Tennis for different reasons?

[BuggyDub]

Originally Posted by TeflonTom

4 most ppl, a 5mph walk with a bit of hill work will burn more than a game of singles, even if u are playin at a high level. n most ppl arent playin at a high level

if u play enough tennis AND play at a high level then of course it will be good exercise. just sayin it aint real efficent

I also wear a heart rate monitor sometimes when I exercise. I find that I burn about the same for both(550 - 600 cal) a 1 hour walk on the hilly roads in my neighborhood and an hour or so of singles/clinic/private lesson. Doubles, and a clinic with a lot of people where I'm not doing a lot of hitting/running is around 300 maybe.

I took up tennis because I wanted to add variety to my exercise and because I've always loved to watch it but never learned. The few times I tried just hitting with a friend it was a disaster. As I was approaching the big 40 I decided that I would finally take lessons. Now, I'm mad at myself for not starting sooner in life.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by dman72

I never played tennis for fitness. I was in much better shape when I played basketball recreationally. High intensity pick up basketball is a better workout than anything

Same for me.

[NLBwell]

A man burns about 100 calories per mile walking (flat surface). I've burned over 2000 calories practicing tennis in a couple of hours (basket of balls, so no stopping even to pick up balls). That would be about a 20 mile walk. I don't think 20 mile walks are very time efficient.

[TheCheese]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

A man burns about 100 calories per mile walking (flat surface). I've burned over 2000 calories practicing tennis in a couple of hours (basket of balls, so no stopping even to pick up balls). That would be about a 20 mile walk. I don't think 20 mile walks are very time efficient.

How'd you measure how many calories you burned? Just curious.

[NLBwell]

With pulse monitor strapped to my chest.

[Avles]

5 mph walking on hilly terrain is pretty strenuous exercise for some of us schlubs, so if tennis delivers a comparable or better workout it's not too bad from a fitness standpoint...

Singles is more like interval training than walking though, right? High intensity/rest/high intensity/rest. So it seems like there might be differences in effect that go beyond calories burned.