The tennis season is right on us and we love watching it, we have to regulate how much we watch or we'd never get anything else done..We miss Andy Murray but now cheer some of the younger British players, who are working their way up to be the winning players.
Some people don't like the shouting or grunting noise a player makes as they hit the ball.. However there is a science behind the shouting during exertion, it seems that vocalization can enhance muscular force and performance for up to 9 to 12% ! This can be enough to add a meaningful amount of energy to a lift, or speed to a tennis serve, or power to a punch!
There has been lab tests measuring force with or without vocalization. In one classic experiment participants who shouted during an isometric arm flexion produced 12% more force than those who stayed silent.
A more recent study measuring striking force in martial artists, found there was 9% more increase when participants grunted, jumping from 22.g force to 22.2g force per strike.
In tennis the result is equally clear a study of players, with both serve and forehand velocities were significant higher when players grunted! The same was true for isometric force during those strokes. The statistical confidence was essentially perfect, meaning the result wasn't a fluke.
Its all to do with taking in oxygen and using the diaphram and deep abdominal muscles force out the air and add extra force to the punch, stroke or speed.
During my post op physio on my arm, the one physio always used to say, take some deep breaths, fill your body with extra oxygen to help you.. It's something I do all the time now if I have to do something that is going to take a bit more effort!
So cheer on our British tennis players and be glad when they grunt, because it means that little bright yellow ball is going to be the winning stroke... Come on Cam Norrie, come on Emma Raducanu, come on Arthur Fery!!
Do you love watching tennis too?
Chrisxx
9 comments:
I hate all sport equally, there's no discrimination here, so no I don't watch any of the tennis.
Eastbourne and Wimbledon qualifiers on Red Button next week - perfect !
Always turn the sound off don’t want to listen to the commentary or the grunters.x. Kath
No, never watch tennis but don't watch any sporting events.
That's interesting but I don't like to hear it.
A bellow rather than a grunt. The tennis is more enjoyable with the sound turned off. So many programmes and films have background music and mumbling actors, often I turn the sound off and use subtitles.
I do enjoy watching tennis but if the grunts are too loud I turn the sound off!
All the best Jan
I am very fortunate to be a Debenture holder for Wimbledon, so go everyday over the fortnight and have done for years - I am also a member at Queens and really enjoyed the two years of competition since the WTA 500 restarted - although this year I spent a great deal of time in the clubhouse avoiding the rain . I adore tennis
Miriam
That's really interesting, thanks. xx
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