I didn't play tennis for 1 week and I played yesterday and got two blisters (the "water" type) on my hand. I typically play 2-4 times a week. I don't get it. Now I can't play and I can't figure out how I could get blisters after only taking a week off. I've never had a problem with blisters and I have taken a week or so off during the past few years. Ideas?
No tennis for 1 week...blisters...what?
- Thread starter jmhs
- Start date
snoopy
Professional
A few possible solutions:
-let your blisters heal a little, then keep playing. You will toughen up your skin and you won't get blisters.
-try a different overgrip on your racquet.
-don't squeeze the handle so hard.
-wrap the area of your hand that gets blisters. Medical tape is sticky enough to last. You could always rewrap when needed.
-use a tennis glove as a last resort.
-let your blisters heal a little, then keep playing. You will toughen up your skin and you won't get blisters.
-try a different overgrip on your racquet.
-don't squeeze the handle so hard.
-wrap the area of your hand that gets blisters. Medical tape is sticky enough to last. You could always rewrap when needed.
-use a tennis glove as a last resort.
Thanks. Since I've never had blisters, typically how long do you have to wait so that you don't start the healing process all over again? My suffering isn't from the blisters, it's from not playing! I've got the two blisters covered with "Band-Aid Adavanced Healing Blister bandages."
snoopy
Professional
From past experience, I'd let the blisters heal for about a week. If the blisters don't heal, they are just going to break open and you won't be able to hit.
I used to get very bad blisters, the kind that would pop open and bleed, on the webbing between my fingers. The only thing that has stopped them is using paper medical tape and some gauze padding. It was a little awkward at first but i got used to it.
I used to get very bad blisters, the kind that would pop open and bleed, on the webbing between my fingers. The only thing that has stopped them is using paper medical tape and some gauze padding. It was a little awkward at first but i got used to it.
charliefedererer
Legend
Be prepared to use a LOT of medical tape to hold the band aids on. You will have to use a cicumferential wrap, so that means going all the way around your hand if the blisters are on you palm, and all the way around your fingers if the blisters are on your fingers.
And bring plenty of extra band-aids and tape with you to the court. No matter how well you taped it, the tape and band-aids will start to roll up after too short a time, and you'll have to remove them and tape them again. By about the third time you do this you'll have figured out the best way to wrap these particular blisters.
Next time that you aren't playing keep up with the dumbell and elastic tubing work of the "thrower's ten" exercises. The friction from the handles will duplicate the friction from your grip, and help prevent new blister formation.
Thanks. Will do.
Just realized something important: remembered that I spent half of Thursday's 2-hr hitting session working on lifting forehands with more spin (I usually hit fairly flat). So I was changing my technique...I guess which caused friction on a slightly different part of my hand. Subtle, but I guess that explains the appearance of these #$%@#%^% blisters.
It's Saturday now. Would it be dumb to put on my bandages and wrap my hands and go out and hit, or should I just wait another 4-5 days (ugh)? Thanks in advance.
charliefedererer
Legend
The best for healing clearly would be to wait. But I have to admit that I've played with taped blisters from time to time.
I'll try to wait until Wednesday and tape. Will work the tubes, etc. in the meantime. Thanks.
jimanuel12
Semi-Pro
i used to get blistes when i played with a leather grip.
i don't play with a leather grip anymore and have no blisters anymore either.
let the blisters heal, tape your fingers in the future until the fingers toughen up.
if you play with a leather grip, you might want to change it to a cushion smooth grip.
Thanks. I've been happy using Yonex Super Grap grip wrap over the standard grip that comes with my Head Prestige MP sticks.
The water blisters appeared last Thursday, and I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms. I will tape over "Band-Aid Adavanced Healing Blister bandages" (the blisters are still a little sore) and try to hit for an hour tonight. Hopefully go for 2 hrs Wednesday. Don't have any tournaments until next month, so maybe I'll wear a baseball batting glove if bandage/taping alone isn't working.
I really believe that I've done this by trying to lift the ball more on my forehand last Thursday. Some weeks I play every day...these #$%@#$%^ blisters had nothing to do with taking only a week off. I really liked the heaviness of lifting the ball more, so I'm going to have to recondition my hand to this technique.
baseliner68
New User
Coming from a family of pharmacists and being one myself I always recommend Tincture of Benzoin. I've not had to use it myself in years but when I was a kid would get blisters on my hands some playing and it always worked. Warning that it doesn't smell great at all but does work. ....Keep your hands dry while playing and using the right grip (one that absorbs more moisture) will help. I would lay off a bit and use the Tincture of Benzoin and you should be good to go soon.
If you "have" to play with a blister get some of the blisterpads and double up on them and bandage it really well. There's no perfect solution when on your hands but last year I changed shoes and got a HUGE water blister on my foot and you'd have thought I'd had part of it removed when the blister and callous all came off. I had to go the rest of the season using the blisterpads but they were a lifesaver. .....Not sure how well you can keep them on your hands but I'd try if I had to.
....btw.... go to your pharmacy and ask where the "wet and dry" department is and that's where you'll find the Benzoin. .....Some of the newer chains may not have it but an older independent pharmacy usually will. If not have them order it. It's dirt cheap.
Good luck!!
If you "have" to play with a blister get some of the blisterpads and double up on them and bandage it really well. There's no perfect solution when on your hands but last year I changed shoes and got a HUGE water blister on my foot and you'd have thought I'd had part of it removed when the blister and callous all came off. I had to go the rest of the season using the blisterpads but they were a lifesaver. .....Not sure how well you can keep them on your hands but I'd try if I had to.
....btw.... go to your pharmacy and ask where the "wet and dry" department is and that's where you'll find the Benzoin. .....Some of the newer chains may not have it but an older independent pharmacy usually will. If not have them order it. It's dirt cheap.
Good luck!!
Thanks. I'll call to see who has it.
I prepped my hand and hit for about 60 minutes last night. It went okay...I didn't make things worse.
my blister regime:
break the blister and drain it. cover the blistered skin with moleskin (it's a dr. scholl's product, google it). i prefer moleskin to blister pads because i can cut the moleskin to the exact size i want with less waste. wrap the white waterproof athletic tape around the moleskin. if the blisters are on fingers or toes put a large band aid over the athletic tape.
i find this to regime very effective. one thing to keep in mind, though, sometimes the blistered skin will come off with the moleskin when you remove the moleskin (the moleskin has a strong adhesive). it's dead skin so it's ok to lose just don't tear it. you may want to cut the skin so live skin doesn't also tear off. and don't be queasy.
break the blister and drain it. cover the blistered skin with moleskin (it's a dr. scholl's product, google it). i prefer moleskin to blister pads because i can cut the moleskin to the exact size i want with less waste. wrap the white waterproof athletic tape around the moleskin. if the blisters are on fingers or toes put a large band aid over the athletic tape.
i find this to regime very effective. one thing to keep in mind, though, sometimes the blistered skin will come off with the moleskin when you remove the moleskin (the moleskin has a strong adhesive). it's dead skin so it's ok to lose just don't tear it. you may want to cut the skin so live skin doesn't also tear off. and don't be queasy.
charliefedererer
Legend
Tincture of Benzoin has long been used on the skin to create a sort of sticky "glue" that will allow tape to adhere better.
The only problem with tincture of benzoin is that it is a solution of benzoin in alchohol. The alchohol will sting if it touches the open blister area. So if you decide to use it for it's sticky effect, don't apply it to the blister itself, but to the skin around it to which you are applying the tape. But of course you could also just use a more adherent tape.
baseliner68
New User
Put it on the whole area regularly after the blister has healed and that area will toughen and a callous will form. Don't put it anything but something like antibiotic ointment on an area that is an open wound. .....google and you will find more answers.
