Looking to gain that extra edge at your next tennis match? Here are a few exercises to try away from the court, from fitness to strength.
FITNESS AND SPEED
Getting around the court for the full 3 or 5 sets takes real stamina. If you don’t have the base level of fitness, the rest of your game will suffer – tired players can’t play as powerfully or accurately.
So here are a few things to try to boost your fitness and increase your speed in the meantime.
Shuttle sprints
This exercise helps you with short bursts of speed, essential if you’re a serve-and-volley player.
- Run to a point 10 metres away
- Turn and sprint back to the start line
- Run to a point 20 metres away
- Turn and sprint back to the start line
You can repeat this exercise with short breaks in between each rep.
Ball retrieval
Speed and stamina work combine in this exercise – and it helps you become more flexible too.
- Spread out tennis balls around a patch of grass
- Sprint to pick each one up and return to the start point
You can time yourself and try to beat your personal best.
Interval running
The old favourite of runners everywhere, this exercise helps you build up speed and stamina with short bursts of speed wedged between running at a slower pace.
- Run at your relaxed pace for 3 minutes
- Sprint for 200 metres
Repeat this as many times as feels comfortable.
Get the most out of your training with a good pair of running shoes. For speed training, you should go for a lightweight shoe that’s designed for running as fast as possible.
STRENGTH
If your fitness training helps you get around the court, your strength training should help you win the point. Here are a few exercises to try for your lower and upper body.
X band walks
This exercise builds up your leg strength and improves your side-to-side movement along the baseline. You’ll need a resistance band to do it.
- Stand with both feet on the resistance band
- Hold one end in each hand, and cross them over so they make an X shape
- Keep a high tension on the band and step to the right 10 times
- Then, step to the left 10 times
It looks easy but it’s actually a very hard exercise. Your leg muscles will feel stronger for it though, and once you’re on the court you’ll feel more nimble.
Glute bridges
This helps you build up explosive bursts of speed – perfect for getting to drop shots quickly.
- Lay flat on your back with your arms to the side
- Bend your knees at a 90o angle
- Lift your hips up so that only your shoulders and feet are on the ground
- Repeat 10 times
Medicine ball workouts
The medicine ball is the number 1 piece of equipment for upper body strength training. There are lots of different workouts that use it, but here’s one you could try.
- Stand with your side to a wall about 1 metre away
- Throw the ball sideways against the wall and catch the rebound
- Repeat 10 times
Make sure the wall you’re working out against is strong enough to handle the medicine ball though.
If you’re doing weights, you’ll need shoes with lots of stability and support. ASICS have a shoe just for weightlifters that will suit you perfectly
