What playing style is easiest on the knees?

[10ACE]

Originally Posted by corners

I'm 37 and just starting to develop arthritis in my knees. As a kid I played serve and volley, but am now trying to develop more skill along the baseline.

What playing style have you found to be easiest on the knees? S&V, allcourt, aggressive baseline, junkballer, etc.

Are there any particular strokes associated with high knee stress?

Any personal experiences/anecdotes and/or links to academic or instructional info most welcome.

I'd like to enjoy tennis into old age if possible, and will adjust my style to that end if necessary.

Great serve and a 1 2 punch- end the point as soon as possible and hope your oppenent is not fast and cannot return your genius 1 2 punch

[bertrevert]

Big serving won't go easy on your lower back or your shoulder but if you have no issue with those then fine. Should help.

I'm starting to get a lot of knee niggles.

I play on artificial grass so there is plenty of sliding.

I can't work out if a certain looseness underfoot is a good or a bad thing for the knees.

It would seem commonsense that sliding on grass and clay is a good thing (less resistance) but the looseness can play out in other ways such as hyper-extensions within slides, or groin issues due to sliding and then having to recover and change direction without grip.

You also have to stay low for the low bounce on fake grass. It means I strengthen thighs with squats etc.

All court if you can manage it is athletic and fast. But on a loose surface it can be very taxing. I think hard court is easier for the all court style for the reasons mentioned above..

I'm of the view that for lower level play then baseline is fine.

[mb73]

Originally Posted by corners

I'm 37 and just starting to develop arthritis in my knees. As a kid I played serve and volley, but am now trying to develop more skill along the baseline.

What playing style have you found to be easiest on the knees? S&V, allcourt, aggressive baseline, junkballer, etc.

Are there any particular strokes associated with high knee stress?

Any personal experiences/anecdotes and/or links to academic or instructional info most welcome.

I'd like to enjoy tennis into old age if possible, and will adjust my style to that end if necessary.

I am not the most qualified to answer this, but I would think a serve and volley game would lead to shorter points and therefore less running.

[x Southpaw x]

Serve and volley is awesome, I'm with everyone here. That plus flatter grips for ur groundies and a great half volley slash on-the-rise game will be recipe for a great game all the way to old age

[LeeD]

That, coupled with the ability and WILLINGNESS to allow some winners by, based on how much effort for a losing cause you can afford to work to stay in the point.
"Nice shot"......

[Pioneer]

Serve and volley stresses the body much more than a baseline game. 10 Ace has it - 1 2 punch. Just have a weapon, doesn't matter which shot it is going to be, and concentrate on winning with that weapon

[new_tennis_player]

I have to be careful about my knees too.

Interestingly, I don't see young adults playing recreational tennis at the courts I play it: it's either teens or middle aged adults. I gotta find out what their secret is.