Can bodybuilding hinder your potential in tennis?

dman72

Hall of Fame
Is the decline bench press also hard on the rotator cuff/shoulders?

Everything I've read says it's easier. I'm going to try it as an alternative this week. I have a power rack in my garage, so I don't have to worry about killing myself under the bar.
 
Everything I've read says it's easier. I'm going to try it as an alternative this week. I have a power rack in my garage, so I don't have to worry about killing myself under the bar.

I think that decline BP is harder on the shoulder because you take the elbows farther behind you (towards the head).
 

dman72

Hall of Fame
I think that decline BP is harder on the shoulder because you take the elbows farther behind you (towards the head).

Are we mixing up incline and decline here? Do some googling of bodybuilding and powerlifting sites..the consensus seems to be that decline bench has much less shoulder involvement.
 

Otherside

Semi-Pro
I am now @ 83 kgs, O do yoga, sprints, stretching, you name it, I never feel hindered from my muscle, I would like to be a bit lighter, maybe 77 kgs, Im sure that would make me more nimble, but as long as you work in full range of motion, make sure you don't have imbalances you will be fine!

 

GuyClinch

Legend
Neutral grip flat or decline barbell presses are easiest on the shoulder, IMHO. But they don't hit your chest nearly as hard - and aren't the full body exercise a bench press is. Yes benching correctly will use a lot of different muscles in your body..even your legs. It's also a pain to load dumbbell presses..

Shoulder anatomy varies some - and some kinds can bench and play tennis no problem. For others not so much...Incidentally SOME machines can work the chest without shoulder impingement. The key is often finding a machine that limits range of motion to close to a floor press (another safe but inconvenient shoulder exercise). This one exercise routine fits everyone is a mistake, IMHO..

I believe that you should feel zero pain while lifting (you might feel strain or serious soreness afterwards) but if an exercise is hurting you while doing it - stop.
 
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Daniel Andrade

Hall of Fame
I worked with a guy that used to play defensive line for the Utah Utes. He's 6' 7" and weighed over 320 when he played and he said that he could do the splits during his playing days.

You are flexible if you work on flexibility.
Weren't you afraid that the guy could crush you with his thumb?
 

Daniel Andrade

Hall of Fame
I am on about 2 months of starting strength, and after this, I want to move to a bodybuilding program. If I lift just to look good and add muscle just for the sake of having muscle, could it be a limiting factor in how good I can get in tennis? Or would I be okay as long as I stretch and maintain my flexibility and range of motion. I don't really have a theoretical basis to ask this question but I just can't see a very bulky person gracefully crushing a forehand. (I am not asking about the ability to move around the court) I guess I am talking theoretically since this is assuming I can actually succeed in bodybuilding. Thanks!

Edit: I know Nadal is fairly big but I get the feeling he didn't get that way doing hypertrophy training in the gym. (the makeup of the muscle is different?)
How did it go?
I'm planning on starting to do this next year!
 

ReopeningWed

Professional
I'm 225 lbs/100+ kg and I don't think my tennis has been effected. Maybe it's suboptimal for me to grind points all day and play defensively because I'll get tired quicker from running around, but I think I feel better when I'm strong and that translates into better tennis.
 

ReopeningWed

Professional
All of you here talking about how extra weight is bad, but what if my height is 6-4 and my weight is 160 lbs? If you look at Berdych, you will see that he has got 200 lbs and also 6-4. Thus, I am lacking 40 lbs! I do not really think i have fat at all, only muscles, and i am lean naturally. I am so-called ectomorph. This makes me miserable with the idea how i could be playing if my body would be "appropriate" as i have a great touch. I am 18 y.o. btw.
That's pretty much the perfect body type for tennis. Think about it this way, you can lift as HUGE and explosively as you want, and the stronger you get, your speed gains will be much better than someone else who isn't as tall and is built more stocky and strong.
 

ReopeningWed

Professional
I have had assorted injuries via tennis most of my life. I had done weightlifting for years, but a recent article I read in Men's Health stated that men are better off to just do bodyweight exercises such as pushups, pullups, dips, squats, forward and reverse lunges, etc. The theory behind this is that when you use weights or machines, you are not doing natural body movements you do during a typical day, and predisposing yourself to injury. I was surprised to read that the special forces do not use weights or machines for this reason (this is what MH said anyway). That being said, if you have a weakness in one part of your body due to overuse, such as a weak rotator cuff from serving, specific weight training can help you rehab.
It's really difficult to work on your lower back without a weights. How many people complain about back pain when they get older?
 
If working out makes you physically stronger, more stable and healthier then the net impact on your game could be positive even with the loss of flexibility. Your current level of play is the great unknown here , if you aren’t a pro I think you could be fine with added muscle. that being said even pros lift weights
 
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To much Bodybuilding can hurt tennis but most are not good enough in either for it to matter (I.e either they are not able to build enough muscle to make it detrimental or they are not at a tennis level were a few pounds less makes a big difference). I mean assume you are a 3.5 and you have too much Muscle this won't hurt you much because most opponents are overweight too and usually in a worse way (fat instead of muscle).
 
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