When is it too cold to play outside?

tennytive · 10-10-2009, 05:02 AM

Are there any polar bear tennis clubs?

I started playing with a bunch of guys here in the Chicago area who say they show up until the snow starts to fly. We only play once a week, so I hate to miss out, especially since it's so close to shutting it down for the winter.

This is doubles, so it's not like we're killing ourselves out there, but I'm already playing with nagging injuries as it is, and wonder if I could make things worse by not being smart about the weather. Then again, maybe it's no big deal.

I do remember playing in November once many years back, but that was a relatively warm day. But swimming in the lake afterwards was no bargain. Significant shrinkage…

charliefedererer · 10-10-2009, 05:50 AM

Look.
People enjoy all sorts of winter sports even though it is really cold outside.
So there is no reason not to play tennis on a cold day, as long as the court is in good condition.
I play right down to 32 degrees. There should be plenty of afternoons in Chicago when the temperature gets that high over the next few months.
Warm up beforehand with a little jog around the court, some agility drills, practice swings, a reasonably long pre match rally and try to keeps the game moving.
Wear nylon and fleece that will wick sweat away. Shed clothing as you warm up so you don't overheat. (You can always put another thin layer back on.) Buy some football receiver's gloves. Make sure your tennis shoes have good traction (Asics Gel Resolution II's have a slightly softer sole that doesn't seem to harden up as much as many others.) You may find that non pressurised balls bounce better in the cold than regular pressurised ball. Be prepared to string your racquet slightly looser, use a softer string, and still have to restring more often from broken strings.
C'mon.
You're a Bears fan.
Be a man.

tennytive · 10-10-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliefedererer

C'mon.
You're a Bears fan.
Be a man.

LOL. Well therein lies the dilemma. We play on Sundays right when the Bears play their early games. So it's either play tennis, or watch the game?

Thanks for the cold weather tips. The guys tell me they've been playing this way for years, so it must be no big deal.

charliefedererer · 10-10-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennytive

Well therein lies the dilemma. We play on Sundays right when the Bears play their early games. So it's either play tennis, or watch the game?

Check on scores with your Blackberry.
Tivo the first three quarters.
No excuses, now.

SystemicAnomaly · 10-10-2009, 12:38 PM

When I was still in my 40s, didn't have too much trouble playing in temps in the low 30Fs. These days, my joints have a difficult time tolerating it. It take much longer to warm up the strokes and if the rallies are too short, the body starts getting very tight.

Balls don't bounce very well in colder temps, even temps in the 50Fs. Need to warm them up by bouncing them a lot or artifically with a heating pad so that they don't feel like Flinstone's balls (aka rocks).

Frank Silbermann · 10-14-2009, 07:33 PM

There used to be a tennis sock that went around your hand and then around the racket handle. Ordinary racketball gloves also work well, though you might want to use a special racket with a slightly smaller grip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

Balls don't bounce very well in colder temps, even temps in the 50Fs. Need to warm them up by bouncing them a lot or artifically with a heating pad so that they don't feel like Flinstone's balls (aka rocks).

Cold makes the air in pressurized balls contract, thereby reducing the pressure and making them play dead. I find that pressureless balls keep their bounce better in cold temperature. That makes sense when you realize that the first pressureless tennis balls were made in Sweden (Tretorn brand).

TnTBigman · 10-10-2009, 01:20 PM

When u can't feel ur fingers. or when ur eyes water too damn much to properly see the ball.

Mick · 10-10-2009, 01:35 PM

if i were you guys, i would consider indoor tennis

SystemicAnomaly · 10-10-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

if i were you guys, i would consider indoor tennis

Not very many indoor courts in this area.
Some of the more exclusive=pricey clubs have a few.

yonexxx · 12-26-2009, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

Not very many indoor courts in this area.
Some of the more exclusive=pricey clubs have a few.

kinda late now but i can suggest courts if you want in the chicagoland area considering i hit often indoors. for as cheap as 28dollars still expensive though.

Ronaldo · 12-26-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yonexxx

kinda late now but i can suggest courts if you want in the chicagoland area considering i hit often indoors. for as cheap as 28dollars still expensive though.

Some clubs have a fixed fee for walk-ons to empty courts. $37/mo for unlimited play.

yonexxx · 03-01-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronaldo

Some clubs have a fixed fee for walk-ons to empty courts. $37/mo for unlimited play.

in chicago? where are these clubs i have never seen or heard of them lol.

mikeler · 10-10-2009, 01:36 PM

I have the opposite problem down in Florida at the moment. This October record heat wave with highs of 95 degrees is brutal. It was 80 degrees at 8 AM this morning and humid. Please send a cold front down here!

Cup8489 · 10-10-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

I have the opposite problem down in Florida at the moment. This October record heat wave with highs of 95 degrees is brutal. It was 80 degrees at 8 AM this morning and humid. Please send a cold front down here!

only if you throw us some heat!

i just played with my uncle this afternoon, 33 degrees here. we actually played very well, but spent most of the match slightly out of breath, b/c we didn't wait more than 10 seconds between points. i had 4 layers on, two longsleeve cotton shirts, a polyester underneath those, and a hooded cotton sweatshirt over all. wool long underwear with track pants over it. i used my older tennis shoes, where the tread wore down a bit, better grip than the very stiff new rubber. didn't need gloves, my hands stayed warm. kept a stocking cap on though.

it looked absurd, but movement was not a problem at all. people walking to the school for a swim meet indoors were looking at us like we were nuts lol.

but...i am afraid i don't think i'll be doing that again. the tennis club returned to its winter 8am-10pm weekday schedule, so there's ample time to play in heated indoor courts

SuperDuy · 10-10-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

I have the opposite problem down in Florida at the moment. This October record heat wave with highs of 95 degrees is brutal. It was 80 degrees at 8 AM this morning and humid. Please send a cold front down here!

Id rather be there then where i am where its 34 degrees feerenheit for a high!

ubermeyer · 10-10-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuy

Id rather be there then where i am where its 34 degrees feerenheit for a high!

I highly doubt that anyone would prefer Floridan weather to their own... unless they live in Texas!

dangros · 11-26-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

I have the opposite problem down in Florida at the moment. This October record heat wave with highs of 95 degrees is brutal. It was 80 degrees at 8 AM this morning and humid. Please send a cold front down here!

that makes me want to cry. I prefer 95 over 40's here!

Treebeard · 10-10-2009, 04:50 PM

Is there any concern about racket frame fracture in the cold?
With these new frames and the materials used (carbon, etc.) could that be a concern?

Nonentity · 10-10-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treebeard

Is there any concern about racket frame fracture in the cold?
With these new frames and the materials used (carbon, etc.) could that be a concern?

No, but cold hands lead to less grip, lead to rackets flying loose which leads to broken frames.

Sup2Dresq · 10-10-2009, 06:41 PM

Anything below 65 degrees and I wont play. Everyone who hits with me knows that rule. 64.. nope...

I need to move to somewhere tropical or with plenty of palm trees!

10-10-2009, 05:02 AM	#1
tennytive Semi-Pro Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 572	When is it too cold to play outside? Are there any polar bear tennis clubs? I started playing with a bunch of guys here in the Chicago area who say they show up until the snow starts to fly. We only play once a week, so I hate to miss out, especially since it's so close to shutting it down for the winter. This is doubles, so it's not like we're killing ourselves out there, but I'm already playing with nagging injuries as it is, and wonder if I could make things worse by not being smart about the weather. Then again, maybe it's no big deal. I do remember playing in November once many years back, but that was a relatively warm day. But swimming in the lake afterwards was no bargain. Significant shrinkage…

10-10-2009, 12:38 PM	#5
SystemicAnomaly Legend Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Stuck in the Matrix somewhere in Santa Clara CA Posts: 7,730	When I was still in my 40s, didn't have too much trouble playing in temps in the low 30Fs. These days, my joints have a difficult time tolerating it. It take much longer to warm up the strokes and if the rallies are too short, the body starts getting very tight. Balls don't bounce very well in colder temps, even temps in the 50Fs. Need to warm them up by bouncing them a lot or artifically with a heating pad so that they don't feel like Flinstone's balls (aka rocks). __________________ . Every tool is a weapon -- if you hold it right. (~Ani DiFranco)

10-10-2009, 01:20 PM	#7
TnTBigman Professional Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 864	When u can't feel ur fingers. or when ur eyes water too damn much to properly see the ball. __________________ 2x HEAD MicroGel Prestige MID 4 1/2. 8pts HL 12.5oz Duramix 16 58m/56x

10-10-2009, 04:50 PM	#18
Treebeard New User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 23	Is there any concern about racket frame fracture in the cold? With these new frames and the materials used (carbon, etc.) could that be a concern? __________________ Volkl PB10 Mid+

10-10-2009, 06:41 PM	#20
Sup2Dresq Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	Anything below 65 degrees and I wont play. Everyone who hits with me knows that rule. 64.. nope... I need to move to somewhere tropical or with plenty of palm trees! __________________ "[Luke:] I can't believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail."