Random detail I noticed with wristbands

[nochuola]

I know this is completely pointless, and maybe wrong section, but I noticed that the vast majority of players who wear wristbands either wear them on both arms, or on the dominant arm only. It's just a weird pattern that stood out to me because I wear mine on my off arm without giving it too much thought. I used to wear on both, but I noticed I rarely use the one on my dominant side, so I stopped wearing it on that side.

I know a lot of players hold the racquet in the off hand when not in a point, or catches the racquet when finishing a forehand, but it just seems weird that I am honestly having a difficult time finding any player who wears the wristband on the off arm only. Shouldn't this be more of an even split? Anyways, thanks for coming to my TED talk. I hope it made you go "...huh...?"

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Pro players have quick access to towels in between points so using the sweatband to dry the brow isn't as prevalent.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Some players mix it up. Safin sometimes wore nothing early in his career, then on his left hand, then on both.

Labadze

But you're right.... looked at quite a few players. I'm struggling!

 

[tonylg]

If you are in a hot climate and really sweat a lot, wrist bands aren't primarily to wipe your brow, they are to catch sweat running down your arm and onto your grip.

In this case, the playing arm is far more important.

 

[Conan]

If you are in a hot climate and really sweat a lot, wrist bands aren't primarily to wipe your brow, they are catch sweat running down your arm and onto your grip.

In this case, the playing arm is far more important.

This.

 

[Rabbit]

@Ocean Drive - in that last picture of the player on grass, it looks to me as though the article on his right wrist is not a wristband (sweatlet) but a theraputic wrap for an injury.

 

[nochuola]

If you are in a hot climate and really sweat a lot, wrist bands aren't primarily to wipe your brow, they are to catch sweat running down your arm and onto your grip.

In this case, the playing arm is far more important.

This seems like the most reasonable explanation. I have not considered this. Thanks for the enlightenment.

 

[tonylg]

This seems like the most reasonable explanation. I have not considered this. Thanks for the enlightenment.

The first time a racquet slips on serve and smashes on the court is the last time you don't bring enough.

 

[Bagel Boy]

If you are in a hot climate and really sweat a lot, wrist bands aren't primarily to wipe your brow, they are to catch sweat running down your arm and onto your grip.

In this case, the playing arm is far more important.

@nochuola

Non dominant arm wristband only over here.

Tony's post is interesting because I never found that to work for me. If I wear it on my dominant arm, it seems to get drenched fairly quickly and now I'm wearing a soaked sponge that's dripping into my hand. I stopped wearing it and my overgrips dryness lasted longer.

The other arm is strictly worn for wiping my forehead etc. I'll even wear both on that side as an extra large wristband.

 

[Shaolin]

I wear one on my dominant wrist if I want to increase swingweight. Way easier than lead tape

 

[socallefty]

I mainly wear the wristband to wipe my brow/face in between points as I sweat heavily and don’t want the sweat dripping into my eyes. I’m used to doing it with my dominant left hand and using my off hand to wipe my face would feel awkward. I use a towel during the breaks between games also.

I find that cotton wristbands get soaked quickly and use wristbands made with a Drifit/Nylon material as they get dry faster. If it is a hot/humid day, I still have to switch to a new wristband after every set along with a new shirt and cap.

 

[travlerajm]

There’s a reason why the majority of pros with elite serves for their height (eg, Mac, Sampras, Ivanisevic, Roddick) don’t wear them on their dominant hand.

There’s also a reason why majority of the best forehand players in history (eg, Borg, Lendl, Gonzo, Delpo, Fed, Nadal, Djoko, Lendl, Courier, Moya, Murray, Wawrinka) do wear them on their dominant hand.

 

[tonylg]

I got to court fully prepped: around a dozen wrist bands, 4 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 or 4 shirts, a bag to put it all in when wet and if I'll have a break between matches, spare shorts and jocks.

As above, the biggest problem is the extra weight on serve, but changing it regularly helps with that.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

@Ocean Drive - in that last picture of the player on grass, it looks to me as though the article on his right wrist is not a wristband (sweatlet) but a theraputic wrap for an injury.

Good eye

 

[Gerco]

Is that Tomic?

 

[papado]

What is this about great servers not using wristbands? [I know it's not young Pete but I think his serve was still GOAT-like when he wore wristbands]

 

[travlerajm]

What is this about great servers not using wristbands? [I know it's not young Pete but I think his serve was still GOAT-like when he wore wristbands]

By my quick estimate, Pete won 13 slams without.

 

[Cashman]

I got to court fully prepped: around a dozen wrist bands, 4 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 or 4 shirts, a bag to put it all in when wet and if I'll have a break between matches, spare shorts and jocks.

As above, the biggest problem is the extra weight on serve

You should probably put your bag down before playing

 

[tonylg]

You should probably put your bag down before playing

Can't. Crime is pretty bad around these parts.

 

[recreationalplayer]

Am right handed, wrist band on left wrist only so can wipe forehead, face, neck while holding racquet in right hand. Don't like the feel of it on my hitting arm.

 

[TripleFault88]

There’s a reason why the majority of pros with elite serves for their height (eg, Mac, Sampras, Ivanisevic, Roddick) don’t wear them on their dominant hand.

There’s also a reason why majority of the best forehand players in history (eg, Borg, Lendl, Gonzo, Delpo, Fed, Nadal, Djoko, Lendl, Courier, Moya, Murray, Wawrinka) do wear them on their dominant hand.

Lol what are those reasons?

 

[Alex78]

Lol what are those reasons?

There are people out there who believe a wristband (on the racquet-wielding arm) increases swingweight.

 

[TagUrIt]

Not claiming to be a pro, but I wear just one on my dominant arm during the Fall/Winter months. During Spring and Summer definitely one on each arm. I can't say it's ever had an impact on my serve, groundstrokes or anything for that matter. It serves the purpose of catching the sweat before it reaches my racquet grip. So funny how the smallest things spark the biggest debates on TTW.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Why am I different from the other kids, mommy?

 

[tennis tom]

So funny how the smallest things spark the biggest debate s on TTW.

Yup! TTTW is competitive, that's why we keep the score. Actually, this thread has some interesting useful info in it. Didn't know a sweaty wrist band could make for a bigger serve, I'll play around with putting some lead in it.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Not wanting to derail but IMO Djokovic, Murray and Stan known more for their backhands than forehands.

 

[esm]

I wear one on my dominant wrist if I want to increase swingweight. Way easier than lead tape

(genuine question) - if the SW of a racquet measures at 10cm location from the butt cap (on the SW machines for an example), then what does a sweatband on a wrist got to do with the increase of SW of the said racquet..... just wondering.
wouldn't it be "better" to wrap the wristband at the throat of a racquet if the purpose is to raise the SW a little..

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I wear a stainless steel watch to increase SW... but only on clay.

 

[Shaolin]

I wear a stainless steel watch to increase SW... but only on clay.

I wear a G Shock with lead at 3 & 9

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I wear a G Shock with lead at 3 & 9

I tried a G-Shock but the aerodynamics just didn't work for me and I could definitely feel my swing slower.

 

[Shaolin]

I tried a G-Shock but the aerodynamics just didn't work for me and I could definitely feel my swing slower.

Try a Richard Mille, you get a lot more topspin.

Also you'll be faster with all the cash on you gone.

 

[esm]

Try a Richard Mille, you get a lot more topspin.

maybe Rafa should wear his RM on his dominate arm, for the extra topspin

 

[TripleFault88]

@Shaolin @Slowtwitcher hahah too funny guys. The only on clay part is just great

 

[TripleFault88]

There are people out there who believe a wristband (on the racquet-wielding arm) increases swingweight.

Oh. Haha. A wristband isn’t changing Andy Roddick having a great serve or Fed having a great forehand.

 

[nochuola]

This got derailed hard, but I guess I should have seen this coming posting in the pros section. I was expecting people to just try to prove me wrong by posting a bunch of pictures of players wearing sweatbands on the off arm. I guess the fact that that hasn't happened sort of confirms my observation that players rarely wear wristbands on the off arm only.

 

[El_Yotamo]

For what it's worth I always wear a wristband on my dominant right wrist and my trusty G-shock on my left.

 

[SinneGOAT]

I wear one on my dominant wrist if I want to increase swingweight. Way easier than lead tape

How’s the plow?

 

[Slowtwitcher]

For what it's worth I always wear a wristband on my dominant right wrist and my trusty G-shock on my left.

Do you hit a 2HBH?

 

[Shaolin]

How’s the plow?

More in the summer when its soaking wet!

 

[El_Yotamo]

Do you hit a 2HBH?

I happen to hit a 2HBH, yes

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I happen to hit a 2HBH, yes

Yeah absolutely. The G-Shock really helps to get back some SW you lose from the 2H grip.

 

[travlerajm]

There are people out there who believe a wristband (on the racquet-wielding arm) increases swingweight.

It increases the swingweight of the forearm (which gives a more reproducible swing and provides more inertia at the wrist to stabilize the wrist pivot point).
It also increases the effective recoil weight of the racquet (which stabilizes the racquet at impact).

These effects are beneficial on groundstrokes and volleys, but limit racquet speed on the serve.

 

[socallefty]

My biceps are too developed on my dominant left arm and that’s why I can‘t serve 100mph on my serve anymore. Damn, if only I had known that having a weaker arm would have made my serve more of a weapon by reducing the SW of my arm. I’m also going to stop wearing a wristband from now on

 

[Connor35]

Living & playing in Florida, I wear one only on my playing wrist -- it's not to wipe sweat, it's just to catch the sweat the runs down my arm and onto my hand / grip.

I actually hate wearing sweatbands, they're really hot to me. But it keeps my grip dryer on humid days.

So I'm not surprised that people who wear just 1 would wear it on the offhand. I dont know why they would.

 

[mtommer]

I guess the fact that that hasn't happened sort of confirms my observation that players rarely wear wristbands on the off arm only.

Probably. I think sweatbands are worn purely where there's a need for them. If you can wear a wristband solely to occasionally wipe your brow you probably don't need to wear one, just prefer to. For the majority of people like you, it probably never crosses their mind to wear one as there's no discomfort prompting them to do so.