Long Face
Semi-Pro
I'm watching a little Rogers Cup lately, and noticed two players, Silva and Baurista Agut, employed a type of delayed grunting, which could be very unpleasant to their opponents. They started the loud grunting right AFTER they hit the ball, and the grunt lasted till the ball bounced on the opponent's side of the court (slower shots), or till the opponent hit the ball (faster shots).
And it is very different from the type of grunting from, say, Nadal. Although very loud, Nadal only grunts when he takes a swing at the ball.
I had also noticed extended grunting, in which they player starts a lower grunt when he/she hits the ball, but the grunt goes on, very loudly, long after the ball leaves the racquet. I cannot remember which players do this, though. Ferrer sometimes, but not all the time.
Personally I think such grunting is bad sportsmanship. And I believe players who grunt like these started it when they were young, probably taught or encouraged by their coaches. If it worked well in their matches, they kept on doing it.
The suspicion was confirmed recently when I watched a local coach teaching some kids, and he was showcasing an exaggerated and extended grunting to his students, although I know this coach well enough to know that he never grunts in his own matches.
And it is very different from the type of grunting from, say, Nadal. Although very loud, Nadal only grunts when he takes a swing at the ball.
I had also noticed extended grunting, in which they player starts a lower grunt when he/she hits the ball, but the grunt goes on, very loudly, long after the ball leaves the racquet. I cannot remember which players do this, though. Ferrer sometimes, but not all the time.
Personally I think such grunting is bad sportsmanship. And I believe players who grunt like these started it when they were young, probably taught or encouraged by their coaches. If it worked well in their matches, they kept on doing it.
The suspicion was confirmed recently when I watched a local coach teaching some kids, and he was showcasing an exaggerated and extended grunting to his students, although I know this coach well enough to know that he never grunts in his own matches.
