Are you thinking of picking up a new sport or hobby? Consider tennis!
This article gives you 9 reasons why tennis is fun! As a college tennis player, I can vouch for this list, and I can assure you it did not take long at all for me to compile it. Read the list below to learn the 9 reasons why tennis is fun.
1. Tennis Is A Great Workout
Let’s be honest, many people are probably wondering what the weight loss and fitness benefits of tennis are, that’s why we are starting off with this one!
Tennis, when played at a fast pace, will have you breaking a sweat ASAP! Tennis is a fabulous cardio work out and you can torch some serious calories in just an hour-long session.
Tennis involves a lot of stopping and starting, with quick bursts of intense sprinting.
This makes it a great HIIT workout, which if you have done any research on other workouts, you know that HIIT is one of the best and fastest ways to burn fat and improve cardiovascular health.
The beauty of tennis is because you are focusing on the ball and the point in front of you, you might forget the intensity of how hard you are working. This makes cardio a bit more fun, which is quite the statement.
Not to mention, tennis will have you feeling like you’re on cloud 9 after as it releases tons of endorphins! This is one of many benefits of tennis, backed up by research. (Source)
2. Tennis Is A Social Sport
Tennis, although an individual sport, can be extremely social as well.
You can easily join a league at your nearest club, and there are various leagues for players on different levels.
These leagues are a great way to meet new people and make friends while bonding over your shared love of the sport.
Leagues typically meet a few times a week and involve some sort of round-robin tournament which allows you to rotate doubles partners and get exposure to new people.
Oftentimes, these round robins are accompanied by a happy hour post-match. A perfect mix of working hard and playing hard!
3. Tennis Is A Good Stress Reliever
Have you ever been so frustrated you wish you could throw a punch?
Well, tennis is a good alternative for those frustrations!
There is nothing quite as therapeutic as whacking a yellow fuzzy to get some pent-up anger out in a healthy and productive way. Just picture the tennis ball as the thing you hate or that is causing you stress and start smacking.
I guarantee you will feel 1000x better after.
4. Tennis Is A Great Life Sport
Tennis is an amazing life sport to take up at a young age. There are few sports that you can play, (and play at a high level) at an old age.
Because tennis involves shorter bursts of movements, it is a bit easier on the joints than more high impact sports that involve more shock absorption.
Additionally, it is not a contact sport, which is obviously ideal at an older age.
There is a reason you don’t see 85-year-old gymnasts and football players!
Moreover, tennis is a great sport to play as a working professional. A great way to make business deals is to take a potential client out for a hitting session.
It is a fun and creative way to bond and generate new business.
5. Tennis Is Inclusive
Tennis is one of the most inclusive sports out there.
People of all ages and physical abilities can join in the fun.
Tennis can be as laid back and fun or as intense and competitive as you want it to be!
The United States Tennis Association even has wheelchair leagues. As long as you have a will to play and racket in hand then tennis is for you.
You don’t even necessarily have to belong to a club to play. There are plenty of public tennis courts outside that anyone can walk onto, so don’t let the expense of joining of a club deter you from giving it a try.
6. Tennis Teaches Life Lessons
Tennis, though very fun, can be really hard mentally!
Of course, this can be frustrating and extremely tough sometimes, but with real, positive change comes some discomfort. Tennis teaches players the importance of mental toughness, and the lessons learned on the court while competing can be applied to other aspects of life.
Having to power though a difficult match with several setbacks thrown your way against a tough opponent teaches resilience and perseverance.
This toughness gradually builds with the more matches you play. Not everyone is mentally tough, and in order to see serious professional and personal growth, you have to be able to power through uncomfortable situations.
Tennis teaches this and puts you at a huge advantage for the hard times in life, which are inevitable. (Source)
7. Tennis Is Fast-Paced And Exciting
Have you ever watched two tennis players absolutely duking it out- back and forth and back and forth for what seems like an endless amount of time?
Those points are fun to watch but even more fun to play. There is nothing quite like winning a point in doubles at the net with all four players slamming the ball at each other and your cat-like reflexes allowing you to hold your own. It’s absolutely thrilling!
If there is one thing that’s for sure, it’s that both playing and watching tennis is never boring.
8. Tennis Can Be An Individual And Team Sport At The Same Time
If you are someone who loves to put in work and hustle individually and reap those rewards for yourself, yet still enjoy being a part of a community/team, then tennis could be a great fit for you.
Tennis obviously requires individual players or doubles pairs to contribute to the success of a team.
Tennis is great because you are in control. If you lose your match you know it is likely your fault and you can learn from it. If you win, you can give yourself the credit.
Sometimes, people struggle in team sport settings because there are a lot of factors out of your control. If your teammates aren’t playing as well as they should be that day, that can be super frustrating because there is nothing you can do about it.
Regardless, a lot of people still crave community and a team when adopting a new sport as it makes the transition easier.
Tennis teams- ranging from middle school, high school, college or adult leagues- still provide a bigger, overarching team to play for.
Many athletes need to feel like they are playing for something bigger than just themselves, and tennis teams can provide that, while still giving the best of both worlds.
9. Tennis Can Be Played All Year Round
Of course, we all know that tennis is fantastic outdoors, and is the perfect sport of the summer. There are all sorts of brilliant summer courts – grass, clay, and hardcourt.
But there are also so many indoor courts now, as well as all-weather outdoor courts, that tennis can be played at any time of the year.
Many people play tennis all year round, and this makes it really different from so many other sports that are more strongly contained within a specific season.
All-round tennis is definitely a winner!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, tennis is fun and beneficial for a plethora of reasons.
I could definitely list more than 9! Hopefully, this article encourages you to take the leap and buy yourself a racket and hit the courts!
Even if you know nothing about the sport, we promise you will love the excitement and endless opportunity for both physical and mental growth that tennis can provide.
Just remember, no matter what your background or physical abilities are, tennis is meant to be a sport for all, and nothing should stop you from giving it a shot!
Have fun on your tennis journey- you won’t regret it. For more articles about all things tennis, be sure to check back up regularly here, we are your one-stop shop for tennis education!