The right balance between tennis training and fitness

The right balance between tennis training and fitness

Tennis training and fitness are interconnected at all levels and cannot be separated in becoming a good tennis player. Tennis training teaches players the correct technique for ground strokes, volleys and serves, but without a good level of fitness, players are always limited.

Tennis training and fitness must be done together to maximize training results. Fitness training must be integrated at every level. For beginners and young players, fitness training mainly consists of coordination and balance exercises that help the player be more efficient on the tennis court.

As the level increases, fitness training becomes more specific with flexibility training. Flexibility training affects specific movements and speed on the court. Moving well and being fast is fundamental if a player wants to compete at a good level of tennis. Agility training can be carried out on the court before, after or during tennis training. During this time the player can really focus on their footwork technique and intensity. Once he understands them, he will use them during tennis practice and be much more efficient in executing his shots.

Another important part of fitness training for tennis is strength training. This is very important to avoid injuries at any level. Strength training will also help players become stronger and more explosive on the court, which could make a big difference to other players of the same level. Beginners follow a really easy strength training plan, but advanced people need to fully incorporate this into their schedule. Hits on the tennis court are becoming more and more powerful. If you want to keep up with your opponents, good strength training needs to be done consistently.

Of course, tennis training and fitness affect the player's aerobic capacity. Specific cardio training done alongside will help players improve their endurance and more and this will make them much better in the game situation. Good aerobic capacity allows players to be more intense throughout the duration of a game and it also helps them recover better between points and after the game.

Flexibility training is another important part that should be done every day at least after training. A good level of flexibility allows players to reach balls in extreme positions, but also helps them avoid injuries that can occur on the court.

Fitness training means training all of these skills, strength, agility, aerobics and flexibility. All of this must be part of a tennis training program and must be done consistently. At a high level, fitness training should account for at least 1/3 of the total exercise time during the week. Fitness training must be maintained while players participate in the tournament as the complexity lies in constantly improving. One of the biggest mistakes is working on the fitness part and then stopping while players compete in tournaments. This results in players returning from their tournaments with a lower fitness level. When players practice, tennis training and fitness must be carried out as consistently as possible and with high intensity. When players take part in tournaments they will of course do less fitness, but it is very important to do a minimum to maintain their level and improve even more when they get back from their tournament.

Inspired by Ezine and Patrick Muller