Why does tennis players grunt

Although the rise in reaching speed has cost no extra physiological expenditures, there is an increase in strength output calculated by muscle activity in the form of perception of effort and energy intake. Grunter can take visual attention away from decoding the visual data transmitted from the racquet.

No conclusive evidence to support all of the recommendations is currently available. It is less clear how grunt influences efficiency. A timely grunt will obscure valuable audition data used by a player when a ratchet hits the ball, as anecdotally suggested by many skilled athletes. Larcher de Brito had not been tried, and she had been criticized off the court. It is plain and easy, stealing. Some players have opposed grunting. Read the original article. Log In. Contact us Sign up for newsletters.

Log In Register now My account. Why do tennis players grunt? The science behind grunting, and how it affects performance The return of Wimbledon means SW9 will be erupting with the dulcet tones of tennis players grunting — but does it actually make them better? Rafa Nadal is often cited as one of the louder grunters in tennis Photo: Getty Images.

By i Academics. July 4, pm Updated August 24, pm. Lastly, some players will not grunt even if their lives depended on it; they find it a waste of energy and sometimes even embarrassing. While these benefits are a matter of personal preference and not scientifically proven , grunting actually has been scientifically proven to give you an edge on the tennis court — by improving your power and velocity. Tennis is not the only sport in which you will find athletes grunting.

It is very common to see Olympic weightlifters shouting some primal screams as they attempt to break their own records. The belief is that grunting can help to increase power and velocity in sports that require short bursts of energy and movement. In an attempt to prove whether that was true, a study conducted in Texas measured the effects that grunting had on collegiate tennis players.

The study measured velocity, force, and peak muscle activity during serves and forehands by using a radar gun and sensors. The study found that grunting increased the velocity of serves and forehands by 4. The isometric forces when your muscle sustains a position or movement for longer durations when grunting increased by While grunting in tennis is seen by many is beneficial and strategic, several people have voiced their opposition to it. Groaning and moaning can help a person dial in once again.

That extra step is part of the process that gets them into a rhythm that they can appreciate. Long, extended grunting and moaning seem more like a specific tactic than anything, but making simple sounds is a lot more natural. Even players considered silent will make some small sounds when they hit the ball. If a player naturally makes a sound when they are hitting a ball hard and exhaling, they will be holding themselves back if they try to silence themselves.

Some players are a little self-conscious of the noises, but no one should view that as a negative. Players who justify the grunting show that they feel like it is a form of individual expression. Play should not be thinking they are different than other players.

Related to rhythm, proper breathing is essential for any player to have success in sports. Some tennis trainers will teach exhaling during a shot to keep everything in order. Once a player starts to understand the importance of exhaling at the right time, they might not even realize that they are making a loud sound when they hit the ball.

It just becomes part of muscle memory, and it needs pointing out to them that they are making as loud of a sound as they are. A lot of different athletes practice inhaling and exhaling at the proper times to maximize their performance.

Weightlifters are a perfect example of this. Exhaling during the strenuous part of the lift or stroke in tennis maximizes performance. Most tennis coaches are not going to mess with something like that if their players are having success.

Some players adamantly believe that making a sound when hitting the tennis ball gives them additional power. As silly as that might sound to some people, there is some truth to that, albeit indirectly. Players who notice added power are probably using their grunting and moaning as a timing mechanism that makes them focus on taking the ball at the right time and exhaling at the right time as well.

Some players struggle with timing everything up, and this is one way to get it aligned properly. There are studies on whether or not grunting enhances hitting performance and power. Even players considered to be very quiet overall will occasionally grunt when they are hitting really hard shots.