (>295 grams) help generate more powerful shots but can also help maintain control in a faster swing. Head Size – Head size is the actual hitting area within the racket frame, which ranges from 85 to 135 square inches. Smaller head size (<100 sq. in.) usually appeals to more advanced players who tend to focus on control and balance features. Larger head size (>106 sq. in.) generally appeals more to beginner to intermediate players who are looking for more power and stability in their shots. It can also help to produce more accurate shots off of the larger sweet spot. Balance – Head-heavy rackets are generally more suitable for less experienced players who have a shorter swing and less strength. More experienced players will often prefer head light rackets which will allow more spin, maneuverability and faster net play. In addition, head-light rackets can also help reduce shock and vibration to a player's arm, thus reducing the chances of developing tennis elbow. Grip Size – Grip size ranges from 4-1/8 inches to 4-5/8 inches. Getting the right grip size is important. With the proper grip size, not only will you be able to hit the ball better, it will also help prevent injury to your hand, wrist and elbow. Needless to say, the above is just a few of the more obvious features and does not include every detail of what to look for when selecting a racket. Each player is different. So, it's always advisable to demo a few different rackets and choose the one that best fits your personal preference before purchasing it. See you all at The Courts! For more info, visit our website at sites.google.com/view/tennis- fourseasons/home. ~ Stan Lam, (714) 757-2141, slamcpa@gmail. com Tennis Club Which one should I buy?

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