How to turn tennis practice into fat burning cardio?
- Thread starter a529612
- Start date
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
"the eight"
corner to corner: he plays DTL, you cross-court
don't forget to split-step
controlled-long shots, no winners
keep it going as long as possible
then switch places
you will need some energy and good breathing technique here
corner to corner: he plays DTL, you cross-court
don't forget to split-step
controlled-long shots, no winners
keep it going as long as possible
then switch places
you will need some energy and good breathing technique here
ChicagoJack
Hall of Fame
a529612 said:
Fat burning is a very different and specific topic from the topic of weight loss in general. Burning fat implies you want to keep muscle. Fat burning while keeping or gaining muscle is no easy feat.
There is one school of thought that implies cardio is the best way to burn fat. This is a common notion. There is another school of thought that sees weight training as playing the crucial role (in exercise) to burning fat while keeping or building muscle. I'm not suggesting I have truth in a bottle here. Those of you who think they do, please keep your flame throwers holstered.
In the discussion forums at Men's Health Magazine Online, there is a post that was made into a permanent sticky, by virtue of unanimous vote by that posting community entitled, "so you want lose fat do you?" When newbies come to that board with that question, (and that is a very common question) the old timers will point em to this post. This post makes a very good case for the idea that resistance weight training plays the crucial role, versus cardio for fat loss, within the framework of a sensible diet, and good nutrition.
Men's Health Discussion Main:
http://forums.menshealth.com/groupee
Belly Off Club:
http://forums.menshealth.com/groupee/forums/a/cfrm/f/255109121
Belly Off Club Workouts:
http://forums.menshealth.com/groupee/forums/a/frm/f/295109121
So You Want to Lose Fat Do You?:
http://forums.menshealth.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/295109121/m/474106321/p/1
-Jack
Mattle
Rookie
You could buy a (dunno what is called in English) "Softer ball"? 12 centimetres.. You can practise your tennis strokes, hitting sweet spot and still play competitively.
That ball aint dying as easily as real balls... Great fun, great stroke practising and a real fat burner... Your rallies are gonna be reeaaaallyyy looong
NOTICE: You have to buy THE real THing... those 9 centrimetres and the cheap ones = garbage..
You gotta buy the real ones.. "Select"! 12 centimetres
That ball aint dying as easily as real balls... Great fun, great stroke practising and a real fat burner... Your rallies are gonna be reeaaaallyyy looong
NOTICE: You have to buy THE real THing... those 9 centrimetres and the cheap ones = garbage..
You gotta buy the real ones.. "Select"! 12 centimetres
DRtenniS1112
Semi-Pro
The Maine Tennis Association just brought a program to our state. It's actually called cardio-tennis. It's a buncha peeps who go out and socialize while doing tennis drills that increase cardio. Not my cup of tea but I often see them while waiting to take the courts.
ouchieelbow
New User
atatu said:
I agree.. If your heart rate is between, lets say 135-155 and sustained for 30 or more minutes, you are doing cardio exercise. Its no different then running on a treadmill for 30 minutes.
Grab two cans of balls, and just hit. Even if the ball is out, keep hitting.. When I do this, my heart rate is in the 150's. I would think anyone who is a 3.0 or better would be able to do this, especially if you use 6 balls.
35ft6
Legend
- Go for a light 15 minute job before playing.
Do this stuff during the time that would normally be sit down water breaks:
- Get a jump rope and skip rope every 20 minutes of hitting for about 2 or 3 minutes straight.
- Do some push ups during water breaks.
- Run lines (run forward to the net along the sideline.... run backwards to service line... side shuffle to center service line... straight up to net... etc.).
- Run at a higher than moderate pace around the court. 2 laps.
If you're not 4.5 or so, it's hard to get a really good cardio workout from tennis. Beginners and even intermediates spend most of their time walking around picking up balls or standing in place hitting back and forth.
So what you need to do, if you're not regularly getting into grueling 12 to 15 ball rallies with your opponent, is to supplement the exercise you get from hitting by doing high intensity stuff (like jumping rope) during breaks. So no more sit down breaks. Take a sip and use that break time to run lines, skip rope, do push ups, etc.
Punishing your quads/thighs is the best way to go about turning your court time into a fat burning workout. It's the biggest muscle in your body and working it means you'll burn more calories and fat, even hours after you're done working out.
Do this stuff during the time that would normally be sit down water breaks:
- Get a jump rope and skip rope every 20 minutes of hitting for about 2 or 3 minutes straight.
- Do some push ups during water breaks.
- Run lines (run forward to the net along the sideline.... run backwards to service line... side shuffle to center service line... straight up to net... etc.).
- Run at a higher than moderate pace around the court. 2 laps.
If you're not 4.5 or so, it's hard to get a really good cardio workout from tennis. Beginners and even intermediates spend most of their time walking around picking up balls or standing in place hitting back and forth.
So what you need to do, if you're not regularly getting into grueling 12 to 15 ball rallies with your opponent, is to supplement the exercise you get from hitting by doing high intensity stuff (like jumping rope) during breaks. So no more sit down breaks. Take a sip and use that break time to run lines, skip rope, do push ups, etc.
Punishing your quads/thighs is the best way to go about turning your court time into a fat burning workout. It's the biggest muscle in your body and working it means you'll burn more calories and fat, even hours after you're done working out.
