Managing the elements (Sun/Wind/Heat)

[Roddick85]

How do you guys manage to play with the variable conditions when playing outdoor? I find i'm a very different player when I compare the games that I play during the day vs night/indoor. Indoor is obviously a non-issue, love indoor but it's nice to enjoy the weather during the summer after the long canadian winter lol !

I'm having a hard time playing when it's really sunny, I always had issues with bright lighting so when I play in the afternoon, my serve % goes down because of that. I tried to modify my ball toss so that I don't look directly in the sun but that doesn't really work, the only thing that helps a little is wearing a cap. Hitting with sunglasses is impossible for me (like Roddick I sweat excessively).

The wind is a factor that doesn't bug me as much, most of the time i'll just reduce the depth of my shots or shorten my toss, while it's annoying I find it's the element the easiest to manage.

As I mentionned earlier, I sweat a lot and dehydrate fast, playing with the sun during the day is a killer for me. I drink a lot of water, but it still makes me feel kinda sick from time to time. Is there anything else save for water that I should drink that would help me not feel dehydrated? Usually I drink like 2L of water for 2.5-3 hour game, but at the end I feel "drowned" because I had too much water.

I'm pretty sure pretty much all players experience those kind of issues when they play, perhaps some have developped other tricks so that the conditions don't affect they're game too much? How do the pro's cope with the different conditions, most of the time they play during the afternoon in great heat, I can't imagine how exhausted they must be after a 4-5 hours game in the afternoon.

 

[ATP100]

How do you guys manage to play with the variable conditions when playing outdoor? I find i'm a very different player when I compare the games that I play during the day vs night/indoor. Indoor is obviously a non-issue, love indoor but it's nice to enjoy the weather during the summer after the long canadian winter lol !

I'm having a hard time playing when it's really sunny, I always had issues with bright lighting so when I play in the afternoon, my serve % goes down because of that. I tried to modify my ball toss so that I don't look directly in the sun but that doesn't really work, the only thing that helps a little is wearing a cap. Hitting with sunglasses is impossible for me (like Roddick I sweat excessively).

The wind is a factor that doesn't bug me as much, most of the time i'll just reduce the depth of my shots or shorten my toss, while it's annoying I find it's the element the easiest to manage.

As I mentionned earlier, I sweat a lot and dehydrate fast, playing with the sun during the day is a killer for me. I drink a lot of water, but it still makes me feel kinda sick from time to time. Is there anything else save for water that I should drink that would help me not feel dehydrated? Usually I drink like 2L of water for 2.5-3 hour game, but at the end I feel "drowned" because I had too much water.

I'm pretty sure pretty much all players experience those kind of issues when they play, perhaps some have developped other tricks so that the conditions don't affect they're game too much? How do the pro's cope with the different conditions, most of the time they play during the afternoon in great heat, I can't imagine how exhausted they must be after a 4-5 hours game in the afternoon.

When I hit with the average guy, I drink almost 3L of water during a 2 hr hit, they drink about the same, when I hit with someone my level or higher, usually at least 4L or more. I live in central FL, if that makes a difference.

 

[coyfish]

You feel drowned because you are drinking too much. If you keep drinking until you are completely satisfied... that is too much. You just need a sip of gatorade and a couple ounces of water during the changeovers. Don't quench your thirst completely.

How you feel on court reflects your nutrition in the surrounding days. You can't eat / drink like crap before the match and expect that drinking water during the match will solve all that.

 

[fruitytennis1]

You feel drowned because you are drinking too much. If you keep drinking until you are completely satisfied... that is too much. You just need a sip of gatorade and a couple ounces of water during the changeovers. Don't quench your thirst completely.

How you feel on court reflects your nutrition in the surrounding days. You can't eat / drink like crap before the match and expect that drinking water during the match will solve all that.

+1
10char

 

[-Hope-]

I manage wind by b****ing and moaning about it and generally playing like crap. :lol:

 

[Maui19]

Heat and perspiration: I alternate drinking water and Gatorade. Water alone makes me feel blah after a while. For perspiration, lots of sweatbands, which I change every few games. Always have a supply of dry towels.

Sun: hat and sunglasses. I sweat fast and heavy, but never have a problem with sweat on my glasses during play. Serving in the sun is a challenge, and I sometimes have to change my position, angle to the baseline and/or toss.

Wind: focus on the ball--I mean really really focus on the ball.

The biggest deal is to not let it get in your head. The conditions are the same for everyone.

 

[skiracer55]

See below...

How do you guys manage to play with the variable conditions when playing outdoor? I find i'm a very different player when I compare the games that I play during the day vs night/indoor. Indoor is obviously a non-issue, love indoor but it's nice to enjoy the weather during the summer after the long canadian winter lol !

I'm having a hard time playing when it's really sunny, I always had issues with bright lighting so when I play in the afternoon, my serve % goes down because of that. I tried to modify my ball toss so that I don't look directly in the sun but that doesn't really work, the only thing that helps a little is wearing a cap. Hitting with sunglasses is impossible for me (like Roddick I sweat excessively).

The wind is a factor that doesn't bug me as much, most of the time i'll just reduce the depth of my shots or shorten my toss, while it's annoying I find it's the element the easiest to manage.

As I mentionned earlier, I sweat a lot and dehydrate fast, playing with the sun during the day is a killer for me. I drink a lot of water, but it still makes me feel kinda sick from time to time. Is there anything else save for water that I should drink that would help me not feel dehydrated? Usually I drink like 2L of water for 2.5-3 hour game, but at the end I feel "drowned" because I had too much water.

I'm pretty sure pretty much all players experience those kind of issues when they play, perhaps some have developped other tricks so that the conditions don't affect they're game too much? How do the pro's cope with the different conditions, most of the time they play during the afternoon in great heat, I can't imagine how exhausted they must be after a 4-5 hours game in the afternoon.

- Bright sun. Start wearing sunglasses, for an opening bid. Beyond what it can do to help out with the serve, you're gonna have all kinds of eye problems later on if you don't wear sunglasses. If you sweat a lot, wear a cap, and towel off a lot. You still may have to adjust your toss in bright sun in mid afternoon, which you can do.

- Dehydration. First of all, eat well. I don't mean stuffing yourself before you go on the court. I usually eat a big breakfast, then, if I'm playing late morning or mid day, just a Power Bar. Second, water alone won't do it, in fact, too much water is not good. You've already flirted with hyponatronia, which ain't healthy. Some water is fine, but you also need Gatorade or something that will help replenish all the minerals you're losing. Hydrating before and after playing is also essential.

 

[Tennis Is Magic]

I manage wind by b****ing and moaning about it and generally playing like crap. :lol:

Sounds like a winning strategy to me :lol:

 

[TheBoom]

Wind: i usually do a couple things, if it is blowing left to right i hit a little tward where the wind is coming from so that i will still control where the ball goes, on wind blowing baseline to baseline i usually hit with more apin less power when the wind is going where i'm hitting and the opposite on the otherside.
Sun: hope it doesn't get too bad, it doesn't tend to bug me much as long as i wear a hat, when i'm serving i try to toss the ball in front and to the right of the sun so i can get away with not looking at the sun and making my eyes water
Heat: go shirtless only sometimes but really i drink lots of water (3 bottles in my bag at least) and bring a towel or two to wipe myself off in between games

 

[DownTheLine]

I was playing a tournament this weekend an the heat index got over 110.

Find shade on your court if any an bring your water/fluids over there during changeovers. Wet a towel with cold water an pat your head(this helped me a ton!) drink as much as you can without it bei ng too much. I like to mix pedis ute in my water jug.


The sun is usually solved by a hat an adjusting your toss.

Wind is also simple dont be stupid an go for the lines. Also try Erving an volleys if you can.

 

[Roddick85]

I'm already bringing a towel and wiping my face every 2 games, drinking water as well during that pause. I find the towel burns my skin sometimes, does the water on the towel really help all that much?

 

[Comet Buster]

Sunlight - your balltoss should be the same so you don't need to focus. You should know the location already.

Wind - Hit with more slice and spin




Heat - keep hydrated. Not a p!ss take.

 

[TheOneHander]

I'm already bringing a towel and wiping my face every 2 games, drinking water as well during that pause. I find the towel burns my skin sometimes, does the water on the towel really help all that much?

It helps ease the burning, yes. Have you tried the uberfantastic sunglasses+hat combination? It helps hold the sweat back and keeps the glasses on better, and you can always change the hat if it gets too wet.

 

[Tennis Is Magic]

It helps ease the burning, yes. Have you tried the uberfantastic sunglasses+hat combination? It helps hold the sweat back and keeps the glasses on better, and you can always change the hat if it gets too wet.

This is off topic, but you should have a pony avatar. That would be so awesome

 

[skiracer55]

See what I said in post #7...

I'm already bringing a towel and wiping my face every 2 games, drinking water as well during that pause. I find the towel burns my skin sometimes, does the water on the towel really help all that much?

...stop drinking water, start drinking Gatorade...and do the other stuff I told you to do that you ignored the first time around...