Sore quads and minor cramp after doubles lesson and hitting

[EddieBrock]

I hit pretty easy for about an hour just warming up all my shots then did a doubles lesson for another hour where I was mainly hitting volleys with a few groundstrokes and then 1 service game at the end. The coach was telling us to have a high level of intensity and really go after the volleys.

After playing I walked around the parking lot a few times and did a hamstring stretch.

When I got out of the car my quads felt tight and then I couldn't really straighten my legs and my quads on both legs felt like they were on the verge of cramping. I threw my arsenal of anti-cramping stuff at it (banana, crampsaway, picklejuice, liquid IV) and the cramps went away, but my quads continued to feel tight. I stretched them and put a heating pad and did yoga and more stretches this morning, but they still feel a bit tight.

I've got my doubles match this evening and hoping it'll be ok for that.

My question is do you think that my cramping/tightness is caused by weakness in these muscles? Should I be doing any exercises for them? Anything I should be doing right after playing to help?

 

[ey039524]

Crouching to hit low volleys?

 

[EddieBrock]

Crouching to hit low volleys?

Yep I was hitting a lot of low volleys. Just in general though I'm not standing at the net like I'm waiting for a bus. Every shot I'm moving and split stepping. Even on regular volleys I'm pushing into them with my legs

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

You can never go wrong with stronger legs for tennis, unless they are starting to look like a roided bodybuilder's legs or something along those lines.

 

[nyta2]

Crouching to hit low volleys?

this, plus if you're really practicing with intensity, your footwork will be alot more explosive (almost like doing a bunch of explosive squats)

Should I be doing any exercises for them?

things i do (not all at once):
* practice more often with the same instensity, but reduce duration, and allow for rest, and build up strength/edurance over time
* resistance training: squats/pistols/plyos (explosive!)/etc.. allow ample time to rest

 

[ey039524]

Yep I was hitting a lot of low volleys. Just in general though I'm not standing at the net like I'm waiting for a bus. Every shot I'm moving and split stepping. Even on regular volleys I'm pushing into them with my legs

You're playing the right way. Good doubles play is moving w/o the ball, positioning, etc. All the people that say doubles isn't a good workout probably just stand around watching the ball go to their partner. It's a lot of effort closing the net, chasing down lobs, switching, covering the open court, ...

 

[Bambooman]

You're just not in shape for the intensity and movement you used. Either do extra work or play more like you just did.

 

[ttwarrior1]

salt salt salt salt salt
salt never has or ever will be bad for you.