Top 10 Reasons to Play Tennis
The Court is Calling – Let’s Play!
By Dennis GarciaDelgado
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Truth be told, I could probably give you a hundred reasons why tennis is my favorite sport. With 18 years as a tennis instructor, I’ve worked with people of all ages and all levels of experience. While each person has their own specific goals, I believe tennis is beneficial to everyone, from beginner to pro. Here are my top 10 reasons why tennis is the most amazing sport to take part in.
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1: Stay in Shape
A game of tennis utilizes just about every muscle in your body, but the core muscles are used the most. It’s the center of your body that helps to stabilize your movements as you dart around the court, and gives you power when you land that swing. In addition to increasing stamina and muscle strength, you can burn upwards of 580 calories by playing tennis for just one hour. What a fun way to stay fit!
2: Keep Your Heart Healthy
Playing tennis is an excellent aerobic activity to keep your heart in good shape. Even The American Heart Association recommends tennis for the type of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity that’s needed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness. In fact, playing tennis three times a week can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by 56%.
Tennis increases oxygen intake, while getting your heart rate up. Playing doubles offers a moderate-intensity workout (since you have a partner to help you cover the court), while a singles game offers a more vigorous workout.
3: Increase Eye-Hand Coordination
Tennis is a game of angles, constantly moving you side-to-side, back-to-front and diagonally across the court. The more you play, the more you will develop the lightening-fast agility to approach the ball at the best angle, and put the ball exactly where you want it to go. Effective eye-hand coordination is a building block tied to countless activities in our everyday lives, which is why I highly recommend tennis for kids of all ages.
4: Reduce Stress
This one is self-explanatory! I can’t think of any better way to work off stress than a round of tennis. Playing tennis teaches you how to develop your mental strength and manage stress more effectively, which may benefit you both on and off the court.
5: Focus on Brain Power
Tennis teaches you how to be alert and quickly make tactical decisions that affect your game, and how to plan to improve your game. This mental agility can help you in many other aspects of your life when it comes to decision making.
6: Learn How to Succeed
Tennis gives you the nuts and bolts to think strategically and improve your game. These tools can be applied in work and business, and any life challenges you may encounter.
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7: A Sport You Can Play All Your Life
Playing tennis keeps your body and mind in great shape, and while it’s great for kids, it’s never too late to start.
At the time of this writing, Elias Victor Seixas, Jr. is the oldest living member of the Tennis Hall of Fame. Born in 1923, “Vic” started out as a ball boy for his dad when he was just a kid. Imagine that!
Another great example is Gail Falkenberg, who was born in 1947. Gail played varsity tennis in the 1960s at UCLA, and is still going strong. In 2021, she participated in the ITF Women's World Tennis Tour tournaments, at the age of 74. Go Gail!
8: Fun for the Whole Family
Tennis is great fun the whole family can enjoy. It’s a great way to get exercise and fresh air instead of vegging out on video games or TV. Tennis doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment, and you can have fun together all year long on indoor and outdoor courts.
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9: Build Character
Tennis teaches fair competition and etiquette on the court. Tennis also teaches us to win graciously and bounce back from defeat. It’s a sport that builds character and confidence, which can help you in your career and everyday life.
10: Make Friends
Tennis is a world-class sport. No matter where you are, tennis brings people together and it’s a whole lot of fun! So, if you’re traveling, don’t forget to take your racket with you!
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