Too much tennis makes me suck.

[ATXtennisaddict]

I find that if I play a few days in a row for 2-3 hours each time, my form and energy levels start to dip. My backhand starts to look bad, my forehand not as potent and accurate, and my legs feel a bit like jelly. I will take a day or two off before resuming, of course.

I started thinking, even the pros who play too much tennis start to feel fatigue and burn out. Is is the same reason for me?

Does anyone else have this?

 

[pantam]

same here.
I'm playng tennis 6 days in a week the last 3-4 months in a hard cord (asphalt).
Μy knees fells like there are on fire. My ankles are swollen. My back is in pain...

 

[greystar403]

you have to take in competition too...

i play everyday for 5 hours in this goshforsaken texas heat...

the more i played the more i would get used to my rally partners hitting and strategy...

come match time i suck miserably...

 

[ssonosk]

Do you have a diet to match your playing time, and do you prepare properly before gameplay?

If you don't you'll be sluggish

 

[Power Player]

It's just a very demanding game. It pays to take breaks. I have cut myself down to 3-4 times a week. I think it is key to find another fun exercise to do to supplement tennis. For me it is cycling and working out.

 

[dozu]

hey PP, still doing TT?

 

[boojay]

Like many things in life, I've learned quality over quantity. I used to hit literally everyday, up to 7-8 hours a day and during one stretch 59 out of 60 days, and while physically I could handle it, the quality of tennis was not always up to par. Now, I play one to at most 3-4 times a week, but I always make sure each hit has a purpose. This way I always feel like I'm progressing, even if just a little. Of course, you can't always get better, but you can always try something different in the hopes of getting better.

Swyped from my iPhone killer/HTC Desire

 

[DownTheLine]

Like many things in life, I've learned quality over quantity. I used to hit literally everyday, up to 7-8 hours a day and during one stretch 59 out of 60 days, and while physically I could handle it, the quality of tennis was not always up to par. Now, I play one to at most 3-4 times a week, but I always make sure each hit has a purpose. This way I always feel like I'm progressing, even if just a little. Of course, you can't always get better, but you can always try something different in the hopes of getting better.

Swyped from my iPhone killer/HTC Desire

Try an average of 4 plus hours a day for 360 days straight then complain.

 

[ProgressoR]

you need to play smarter, not harder, make full and efficient use of your time on court. Its quality, not quantity.

 

[Ben Hadd]

Practice makes perfect. Seems like you need to shape up your stamina or change your game style.

 

[Mike Hodge]

I find that if I play a few days in a row for 2-3 hours each time, my form and energy levels start to dip. My backhand starts to look bad, my forehand not as potent and accurate, and my legs feel a bit like jelly. I will take a day or two off before resuming, of course.

I started thinking, even the pros who play too much tennis start to feel fatigue and burn out. Is is the same reason for me?

Does anyone else have this?

I went through playing way too much too many days in a row. I started two years ago and absolutely love the sport. My thought process was that if I was in shape, I could handle it. Not at age 48-49. My body took a beating. I was hurt all the time. Then I started cutting back on court time --- no more four-hour sessions --- and took a day or two off a week. Made a huge difference.

The reason pros can log an insane amount of court time is largely two fold in IMO. One, they're world-class athletes. Two, and even more important, they have the medical and training staff to handle injury prevention with massage, cold pool therapy, stretching, etc. That makes a huge difference, IMO, for recovery.

 

[Ronaldo]

I went through playing way too much too many days in a row. I started two years ago and absolutely love the sport. My thought process was that if I was in shape, I could handle it. Not at age 48-49. My body took a beating. I was hurt all the time. Then I started cutting back on court time --- no more four-hour sessions --- and took a day or two off a week. Made a huge difference.

The reason pros can log an insane amount of court time is largely two fold in IMO. One, they're world-class athletes. Two, and even more important, they have the medical and training staff to handle injury prevention with massage, cold pool therapy, stretching, etc. That makes a huge difference, IMO, for recovery.

May be that the pros are still in their 20s?

 

[samster]

It's just a very demanding game. It pays to take breaks. I have cut myself down to 3-4 times a week. I think it is key to find another fun exercise to do to supplement tennis. For me it is cycling and working out.

Agreed.

Ideally, I would like to play 3 times a week. Any more than that is too much for me.

 

[SoBad]

I find that if I play a few days in a row for 2-3 hours each time, my form and energy levels start to dip. My backhand starts to look bad, my forehand not as potent and accurate, and my legs feel a bit like jelly. I will take a day or two off before resuming, of course.

I started thinking, even the pros who play too much tennis start to feel fatigue and burn out. Is is the same reason for me?

Does anyone else have this?

Totally true, but you can look at this positively - whenever I take a few days break from tennis I play amazing!~

 

[boojay]

Try an average of 4 plus hours a day for 360 days straight then complain.

Some of us don't have the luxury nor the free time to pull off something like that. Obviously, you do.

Swyped from my iPhone killer/HTC Desire

 

[Power Player]

hey PP, still doing TT?

I am moving into a bigger place in a few months and then I will buy a table. What sucks is NOT having a table and trying to stay consistent..pretty much is the worst thing ever. So I shut it down besides a casual tournament in which I usually win. I can't wait to get the bigger place because I of course will buy a pong robot as well.

I agree about age. When I was a junior I could play 6 hours a day for every day. Once you hit your 30s, you will feel like you still have that energy, but you need to be smart about it.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Like many things in life, I've learned quality over quantity. I used to hit literally everyday, up to 7-8 hours a day and during one stretch 59 out of 60 days, and while physically I could handle it, the quality of tennis was not always up to par. Now, I play one to at most 3-4 times a week, but I always make sure each hit has a purpose. This way I always feel like I'm progressing, even if just a little. Of course, you can't always get better, but you can always try something different in the hopes of getting better.

Swyped from my iPhone killer/HTC Desire

Try an average of 4 plus hours a day for 360 days straight then complain.

Are you fellas pros/college players or something?

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention it was 100+ degrees F out there.

 

[Mike Hodge]

May be that the pros are still in their 20s?

Age is part of the equation, too. No doubt about it.

 

[Tarrantennis]

As you get older recovery time lengthens.
But if you play regularly, and don't get injured, fitness will improve. In a vets tourney you might have to play 3 days running, all 3 set match singles plus some doubles. If you haven't been playing regularly your body will struggle to do this.
But if you play a lot I think you get to know your own body and what's best.

 

[Sreeram]

It's just a very demanding game. It pays to take breaks. I have cut myself down to 3-4 times a week. I think it is key to find another fun exercise to do to supplement tennis. For me it is cycling and working out.

Dude, I am following your pattern even in this. Past one month I have been trying cycling and it is lot of fun, coming down hill at high speed. Also I feel my legs are getting stronger. So i try tennis and biking on alternate days.

 

[Sreeram]

According to me, I play better when I go into a match tennis starved. I kind of get into a mood in which I really enjoy ball coming towards me so that I can hit it back. When I get into that mood I will be the best counter puncher you have faced. But sometimes I get into the mood where I dont want to see the ball coming back, it is when I make mistakes. I cannot force my self into any of these moods, it just happens.