Fitness Requirements for Tennis: Getting Fit for Tennis
Fitness Requirements for Tennis
As much fun as it is, tennis is also a strenuous sport. It requires a lot of running and jumping around, and tennis puts an extraordinary strain on muscles and joints due to needed fast and erratic body movements. Quick reaction to return balls is necessary, and this especially puts a lot of pressure on legs, ankles and knees. Tennis players often feel it in their back and core areas also due to the twisting and turning actions required to serve and return balls. Wrists, arms and shoulders get a strenuous work over too. So before joining your local tennis club, learn fitness requirements for tennis and get ready to enjoy an exciting and challenging sport.
Know Your Game
If you’re interested in tennis and have decided to give it a try or take it seriously after playing for a while, take positive steps to prepare for the sport. First, consider taking tennis lessons. It may seem like a simple idea—hitting a small bouncy ball over a net. However, it’s more complicated than a new player might realize. Tennis lessons can help you make better shots or returns, keep you from making common mistakes and help you prevent injury. Besides the importance of learning the rules and scoring of tennis, learn proper movement on the court and how to serve and hit a ball properly. Also, know your limitations so that you can play against partners at or around your same level. Move up the tennis competency ladder steadily as you grow in your sport. Develop your game by getting in better shape as you learn the game.
Give Your Body Love
Understanding the fitness and health requirements for tennis is the first step. The next step is to prepare your body for the limberness and agility needed to play tennis. To develop flexibility, one option is to enroll in regularly scheduled exercise classes, e.g., yoga or pilates that focus much of the class time on stretching. Dance classes of just about any type involve stretching exercises, which will improve your overall flexibility and agility. Consider beginning your own regular stretching routine. Remember that tennis players use many parts of their bodies during games or practice, so incorporate stretches that involve all major muscle groups. And don’t forget about keeping joints that connect wrists, hips, knees and ankles supple too with stretching and strengthening exercises.
Build Strength for Tennis
Building strength, stamina and endurance for tennis is typically achieved through regular aerobic exercise of some kind. Running or jogging on a routine basis is best for increasing stamina and endurance, especially since tennis demands so much running during the game. Keep in mind, though, that many other types of exercise or sports, such as basketball, not only involve running as well as jumping but also quick response skill development. Also most types of dance offer similar benefits, and besides being a good way to build flexibility, yoga and pilates for instance, are also great avenues for building strength. Working with weights is also helpful for building the strength needed to slam a tennis ball back at your opponent.
Volley the Idea Around With Your Doctor
As with any type of sport, always check with your doctor before playing tennis. Make sure your doctor understands the fitness requirements for tennis. Discuss other factors that may affect your health as a tennis player, such as heat stress and heart strain. Get checked out before playing tennis.
References
Netfit: Tennis training program - https://www.netfit.co.uk/racquets-web.htm
Topendsports: Tennis: Fitness testing for tennis - https://www.topendsports.com/sport/tennis/testing.htm