Tennis players are among the most athletic competitors in sports. Training and competing in tennis contributes to a complete body workout, improving muscle strength, heart health, and physical conditioning. The sport also develops mental conditioning and hand-eye coordination. While some tennis players show up on the news for the wrong reasons, generally speaking, professional tennis players are among the healthiest and most athletic people on the planet. Taking up the sport, or trying to improve your aptitude, is going to have benefits not only on the court but off it as well. As an all-round sport, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more effective sport to improve your general fitness.
Getting The Right Equipment
Whether you’re training solo or with a group, consider pooling for a tennis ball machine for use when not everyone is available to train. One of the biggest contributing factors for motivation loss is not having a partner to train with. Demotivating factors like this can be particularly acute with sports like tennis, for which it’s virtually impossible to practice alone. Equipment like tennis ball machines, however, removes this problem, allowing you to improve your performance and work on specific shots when there’s no one to practice with. Regular training (drills drills drills) is the most effective and concrete way of ensuring sustained improvements in any sport, and tennis is no different. Spreading the cost of a machine could see continued interest, not only for you but for your tennis partners too, improving everyone’s game.
Don’t Neglect Cardio
The average professional tennis match can last up to five hours: being precise and powerful with a racket is only half the battle. Think about ways to improve your cardiovascular fitness, not only as a supplement to your drills but as an essential part of your training. Running, cycling and swimming are all good ways to get started when trying to improve your staying power. Sprint training will also be useful when trying to close the gap between you and a difficult return ball. The ability to return serve after serve into the later games will not only improve the outcomes of your matches, but will also pay off for your general fitness.
Reduce The Risk Of Injury
A final thing to think about is the risk of potential injury in tennis: forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Trying to mitigate the injury before it even happens is the smart decision for old and young players alike. Stretching before and after games will help decrease the likelihood of serious injuries and the niggling tennis elbow or RSI. Incorporating exercises into your routine will help prevent injuries before they happen, and ultimately, increase how long you’ll be able to play at your best.
With these ideas in mind, you’re sure to notice marked improvements in your tennis performance as well as your overall fitness and well-being. While you’re unlikely to reach the athletic ability of top-level players, practicing the sport will put you leagues above where you currently are.
