Keeping Sweat Out of My Face...

mnttlrg

mnttlrg

Professional
This might be better to post in the equipment section, but I am wondering if somebody has figured out the optimal way to control sweat on your face.

I get annoyed with towels because they don't block anything from coming down during the point.

I don't like wearing a hat... they don't absorb that much sweat to begin with, and they tend to feel uncomfortable and often will fall off or drift around on serves or in the middle of points.

I thought about looking for some type of bandana or headband. I am not sure if that's the answer I am looking for.

And I suppose maybe I should keep 3 or 4 of them around, since anything I wear tends to be gross after 4-5 games.

Or I need to find a better hat maybe. I haven't tried fitted hats, and I don't know if they make hats specifically for sports.
 
A proper headband is the only solution. Not one of those silly thin Adidas tie up ones, as they work for about 30 seconds on a hot day. Adidas do a fairly thick one, as do Under Armour.
 
They make high absorbant headbands nowadays. Don't get those itchy $5 headbands from Walmart.

You could also wear a sweatband on your wrist to help you wipe sweat between points. That's why Murray and Nadal wear them.
 
about a dozen headbands and sweatbands is what i do... especially on humid days.
nothing worse than losing due to equipment malfunction (grip, string, etc...), to someone i should be beating, because i didn't come prepared.
 
Headbands! A hat doesn't work too well. Headbands are the way to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm going to give you the answer. If you are more interested in how you play then how you look ... keep reading. :cool:

First, some context. I live in the land of hard courts, 90+ degrees, high humidity. I sweat a lot ... and somehow my forhead shoots a stream of water (like a hose) into both eyes. Total freak show. Add to that ... Lasik gave me a good 20 years 20/20 ... but now wear glasses for tennis. I often wore Oakleys for doubles ... not a problem. Singles in summer here ... forget glasses.

Note: if this works with glasses, it will work for anyone ... other than those that need to look cool/pretty. :rolleyes:

This is my solution ... keeps sweat off glasses, but do get buddy smart *** comments.

You are going to need a hat like this:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/adidas_Mens_adizero_II_Hat_White_Black/descpageMAAGRON-AMAPHWB.html

A lightweight cap ... cooler than a regular ball cap. You could use a visor ... but that's even a bigger fashion fiasco.

You are going to need a skinny tie bandana ... like this one:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/adidas_Tie_II_Headband_/descpageAGRON-ATH2T.html

- wrist band on each arm
- at least two towels, a small one you take to the back of the court, and a bigger one for changeovers.

You take that girly bandana and tie it on. Bottom edge just above eyebrows ... not a hair tie in this design.

Then you take your lightweight cap ... with the velcro strap not fastened ... and put hat over girly bandana. If you do it right, only a small portion of bandana will show under the front of the cap. Do it wrong, and you are the guy with his cap pooched way up on his head. Hideous. Pull velcro strap and attach. Trust me on this ... bandana on first, and only then cap.

Couple of things to understand. The bandana will be soaked after a couple of minutes. There ain't no wicking away going on here. It's merely a channel ... think rain gutter ... for those sweat eye streams to be routed elsewhere. I have no idea where it all gets routed, but not in the eyes, and not on the glasses ... good to go.

You take that little towel with you to the back fence. As needed between points ... you grab your glasses with one hand, and dry your eyes with that little towel. I don't use a strap on the glasses, and so far no accidents. You get quick with this little towel quick dry.

If you can't get to the towel, do the eye drying with your off hand wrist band. If really drenching the wrist band, rotate it a bit so next eye drying gets a "dryer" part of the wrist band. Don't mess with the dominant hand wrist band ... it's already overworked.

You can rotate the girly bandanas ... I rotate a white one and a black one. It's really futile however. A dry one is soaked in two minutes, and the wet one laying on the bence never dries in the humidity.

There you go ... problem solved with a fashion statement.

Oh yeah ... 3rd towel is to sit on in the car on drive home.

You California guys .... ( @TenFanLA ) won't understand humidity.
 
If you want to look really weird, buy the sweat gutr. No need to replace anything the whole match. I have to use it in the humid Florida mornings. Just rinse it off when you are done using it:

FLEX_Front-Focus-Tight.jpg
 
mikeler said:
If you want to look really weird, buy the sweat gutr. No need to replace anything the whole match. I have to use it in the humid Florida mornings. Just rinse it off when you are done using it:

FLEX_Front-Focus-Tight.jpg
Click to expand...

i've been thinking of getting that... does it really work?
 
Don't sweat is the correct answer but if you have to sweat, then a 70s sweatband is the only answer.
 
nytennisaddict said:
i know this was meant as sarcasm... but there is truth to this!

the better in shape you get, the less you will sweat
Click to expand...

I don't think there's a lot of truth to it. Some days the combination of heat and humidity will make people sweat when sitting in a chair.

When I was young and slender and in my early 20's I could play a couple of hours of tennis in 100 degree weather and laugh about it. That's the kind of shape I was in. Believe me, I still sweated buckets.

Besides, if being in better shape does make a difference, all it does is forestall the inevitable. You'll be sweating in game 5 instead of game 2, and once you start sweating you're not going to stop.
 
I like that thin sweatband with the rear tie-off. I use something like that for biking. The sweat is absorbed and then gravity channeled to the back where it drips onto your back. Your back is already wet. I do have a small towel I use to dry my face. Probably need to give sweat band a good squeeze if I'm playing outdoors in hot day.

I have several "runners" hats. They have good ventilation and absorb and channel the water, again to my back. Hats are good in the sun since it keeps your head cooler. Direct sunlight onto your head really wears you down quickly.
 
Traffic said:
I have several "runners" hats. They have good ventilation and absorb and channel the water, again to my back. Hats are good in the sun since it keeps your head cooler. Direct sunlight onto your head really wears you down quickly.
Click to expand...

I need to get one of these lighter hats. I use a standard baseball style cap. I bet it traps more heat than the lighter hats.
 
Mark Asher said:
I don't think there's a lot of truth to it. Some days the combination of heat and humidity will make people sweat when sitting in a chair.

When I was young and slender and in my early 20's I could play a couple of hours of tennis in 100 degree weather and laugh about it. That's the kind of shape I was in. Believe me, I still sweated buckets.

Besides, if being in better shape does make a difference, all it does is forestall the inevitable. You'll be sweating in game 5 instead of game 2, and once you start sweating you're not going to stop.
Click to expand...

Not saying that it eliminates sweating... but when I was 210lbs I sweated a helluva lot more than when was 153lbs. Magnitudes more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Traffic said:
I like that thin sweatband with the rear tie-off. I use something like that for biking. The sweat is absorbed and then gravity channeled to the back where it drips onto your back. Your back is already wet. I do have a small towel I use to dry my face. Probably need to give sweat band a good squeeze if I'm playing outdoors in hot day.

I have several "runners" hats. They have good ventilation and absorb and channel the water, again to my back. Hats are good in the sun since it keeps your head cooler. Direct sunlight onto your head really wears you down quickly.
Click to expand...

Yeah ... cap is a given for me. If nothing else, I don't have to apply sun block around the eyes/glasses area, and nose. Last thing you want is sunblock lotion in the eyes. I've wore a cap for outdoor tennis so long I don't even think about it. I didn't need the bandanna until the glasses in the last couple of years... just the cap. I figure my eyes are getting some sun protection also from the cap. Sunglasses would be best for eyes, but at least the cap blocks out some of it. I have become very quick at putting on the bandanna and cap, so I pop both off on changeovers when it's really hot to towel off head/face ... and cool down. Glasses suck for singles outside in the heat ... but you gotta do what you gotta do. Unfortunately my new progressive transition lenses did not work for tennis, or I would have had some glass tint eye protection.
 
Mark Asher said:
I need to get one of these lighter hats. I use a standard baseball style cap. I bet it traps more heat than the lighter hats.
Click to expand...

I used to play in a standard ball cap also. I find the lighter one cooler, but you have to get used to it not holding it's form as good as the standard hat (at least with the one I have). I really need to buy a second one ... I have pretty much pushed the limit on washing it out in the sink and letting it dry. That said ... sucker is still white after a couple of years. :p
 
nytennisaddict said:
Not saying that it eliminates sweating... but when I was 210lbs I sweated a helluva lot more than when was 153lbs. Magnitudes more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Jeeze ... you went from running back to distance runner. :eek: I actually think the fact I was a quality sweater worked in my favor during the tournament years. My own personal cooling system. I was a notch below those who got in trouble in the heat because they sweat so much they couldn't keep up with fluids ... day before, and during the match. My favorite doubles partner ... probably best athlete I was ever on the court with had that problem. He ended up with IVs after a couple of brutal summer tournaments. I have cramped up before ... hauled off the court, but never IV land. That doubles partner (ex D1 wide receiver) sweat so much he literally made sweat squirt out of the holes in his tennis shoes before. :p

Yeah, you are right about weight and conditioning and an individuals sweat production (some are just going to sweat more than others no matter what). I was at 155lbs 5 years ago, and really good condition (for me), and 2 hour singles matches in the heat were no issue regarding sweat production. Of course, this summer it was the opposite. My legs were not quite ready for singles 2 months ago, so I would play hard for a set, and then the running for the wide and short balls diminished (ok ... stopped). You don't sweat nearly as much when you just say "good shot". Man... the old guy has come a long ways in 2 months. I ran for the full 2 hours in singles yesterday in the heat of the day ... probably mid 90s heat index, high humidity. I beat the other old guy who has been whooping me badly in the second sets ... dude just does not get tire. I started 2 months ago 168ish... and now seeing 160-162 range. 6 pounds in a lot for a 5' 7.5" guy. I guess not quite as much as 60lbs for a 5' 4" guy. Wow ... can't even imagine. I felt like less gravity at 155lbs, you must have had to weight your shoes down for a while.
 
I will add that I recently bought the "wrist towels," the extra long wrist bands similar to what Fed wears. They really help with the sweat. Much better than standard wrist bands for dealing with sweat.
 
Mark Asher said:
I will add that I recently bought the "wrist towels," the extra long wrist bands similar to what Fed wears. They really help with the sweat. Much better than standard wrist bands for dealing with sweat.
Click to expand...

Standard wrist bands and tournagrip for me. My grip never slips ... so I really don't ever dry the arms off much. I tried the double wrist bands, but they bugged me for some reason. To bad ... would be better for drying under glasses now. I might have to try one again on the left (off) arm.
 
Shoe shloshing sweater here, too, no matter the weight. Those salt water IV's do work. Since my LASIK is still good after twenty years, don't need the head band. The velcro tightened ball cap still a must for the (growing) bald spot, though. *Nothing* worked for the wet grip til I went to the golf "rain" glove. All the brands work, but the cheapest seemed best - Rain-X brand. Just wring the sweat out of it between points.
 
mntlblok said:
Shoe shloshing sweater here, too, no matter the weight. Those salt water IV's do work. Since my LASIK is still good after twenty years, don't need the head band. The velcro tightened ball cap still a must for the (growing) bald spot, though. *Nothing* worked for the wet grip til I went to the golf "rain" glove. All the brands work, but the cheapest seemed best - Rain-X brand. Just wring the sweat out of it between points.
Click to expand...

Where have you been? I found my cc FH since I last talked to you. Had to ditch the progressive lenses for tennis. If you sweat to much for tournagrip ... you are an open level sweater. Looks like I'm good on the hair ... but everything else declining.
 
ByeByePoly said:
Where have you been? I found my cc FH since I last talked to you. Had to ditch the progressive lenses for tennis. If you sweat to much for tournagrip ... you are an open level sweater. Looks like I'm good on the hair ... but everything else declining.
Click to expand...
Have gotten back into the underwater photography a bit, and kind of over-did-it last year with the tournament thing. Have figured out that the inability to hit an offensive forehand volley (due to the wrist) really limits my enjoyment of the game.
 
  1. mntlblok said:
    Have gotten back into the underwater photography a bit, and kind of over-did-it last year with the tournament thing. Have figured out that the inability to hit an offensive forehand volley (due to the wrist) really limits my enjoyment of the game.
    Click to expand...

Yeah ... sorry about the wrist. The wrist took out one of my USTA teammates about 5 years ago. Backs took out two of them. Another ... the hip (dude is still almost scratch golfer with new hip). One quit because he was just tired of always being hurt ... mainly calf tears. Two died (one heart attack early 50s, the other early onset Alzheimer). One in prison (lawyer).

So every day I get to play at 59, I figure I'm playing with house $. I was playing singles with my 60 year old friend ... and I asked if we should play more doubles due to our age. We both laughed out loud and said "hell no ... we are at the tail end of our singles years ... we can't waste any time away from singles". That said ... the buddy I play singles with every Monday morning is about to turn 69. His FH still has 5.0 stamped on it.
 
ByeByePoly said:
Yeah ... sorry about the wrist. The wrist took out one of my USTA teammates about 5 years ago. Backs took out two of them. Another ... the hip (dude is still almost scratch golfer with new hip). One quit because he was just tired of always being hurt ... mainly calf tears. Two died (one heart attack early 50s, the other early onset Alzheimer). One in prison (lawyer).

So every day I get to play at 59, I figure I'm playing with house $. I was playing singles with my 60 year old friend ... and I asked if we should play more doubles due to our age. We both laughed out loud and said "hell no ... we are at the tail end of our singles years ... we can't waste any time away from singles". That said ... the buddy I play singles with every Monday morning is about to turn 69. His FH still has 5.0 stamped on it.
Click to expand...
Have continued to dodge prison and haven't been beaten in singles by anybody in the club in a very long time. Only played doubles in league play this past year, but according to this interesting page, it looks like I'll be getting bumped back up to 4.5. http://www.tennisrecord.com/adult/r...avannah - SATA&gender=M&orderby=DynamicRating Can't keep a 4.5 league going here in Savannah. Move up to the 65's next year, if I live that long. . .
 
nytennisaddict said:
Not saying that it eliminates sweating... but when I was 210lbs I sweated a helluva lot more than when was 153lbs. Magnitudes more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Some people just genetically sweat much more. I was always skinny and in excellent shape, but also sweat profusely. I can see that with my younger one too. Nothing wrong with his fitness levels either. Just genetics.
 
hahahaha ... the gutter works. Good tip @mikeler ... thx. I hit an hour on the ball machine ... really good sweating ... it's a keeper.

Couple of observations:
- if you put it on at the court, you have to feel the gutter in front to make sure you have it aligned correctly. I'm not willing to bring a mirror for the gutter. :p:p:p
- it works better with a cap. If you ever watch the pros that sweat a lot with a cap ... Querry ... you will notice a lot of sweat dripping off the tip of the cap. I think the cap is doing more then we might guess. I had the gutter a little above the eyebrows like the pic above, and then pulled the cap right down to it's upper edge (but not over the gutter). Worked great.
- you obviously still have to deal with the usual ... sweating around eyes, below cap ....
- sucker left a little dent in the head for 15-20 minutes ... I will experiment with how tight to velcro it. You don't even notice it's on your head ... so I'm sure I can go a little less tight. That said ... you would defeat the purpose if you sweat could go under the gutter.


Here was the big thing, and why I tried it in the first place. Totally cooler (not in looks) than the bandanna. The bandanna got soaked in 5 minutes, and was dripping wet on the forehead for the remainder of the match. Just take a towel, or your wrist band across the "gutter area" ... and eyes (quickly pull off glasses for a sweat band swipe) and good to go.

Bring on the buddy verbal abuse ... this sucker actually works. The wife wasn't betting on it .... hahahahaha.
 
I'm super sweaty and live in southern Louisiana. I use plain old sweatbands from a company called Suddora on Amazon. I've tried other brands but those are the most absorbent that I've found so far. I squeeze the band out between games and it does the trick. I also use wristbands from the same company.

ETA: This thread made me think about getting more sweatbands. I found that the price is about 20% cheaper if you order from the Suddora website, rather than amazon.
 
Last edited:
bmac said:
I'm super sweaty and live in southern Louisiana. I use plain old sweatbands from a company called Suddora on Amazon. I've tried other brands but those are the most absorbent that I've found so far. I squeeze the band out between games and it does the trick. I also use wristbands from the same company.

ETA: This thread made me think about getting more sweatbands. I found that the price is about 20% cheaper if you order from the Suddora website, rather than amazon.
Click to expand...

Thanks for tip on Suddora. I have been meaning to buy some more wrist bands, and some longer ones for the left/off arm. I don't like there to be a logo on the wrist bands since I rotate them some after drying/dabbling off the face to keep a dryer spot for the next dab.

I ordered one pair from Amazon since I'm Prime. I had to take a tip from someone from Louisiana since I was born in Shreveport. :cool: And yes, I remember ... Louisiana is pretty much a sauna in the summer.
 
ByeByePoly said:
hahahaha ... the gutter works. Good tip @mikeler ... thx. I hit an hour on the ball machine ... really good sweating ... it's a keeper.

Couple of observations:
- if you put it on at the court, you have to feel the gutter in front to make sure you have it aligned correctly. I'm not willing to bring a mirror for the gutter. :p:p:p
- it works better with a cap. If you ever watch the pros that sweat a lot with a cap ... Querry ... you will notice a lot of sweat dripping off the tip of the cap. I think the cap is doing more then we might guess. I had the gutter a little above the eyebrows like the pic above, and then pulled the cap right down to it's upper edge (but not over the gutter). Worked great.
- you obviously still have to deal with the usual ... sweating around eyes, below cap ....
- sucker left a little dent in the head for 15-20 minutes ... I will experiment with how tight to velcro it. You don't even notice it's on your head ... so I'm sure I can go a little less tight. That said ... you would defeat the purpose if you sweat could go under the gutter.


Here was the big thing, and why I tried it in the first place. Totally cooler (not in looks) than the bandanna. The bandanna got soaked in 5 minutes, and was dripping wet on the forehead for the remainder of the match. Just take a towel, or your wrist band across the "gutter area" ... and eyes (quickly pull off glasses for a sweat band swipe) and good to go.

Bring on the buddy verbal abuse ... this sucker actually works. The wife wasn't betting on it .... hahahahaha.
Click to expand...

Is that a selfie you took? If so, I love it! Let's be honest, the thing is so ugly to wear. If I gave 2 cents about how I looked on court, I'd never do it. As a middle aged man now, I'm more interested in functionality than fashion. I also think I have it too tight, sometimes it puts too much pressure on my head but I also worry about sweat sneaking through so I just deal with it. Glad it worked for you. Enjoy the summer without your eyes burning!
 
mikeler said:
Is that a selfie you took? If so, I love it! Let's be honest, the thing is so ugly to wear. If I gave 2 cents about how I looked on court, I'd never do it. As a middle aged man now, I'm more interested in functionality than fashion. I also think I have it too tight, sometimes it puts too much pressure on my head but I also worry about sweat sneaking through so I just deal with it. Glad it worked for you. Enjoy the summer without your eyes burning!
Click to expand...

Yep ... BBP selfie ... past middle age and care even less. :p I really should record my friends comments as they realize there is a thing called a sweat gutter. I play one of my friends every Monday morning at his country club. It's nice ... I'm going to miss playing there. :D A second friend I play at high noon on Tuesdays won't even notice ... he is there for the duel. A third friend will be fascinated by it ... and most likely will make one. He is a pilot/parachute instructor with all kind of tools and skills. If I was still at my old tennis club (closed down) ... my invitation to the annual guys golf trips to Scottsdale would be null and void if there was any chance I would bring the gutter to the tee box. Wouldn't need it there ... it was so hot and dry your were reluctant to pee and lose the fluids.

My defense will be ... "hey, TW Mikeler plays with it ... get over it".

:p:p:p
 
I wear a runners cap. Sweat drips off the back onto my back.

Cyclist use sweat gutter. I just have a few fabric caps with a tail. I'll see I can take a pic or find a link.

Sweat in eye not cool.
 
Yep this thing is ugly to wear...especially if you have a bald dome, because it looks like you put some thin rubber band on your bald head....lol. I admit it does work for the most part...had some issues right above the bridge of my brows with the sweat trickling onto the glasses, despite also having a cap on. Have to see if some minor adjustment will take care of that. Overall...pretty pleased, and will invest in a couple more of these to go along with my regular headbands.
 
mcs1970 said:
Yep this thing is ugly to wear...especially if you have a bald dome, because it looks like you put some thin rubber band on your bald head....lol. I admit it does work for the most part...had some issues right above the bridge of my brows with the sweat trickling onto the glasses, despite also having a cap on. Have to see if some minor adjustment will take care of that. Overall...pretty pleased, and will invest in a couple more of these to go along with my regular headbands.
Click to expand...

"because it looks like you put some thin rubber band on"

That's unfair to rubberbands. It's closer to the trim pieces on glass shower doors. :D

I haven't figured out a good way to dry off glasses when you get sweat drops on them. I use microfiber cloths for dry glasses, but they just create a film with drops.
 
ByeByePoly said:
Yep ... BBP selfie ... past middle age and care even less. :p I really should record my friends comments as they realize there is a thing called a sweat gutter. I play one of my friends every Monday morning at his country club. It's nice ... I'm going to miss playing there. :D A second friend I play at high noon on Tuesdays won't even notice ... he is there for the duel. A third friend will be fascinated by it ... and most likely will make one. He is a pilot/parachute instructor with all kind of tools and skills. If I was still at my old tennis club (closed down) ... my invitation to the annual guys golf trips to Scottsdale would be null and void if there was any chance I would bring the gutter to the tee box. Wouldn't need it there ... it was so hot and dry your were reluctant to pee and lose the fluids.

My defense will be ... "hey, TW Mikeler plays with it ... get over it".

:p:p:p
Click to expand...

I played out at Indian Wells once in October. It was 95 degrees and I could wear sunglasses most of the match! I had to take them off near the end of the match because I was finally starting to get a little sweat running down my face. In Florida, I just look out the window and start sweating. :cool:
 
mikeler said:
I played out at Indian Wells once in October. It was 95 degrees and I could wear sunglasses most of the match! I had to take them off near the end of the match because I was finally starting to get a little sweat running down my face. In Florida, I just look out the window and start sweating. :cool:
Click to expand...

October ... you must be talking USTA Nationals. My one October USTA Natonals was Key Biscayne. I guess you would know what we faced as far as October Florida humidity. :confused: Even 8:00 am matches were a sweatfest. August in Houston will get your attention also ... 3 towel singles matches.
 
mnttlrg said:
This might be better to post in the equipment section, but I am wondering if somebody has figured out the optimal way to control sweat on your face.

I get annoyed with towels because they don't block anything from coming down during the point.

I don't like wearing a hat... they don't absorb that much sweat to begin with, and they tend to feel uncomfortable and often will fall off or drift around on serves or in the middle of points.

I thought about looking for some type of bandana or headband. I am not sure if that's the answer I am looking for.

And I suppose maybe I should keep 3 or 4 of them around, since anything I wear tends to be gross after 4-5 games.

Or I need to find a better hat maybe. I haven't tried fitted hats, and I don't know if they make hats specifically for sports.
Click to expand...

So you want to keep sweat off your face, but you don't want to wipe it off or wear something to prevent it from being there. Not sure how to help you then.
 
ByeByePoly said:
October ... you must be talking USTA Nationals. My one October USTA Natonals was Key Biscayne. I guess you would know what we faced as far as October Florida humidity. :confused: Even 8:00 am matches were a sweatfest. August in Houston will get your attention also ... 3 towel singles matches.
Click to expand...

Yes it was Nationals. It was terrible serving on one side until the sun went behind the mountains.
 
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