A Journey From 3.5 to 5.0 in Three Years

Join us as we dive into Gin's remarkable journey from a 3.5 self-rated player to an NTRP 5.0 in just three years!

After a 25-year break from touching a racquet, Gin, a former multi-sport athlete, signed up for a tennis clinic after watching her kid's lessons. Soon after, she joined a USTA team and hasn't looked back.  Her rise through the NTRP rankings has been a unique journey, winning multiple times at the state level and even competing at Nationals. Her success comes from hard work, fitness, consistency, and strategic play. Join us to hear how she accomplished this incredible goal.

We would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating wherever you listen to podcasts!

Please contact us - 

Website: secondservepodcast.com
Instagram: secondservepodcast
Facebook: secondservepodcast     

Use our referral link to get a FREE Swing Stick ($100 value) with your first year of SwingVision Pro. The bundles are only $149.99 (previously $179.99). This is a limited time offer that you won't want to miss!  

We are excited to team up with Michelle from Tennis Warehouse and her "Talk Tennis" podcast to bring you a "TW Tip of the Week!" Use the code SECONDSERVE to get $20 off clearance apparel when you spend $100 or more.

Transcript

Meet Gin

Carolyn 0:06

Hi, this is Carolyn, and I'm here with Erin, and we are thrilled to have on the podcast Gin. Gin has been bumped from level 3.5 to 5.0 in three years. We met Gin. How do we meet Gin? Erin. Erin was captaining a singles team that won the 4.0 state championship. Yeah. Gin was on that team. She was a 3-5 at that time. She is now a 5-0. Erin, are you a 5-0 now?

Erin 0:36

Uh not close. But the funny thing about that is, well, first of all, Carolyn picked all the amazing great people on that team. And our our first goal was we want nice people to form a team with that are also good tennis players. And we got a really good group of people. And some of us, including Jin and I, um became very, very close through that team. But Carolyn, you picked all the great people. But I remember when uh someone con uh uh someone at my club contacted me and said, Oh, Jin is looking for a summer singles team. I was like, Great. And then Jin, I think we were on a group text and Jin was like, but I'm a three-five. And I was like, You're good. You're you're you're fine, you know. Cause I saw her play several matches. Um, and at that point I was like, I want nice people and it'll just be a fun team. And then yeah, we went on to win the state championship actually two years in a row. Yeah, and then we read and then we retired last year because I was like, eh, Jin got bumped.

Carolyn 1:32

Been there, done that. Yeah.

Erin 1:34

I was like, let's go out on a high note.

Carolyn 1:36

Too bad there's not a national championship for singles. I know.

Erin 1:39

I mean, it just is at the state level. Because Jin would win her court for us for sure.

Carolyn 1:42

Oh, yeah.

Erin 1:43

It might be the only court we win all weekend, but she'd be winning it. So anyway. So welcome, Jin. Thank you. Thank you for coming on.

Carolyn 1:50

I'm so excited. I'm happy to be here. Okay, tell us a little bit about your tennis background.

Gin 1:55

So I definitely was like a total tomboy growing up, you know, the kid who was just every ball I could get my hands on. You know, really tennis was not my main sport

Junior Sports Then A 25-Year Break

Gin 2:05

when I was little, but um, I did do some tennis. Um, I lived in a really small town, but we had a tr pro that would travel to us. So I, you know, took some lessons as a a junior. But um really um and I and my um little high school tennis team did have some success. Um, and that was really fun. Uh, but really, you know, my my main sports were soccer and basketball. We have that in common, Carolyn, the basketball. Um and uh, but you know, I just love anything athletic. And then I took off 25 years um to have kids and didn't touch a racket, and um, so that was kind of the background, you know, until the present era starts. But yeah, it was kind of a lot of kid stuff and then a long time doing nothing but being a mom. Because Gin has four kids. Yes, that's right. Okay, wow.

Erin 2:50

And didn't you get back into it because your kids were taking lessons? I did. Yeah.

Gin 2:54

So the, you know, my kids were playing, I had gotten them into the sport and they were taking lessons um somewhere else. And I kind of was like, I don't know that I feel like, you know, this is the best. And so what I'm gonna look into where we could go. So I found our our where Erin and I are at our club right now and got my kids in there. And you know, I was just watching them. I was, you know, I still had a three-year-old, so I was watch, you know, keeping her while the others played. And then, you know, one day I was like, you know, maybe I'll take a clinic. Like this looks kind of fun. Like, I I'm I can do this. Like, I'll get back out there and take a clinic. So that's what I did. I think it was the fall of 21. I signed up for just, you know, just picked one off the sheet, just not knowing anything or anybody. Just I'll try this clinic. What clinic was like a couple? It was it was uh like a double strategy. Yep. Yeah. That's actually my favorite clinic. Like a Thursday morning double strat.

Erin 3:39

Yeah. So then okay, so you came in. Who who talked you into getting into league play?

Gin 3:46

In our area, anyway, it's kind of like that's what it, it's like there's not much else. Like it's self-competitive. Yeah, I mean, you can do clinics and then everybody at the club, that was kind of like what they did. I I didn't really feel like there was another path, really. Now, at our club, we do have some indoor like during the winter, but during the rest of the year, it's sort of like you you join a league and and um you know I didn't know how to self-rate. You know, people kept saying you need to get a rating, and you know, I I did the the forum online to self-rate, and it actually recommended that I be a three-o, which is crazy. Um I answered all the questions as it said, you know. Uh I think it said, Did you play college tennis? I did not. Um, have you played tennis in 25 years? I had not. So it said we recommend 3-0. And I thought, uh, let me try three five. Yeah. So I did.

Carolyn 4:32

That's interesting. So you played 3-5,

Self-Rating Confusion And League Reality

Carolyn 4:35

even though technically you could have played 3-0. Right. Yes. That's could you imagine her at 3-0? Oh my goodness.

Erin 4:41

Sorry.

Gin 4:42

Yeah, so I guess you could say I went from 3-0 to 5-0. Correct. Yes. But I did not ever, I did not self-ray.

Erin 4:49

I I've started as a self-rated three-five. That's a whole nother episode. We need to do a self-rate episode because we have run into so many people that I've actually heard someone else that was like, I did play college tennis, but it wasn't within the last like 20 years. I think there's like some sub. We should go through the questionnaire again online, Carolyn. We did that years ago, but I think we just did a very high level. Or maybe we only went over like the NTRP ratings and what you should be able to do with that rating. But the whole self-rate, we need to have an entire episode on that because Jin answered honestly and correctly and got rated a 3-0, which is nuts. Um, but I've heard someone else that was like, Oh, yeah, I was supposed to play 4-0 and I self-rated as a 4-5 because they had played some college tennis, whether it's D3, D2, you know, something. So it's interesting. We need to more we need to fix with USTA um, you know, rating stuff.

Carolyn 5:42

Yeah, that's I mean, because most people would be like, 3-0, okay, let's go. I mean, everybody would want you on their team. I mean, everybody wanted you on their team at every level. So, you know, not really it didn't mean anything to me.

Gin 5:54

No, not really, because and I and I mean it's like Erin said, this is a whole episode in and of itself. I have lots of strong opinions on this whole, you know, appeals and self-rates because I was that person. And, you know, I don't know what what does three-o mean. I don't know what does three, I don't know. And and you are very, like you just said, everybody wants you on their team, but they don't know me. They don't know, you know, they don't they don't want me on their team because they they're just you're just a newbie. You're unproven. And so it really isn't like you just feel like everybody's clamoring for me. And no one was. I mean, I had to sort of ask really ask around. And I know y'all have an episode because I'm a huge fan of the podcast about tryouts, and I I completely had a tryout. Um I did not know it at the time, but now I'm, you know, I don't you're shining certain. I know. I mean, I I absolutely did. Did you make that team? I did. That was my first team. Carolyn had a tryout, but she didn't make her team.

Carolyn 6:39

Oh, Carolyn. And two five, Gin. It was a two-five team I got cut from. Anyway, I'm not bitter.

Erin 6:46

We still talk about it every episode though. I've heard y'all talk about it. Yeah. Which is funny because now Carolyn's a 4-0 and people, people

The Yearly Bumps And Big Results

Erin 6:55

that cut her from the team never made it past probably 3-5 or 3-0. Probably.

Carolyn 7:00

Well, I don't know. It's it's hard, but it's so interesting that that's the way it happened and that you were 3-0 and now you're a 5-0. I mean, it just blows my mind. So ta so take us through that journey.

Erin 7:10

So 3-5 self-rate um to 5-0. So I know each year during ratings you got bumped since I've known you. So go through that. Yeah.

Gin 7:19

So I played.

Carolyn 7:19

Yeah, and give us tips.

Gin 7:20

I want to know how to be a 5-0.

Carolyn 7:22

Yeah.

Erin 7:22

I mean, absolutely You don't want to know how to be a 5-0.

Gin 7:24

You don't. Yeah. I mean, maybe we'll get to that, but you I I've I've cried a lot about it. But I start so I started playing uh UST tennis in the spring of 22 and was of self-rated 3-5 and um played that season and you know, had good success, but definitely lost some matches and you know, was figuring out how to do all this. I mean, I remember um actually standing at the club was my very, very first match was against your y'all's friend at your club.

Erin 7:47

That was your first match. I watched you play. Yeah, that was my very first USD. Do you remember that? Mike and I sat up there. You were playing singles, and Emily was playing singles against Jim. And I think Mike, your Mike and I watched, and both Mike and I were like, oh, she's not a three-five. Just watching her play.

Gin 8:08

And our friend Emily is a very good singles player. And I remember I was shaking standing back there to serve first. So I mean, you know, I I was terrified, but and it could not have been a lovelier first match. I mean, she is is just the like the loveliest person. And so anyway, I I, you know, went through that season and, like I said, had success, but didn't, you know, I lost some matches and every match felt nervous. You know, I didn't think to myself, oh, I'm a five-o. This is ridiculous. You know, I every time I thought, you know, I'm who knows what's gonna happen. And um, and then I did that summer, played, uh, you know, was looking for some more singles. That's what that's the team we referred to at the beginning, and so got that experience. But again, I was I told Erin, you know, I was very like, uh, but I'm a three-five, like you, you may not want me. I completely get this. So, you know, I definitely did not feel like I was in the wrong place. But then I bumped, you know, that November, December and again played uh So then she was computer-aided 4-0. So then I was a computer, yep, correct. So computer-aided 4-0. Um, played that year um 23 as a computer-aided 4-0. And, you know, I think by that time I had started to get my tennis legs under me and gain confidence. And, you know, I and I I will say I, you know, first tip as far as how did you do this. I mean, I worked hard. You know, I I I did clinics,

Training Fitness And Weight Loss

Gin 9:20

I hit, you know, played a lot. I actually also really worked on my own personal fitness and nutrition and lost a lot of weight, partially through tennis. And um, you know, so that's that was helpful. And so played that next year at 4-0 and was fortunate enough to go to states again. Um, we won this the state um summer singles state championship again. And actually, and this has also been featured on your podcast as I went to nationals. I was on that team that y'all have featured that went the 4-0 team that went to nationals. So that was great. Um, my 4-0 year, and then it happened again. You know, I bumped that November, December to 4-5. And she was really upset. I was very upset because at that point in time my friends were for us. You know, I had really developed great friendship. This lady sitting next to me included.

Carolyn 10:05

Um, that's Erin's right beside her. Yeah.

Gin 10:08

Um, Carolyn and I would be, I'm sure. We just haven't had as much opportunity. Yeah, but uh yeah, I so I bumped that year and sort of the same story. I mean, just play it again and and and for whatever reason, you know, I don't know I, you know, I I don't really know why I keep bumping. I think I'm a competitor. Um, I am very scrappy. Like I think there's I think there's some people who, especially if you were not a junior athlete or have come to sports as an adult, you know, you're gonna hit three balls and then you're kind of like, well, I didn't win that point. I will hit, you know, 300 balls in a point, and that's no big deal. And I was a soccer player in college. And that's it.

Erin 10:46

It's not exaggerating. Right. When she says 300, it's not like when I say a thousand and that really means five for me. When she says three hundred, she means three hundred balls. Wow. Like she'll hit that many. Right.

Carolyn 10:56

So it's the consistency.

Erin 10:57

So yeah, she can do it.

Gin 10:58

I think that for sure for me, you know, I'm not a power player. I'm not hitting winners and hitting people off the court. And um,

Scrappy Singles Style At Higher Levels

Gin 11:05

you know, in fact, I've had people tell me, like, you're not at all what I thought you were gonna be. You know, you're I saw I saw your, you know, your rating and I saw your record, and like you don't really hit the ball. And I'm like, Yeah, you know. Um, and so it's it's um I'm athletic, I'm fast, um, and I get to balls and get them back. You know?

Erin 11:23

I mean, she gets stuff that are they're just ungettable for most people, you know.

Carolyn 11:27

But can get it and then return it inside the court because I could understand consistency at like, oh, 3-0, that person's consistent, so she gets bumped to 3-5. Maybe even consistent getting bumped to 3-5 to 4-0. But then at that point, I mean, people are hitting the ball hard. They are I I mean, I can't imagine at 4-5, like like getting to the shots that people can hit at that level and then getting them back and getting them back inside the court. I mean, that's ridiculous to be able to do that. Like, I understand like 3-0 being consistent, but four five, you know, because we've had people that are consistent that get bumped up to four. Right. Yeah. Like they can't get to that four, five, five. Oh level. So that's just amazing. Yeah. Yeah.

Erin 12:12

Well, and to Jin's credit, she won't say it, but she does get the ball back deep and with something on it, or she does something smart. Like it's it's not I think it's more than consistent. Yeah, yeah. I was gonna say I don't want to just say consistent. It's it's consistent with you know, something that that takes the next shot away from the next person. But um don't fall yourself short.

Carolyn 12:32

I mean, yeah, I think she's ridiculously good. Yeah, is what I mean. Like because I can be consistent, but I can't be consistent against a four-five player.

Erin 12:39

Well, she keeps saying back in the court. I mean, I can probably get to a ball too, but it may not, you know, I'm gonna throw it up in the air and see where it lands.

Carolyn 12:49

We have another episode with Gin where she tells us what she did when she found out she got bumped to 5-0 and also the craziest situation that ever happened to her on the court. And she is someone that has won almost all her singles matches the past three years. So there's been a lot of crazy

Next Episode Tease And Website

Carolyn 13:05

situations. We hope you check out our website, which is secondserv podcast.com. Thanks so much for listening and hope to see you on the court soon.