Dealing with age

[Xisbum]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Repeat after me:

Bald men are Dead Sexy.

Bald men are Dead at Sixty.

Originally Posted by Cloud Atlas

To the above poster, a 60yo would say to you "wait till you get to 60."

I would say no such thing. Most likely thing I would say after a 2-hour hitting session: Wanna hit a few more?

[LuckyR]

It'll be interesting to see what happens as the kids with the Modern game (western FH, windshield wiper strokes and poly strings) hit their 40's.

Say what you will but the Classic game (eastern grip, circular strokes and gut strings) is very aging friendly.

Good luck out there.

[Dave Mc]

I can sum up my advice to you in two words.... flexibility and technique. I started having my first injuries in my late 20's, then more in my 30's, then more in my 40's. But each time I would get injured, I would figure out exactly which muscles or tendons were being strained, and I would add more stretches to my routine to cover them. Today I have about 25 different stretches I do after tennis, and even on non-tennis days, to maintain a constant state of flexibility from head to toe. Also, luckily for me, I've always strived to have textbook form, having patterned my strokes after players such as Gerulaitis, and then Lendl. I think that having long/fluid/relaxed looking strokes is easier on the body. As far as equipment, you're already on the right path to longevity with your head-light 12 ounce sticks. I'm one of the few guys at our tennis club playing with no braces or wraps or surgical repairs of any kind, and hopefully it will be the same way for you too!

[chess9]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

It'll be interesting to see what happens as the kids with the Modern game (western FH, windshield wiper strokes and poly strings) hit their 40's.

Say what you will but the Classic game (eastern grip, circular strokes and gut strings) is very aging friendly.

Good luck out there.

Yes, I agree. I think that's why I'm still playing. However, I have my current injury from playing with Luxilon and hitting a heavy topspin forehand. I generally hit fairly flat though.

-Robert

[mike53]

Originally Posted by Cloud Atlas

I'd love to know other players experience of getting older.
Should I be shortening my swing, increasing my racquet head size and swapping to at least a sw grip in preparation for slowing down?

No way. Competitive athletics has always had a big component of injury management/avoidance at all ages. The key to long-term success is to ratchet up your game to the absolute pinnacle that you can achieve at your current age and keep up a plan to hold on to what you've got for as long as you possibly can. Easier said than done, but here are a couple pointers for the latter:

Keep you weight down. Not just under control, but down.
Strengthen the weakest links - perpetual strength training routine(s) that protect the knees, shoulders and back from injury
Take up jogging if you don't already and work your way up to 20 mi/wk at 8 min/mile.
Avoid catastrophe - don't do anything you haven't trained for

Oh, and don't worry about how you feel

[Cloud Atlas]

Thanks for all the advice guys. There's some really good stuff in there that I'll definitely implement. Seems I need to hit the gym more for a bit of cross training to start with. And I agree with the poster who said that it'll be interesting to see how the WW, western forehand generation age.

[bee]

You've received some pretty good advice here. How to deal with aging? Stay as healthy as possible but accept the fact it's all temporary. Be less self-focused. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy other's successes and pleasures. Studying Buddhism has been very helpful for me in this regard. Buddhism meshes very well with Christianity.

Good luck with it all.

[TourTenor]

Originally Posted by Dave Mc

I can sum up my advice to you in two words.... flexibility and technique. I started having my first injuries in my late 20's, then more in my 30's, then more in my 40's. But each time I would get injured, I would figure out exactly which muscles or tendons were being strained, and I would add more stretches to my routine to cover them. Today I have about 25 different stretches I do after tennis, and even on non-tennis days, to maintain a constant state of flexibility from head to toe. Also, luckily for me, I've always strived to have textbook form, having patterned my strokes after players such as Gerulaitis, and then Lendl. I think that having long/fluid/relaxed looking strokes is easier on the body. As far as equipment, you're already on the right path to longevity with your head-light 12 ounce sticks. I'm one of the few guys at our tennis club playing with no braces or wraps or surgical repairs of any kind, and hopefully it will be the same way for you too!

Dave, I'm in my fifties and could have written what you said here. (Ok, I haven't had as many injuries as you and I don't do 25 different stretches.) I probably do 8-10 good stretches before playing. Flexibility is certainly the key. I fully extend my stretches and it has paid off with long, fluid strokes.

I might add that with the head-light 12 oz stick (PB10mid) I can get some great racquet head speed. Anyway, so far, so good ... I'm playing mostly dubs but competing with and beating some much younger players (quality teens, 20's and 30's players). Aging is part physical but it is also in your mind.

[Serve em Up]

You need to do more to maintain fitness. Your metabolism slows down and you need more cardio to burn off the excess calories.

I gained weight through my 30's and didn't lose it until I took up running in a serious way. I run 30 miles a week now and still could stand to lose a few pounds.

I was thin as a rail in my 20's, didn't exercise much and pretty much ate what I pleased. Boy how times change.

[dbusiness]

Working on form, and flexibility to attempt to slow the degradation in you performance. Allowing enough recovery time depending on how hard you've worked out at the gym or between long singles matches. Not letting your opponent force you into a match before you've warmed up in the practice can help.

Working out smarter and for someone who is aging will help. Lower impact training for cardio such as swimming, jogging on sports fields or mulch trails will lessen the stress on your knees. Packing your arm brace, sports tape, and ace wrap to support a very minor injury while staying in the game.

Us older player just look for more advantageous ways to win like caffeine before a match. Working smarter by hitting higher precentage shots that allow you to recover or make the opponent have to work harder to earn a point. No alcohol the evening before a morning match.

[maverick66]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

It'll be interesting to see what happens as the kids with the Modern game (western FH, windshield wiper strokes and poly strings) hit their 40's.

Im only 25 and i wake up with pain in my knees and shoulder daily. The modern game tore my body up. Long hours of hard violent swings on a hard court destroyed my body. I cant wait for my 40's and 50's to see how bad my knees get.

[Kobble]

You need to listen to your body at all ages. At 30, however, was when I started seeing more dumb pains and injuries. I'm still learning as I go along. I haven't played tennis since about 28, so I can't comment how it would affect tennis.

[Fearsome Forehand]

At 29, you're still a relative yute. But, you are experiencing the normal injuries that come with overuse. Play less tennis and do something else.

Good tennis shoes help a lot. Replace them often not when your toes are sticking out of the tread. ;o)

As far as your game goes, foot speed will be the first to go. You'll lose a step or two, that is normal. The hands are the last thing to go. I've always had freakishly good hand eye coordination; very fast hands. If I had really great feet instead of merely good feet, I could have been a contenda. ;o) At 29, you should still be pretty damn quick unless you are fat. ;o)

You won't have to change your technique much. You can keep your full Western. You should be good for a long time yet. When you hit 40 to 50, you should shift to a much more recreational game, take it less seriously, but playing tennis will keep you in decent shape. Everyone's different. I've known guys that were a physical mess at 25 and others who were still in good shape at 50+. The old guys at your club sucked when they were 20, didn't get any better and still suck at 45. If you are a good player, you will still be good when you are older, just a little slower.

If you have a bad shoulder, what type of racket are you using? Heavy, head light and flexible are the best. Stiff, light and head heavy are shoulder killers. What kind of strings are you using? All poly at high tension? Very hard on the shoulder. Poly Hybrids are okay. Gut hybrids are great if you like gut. You can't hit 1000 practice serves anymore. And make sure you are getting your weight into your serve and groundies, not serving or hitting "all arm."

As advised above, you can do stretches and such, all good stuff as long as you don't injure yourself stretching. ;o) You can do specific exercises for your rotator cuff which will make you less prone to injury. But, most of the people that I've known who had to get surgery simply stubbornly ignored their initial injury and kept playing tennis until something blew out completely and had to be surgically repaired. It is called being stupid. ;o)

Don't be stupid about injuries, let them heal completely or risk ruining the limb/joint for good. If it hurts when you do that, don't do that. Soft tissue injuries can take a very long time to heal.

Learn to play dubs, it is a great game for the 40+ guys who can't run like they once did.

[Lex]

I'm 42 now. I do notice that I need slightly more "recovery" time between matches. I prefer not to play 2 days in-a-row.

Like others have written, cross train if you can. I can't find the time for cardio like I should. But, some dumbbells and an exercise ball will help for strength training.

You'll be surprised at how you can keep your quickness as long as you maintain flexibility. I'm a former D1 Track athlete. At 42, I feel I can still get to most balls that others wouldn't be able to retrieve.


Keep chasing the yellow ball!! Have fun!!

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

Originally Posted by Cloud Atlas

I'm 29 years old and I'm starting to notice the inevitable decline.
Not so much in terms of poorer quality tennis, but definitely in terms of injuries. Some minor shoulder problems, very tiny scent of tennis elbow, and rolled my ankle two days ago and am out for four weeks.
So I'm wondering what others experience has been regarding dealing with getting older, not only in terms of injuries, but also in terms of playing (technique, slowing reflexes, etc).
I see the 45+ players at my club and most of them use 130sq inch head sizes, 31 points head heavy, 55 beam width monsters, strung at 21lbs. Obviously this is a massive exaggeration, but you get the idea.
I play with a full western forehand at the moment and I'm wondering how this will hold up when I'm 40.
But probably the most difficult thing I can imagine adapting too is the psychological aspect- knowing that you'll never be as good as your potential might have been.
I'd love to know other players experience of getting older.
Should I be shortening my swing, increasing my racquet head size and swapping to at least a sw grip in preparation for slowing down?
How do I deal with getting older!

Dont be such a poon. Lift weights, run, eat right. I hit with a guy that is 48 and we play for 3 hours. Man up son.

[Cloud Atlas]

Originally Posted by jazzyfunkybluesy

Dont be such a poon. Lift weights, run, eat right. I hit with a guy that is 48 and we play for 3 hours. Man up son.

What a useless post. You sound like a classy guy.

[GuyClinch]

I am 38 and honestly haven't really noticed any age decline. Part of that is I don't play that much. Older athletes tend to suffer from a slower recovery period.

A buddy of mine is 50 and really he plays faster and better then guys who are in their 30s. He is an exception no doubt but he can still run and jump.

My guess is at 29 most of the decline you see is just your not in tip top shape. The reason why tour pros don't play in their older years isn't so much tennis itself but the amount of matches these guys play..and that wear and tear along with a slower recovery.

Pete

[Daveyo]

I'm 41 and am just as quick as the guys in their 20's and 30's. Fact is you only lose 2% of your speed per year after 40. Its a pretty linear thing till about 65 then drops significantly after 75 but its really about 10% at that point. This of course is in a nutshell, but fact is what the people said above is good advice. I definitely take longer to heal than when I was 20 but thats life, I started taking performance drinks like cytomax and taking recovery vitamins for sports. My next move is a serious stretching program along with some form of cross training. Good luck

[retlod]

Originally Posted by Fearsome Forehand

If it hurts when you do that, don't do that...

...Learn to play dubs, it is a great game for the 40+ guys who can't run like they once did.

^^^ Best advice in this thread.

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by maverick66

Im only 25 and i wake up with pain in my knees and shoulder daily. The modern game tore my body up. Long hours of hard violent swings on a hard court destroyed my body. I cant wait for my 40's and 50's to see how bad my knees get.

Sorry to hear that. It isn't too late to get a Chris Evert game... j/k