Re(1): Serving Remains Awful Posted on January 18, 2026 at 00:52:56 AM by Benny Bueno
Unwatchable, yet you watch.
I get it, the fans perspective.
Someone who watches and analyzes the game without ever playing.
I made a comment a few weeks ago that everybody, a player
, a fan or a manager has an opinion of their perspective of what they’re seeing.
Reluctantly, I’ll engage.
Backcourts are not used to serving. Only serving in singles and never in doubles. They just want to get the Serve in. They don’t care if their opponent catches the serve on the 9 1/2 line and throws a Chula against them. At least it was in.
Frontcourter. A totally different mindset.
I won’t defend Garcia, Libois or any of us the other frontcourts on this roster, but I will speak for myself. I would prefer to serve the ball a quarter inch before the over serve line before I let my opponent catch the serve in a position to put me on the defense.
Please allow me to explain.
In my days when I was serving to opponents that were better than me the only strategy available for me to win the point was to pin the opponent on the back wall corner so that I can move up and catch his return in a favor of proposition. That strategy doesn’t only apply to me. That is the strategy of the game.
In doubles, there are many factors that caused over serves.
Under serves, in my opinion, are unacceptable.
But over serves, while not acceptable, are a risk you take to be able to put yourself in a position to win the point.
Again, let me explain.
If I’m serving to a frontcourter, forget about the 80s when I play, but on this roster, like Aaron or Bixente or Libois that are going to stab at my serve, I am going to serve as deep in the boxes as I possibly can. Not only to get the serve past him, but also to put his partner in an unfavorable position so he will make a return that is automatically going to put my partner or I in a favorable position to dominate the point and win.
The one thing that the betting public doesn’t understand is that there is a strategy to the game. Although it doesn’t always work as planned, you stick to the strategy.
I totally understand the statistical part and the wagering part of this game.
But having said that, I don’t move away from the strategy so that somebody could win a trifecta.
I played the game the way it is designed to be played and hope for the best outcome. And in that execution of the strategy, there is risk and some time disappointment for everyone involved. Including me!
When a field goal kicker rushes a kick and shanks it wide right, it’s not always because he’s a bad kicker. There are many times that the rushing defense is coming in hard and he needs to get the kick off. And unfortunately, because of the pressure put on him by his opponent he misses the extra point.
Same thing when a pitcher is down 3-1 in the count and he throws ball four, it’s not cause he’s a bad pitcher. It’s because the pressure by his opponent caused him to throw something that wasn’t perfect.
Sports is a funny thing where the athlete competing and playing the game day-to-day has dilemmas that the fans or the viewing public will never understand.
I’m not here to defend the players. When they screw up, it’s on them.
But often times the viewing public doesn’t completely see why it happened.
Watch this video for a complete and comprehensive explanation of what pro athletes go through…
Tiger's Jai-Alai Chalk Talk
