If I lift weights twice per week, will I still get any good results?

[ogruskie]

I lift 3 times per week; varying between high weight/low rep and low weight/high rep.

I realize that I'm not getting any cardio outside (outside of tennis, but that really isn't cardio), so I decided to take out a weight lifting session so I could do some jogging.

When I lift 3 times per week, I get great results in terms of strength and looks. The question is, if I start lifting 2 times per week instead of 3, will I still have any strength/appearance gains? Or will I slowly start regressing because I'm not lifting as often?

 

[Swissv2]

Since you already have a regiment of lifting weights, lifting one less day will not impede your TENNIS ability. Think about it; lifting weights will increase your power, strength, etc - but what is all that without control?

If you feel you already have enough power (which you should) then the jogging will be a good substitution for endurance. You may want to think about doing small sprints, though, as tennis is about bursts of speed in a short period of time instead of an easy paced marathon. If you can find a track nearby, then that is your best option for sprint work.

 

[ogruskie]

Since you already have a regiment of lifting weights, lifting one less day will not impede your TENNIS ability. Think about it; lifting weights will increase your power, strength, etc - but what is all that without control?

If you feel you already have enough power (which you should) then the jogging will be a good substitution for endurance. You may want to think about doing small sprints, though, as tennis is about bursts of speed in a short period of time instead of an easy paced marathon. If you can find a track nearby, then that is your best option for sprint work.

I am most definitely content with my power. I just want to look good for the summer

But I guess if I am to improve my overall tennis abilities, I should focus on aspects other than looks, right?

 

[Swissv2]

nothing wrong with looking good AND playing decent tennis, though the bulkier you become the more of a dufus you would look on the courts .

 

[ogruskie]

nothing wrong with looking good AND playing decent tennis, though the bulkier you become the more of a dufus you would look on the courts .

I am already the biggest player of ANYBODY who takes tennis lessons in my "division". 7th to 10th grade I've been bulking up, because I took martial arts and I loved boxing, and small guys had no business in either sport.

Right now, I'm a mix of muscle and chubbiness. My groundstrokes can sometimes be cannonballs, but I'm a bit slow when having to change direction. I think if I get rid of the chubbiness, I'll be a much better player. I'll still be big, but...

 

[ten15]

I think losing some fat can be beneficial to your tennis. The two days of lifting will help maintain or even build more muscle (maybe not as much as before), but what's the point of having muscle of there's a layer of fat covering them

 

[ogruskie]

I think losing some fat can be beneficial to your tennis. The two days of lifting will help maintain or even build more muscle (maybe not as much as before), but what's the point of having muscle of there's a layer of fat covering them

Haha. I always had the mentality of trying to hit so hard that my opponent couldn't return my shots. Therefore I bulked and bulked and bulked. Then I started playing against pushers who LOVE to bring me to the net. Thats when things get sticky...running and changing directions. Eh.

 

[The Watchman]

I took martial arts and I loved boxing, and small guys had no business in either sport....

I think you should train like a boxer. Energy demands imposed on a boxer and a tennis player are pretty close (perhaps boxers have a little better explosive strength and tennis players a little better endurance).

Of course, skill work would mean spending time on the court instead of being hit in the head.

 

[spikyblackhair]

Boxers have amazing endurance; all I know is that when I'm boxing someone, it takes a heck of a lot more out of me than when I play tennis. Throwing combinations at somebody with 16 oz. gloves on gets surprisingly tiring when you've been going at it for a three minute round, and by the fifth round, you're really sucking in air. Those lame double mouthguards don't help, either... those holes are way too small.

Of course, I tend to throw a lot more punches than the pros do, because I am a lot less efficient at landing solid punches. You also have to go at it for three minutes straight, whereas in tennis you get small breaks between points.

 

[ogruskie]

Boxers have amazing endurance; all I know is that when I'm boxing someone, it takes a heck of a lot more out of me than when I play tennis. Throwing combinations at somebody with 16 oz. gloves on gets surprisingly tiring when you've been going at it for a three minute round, and by the fifth round, you're really sucking in air. Those lame double mouthguards don't help, either... those holes are way too small.

Of course, I tend to throw a lot more punches than the pros do, because I am a lot less efficient at landing solid punches. You also have to go at it for three minutes straight, whereas in tennis you get small breaks between points.

Thats very true.

And I do agree, the mouthguards suck. I was boxing a serious guy one time, and bashed my mouth so hard, the inner upper lip got cut and it bled into the mouthguard. When I removed it out of my mouth, blood was leaking out of the guard and hitting the ground.

Thats just a MINOR injury compared to the crap I've done earlier, heh.

Blah, back on topic. So you guys think that lifting twice a week won't have much difference?

 

[Swissv2]

Thats very true.

And I do agree, the mouthguards suck. I was boxing a serious guy one time, and bashed my mouth so hard, the inner upper lip got cut and it bled into the mouthguard. When I removed it out of my mouth, blood was leaking out of the guard and hitting the ground.

Thats just a MINOR injury compared to the crap I've done earlier, heh.

Blah, back on topic. So you guys think that lifting twice a week won't have much difference?

Lifting twice a week would probably only impede on how you look at this point.