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The grim winter weather is finally in retreat, the mercury is rising, days are getting longer and the hour change has finally returned our evenings. For many of the Central and Northern States, the outdoor season is about to start – a few lucky players will already have some games under their belts and, for the rest of us, it won’t be long. So what should you be doing right now to make sure the new season gets off to a cracking start?
The Boring But Important Stuff
A body in motion stays in motion, but a body that’s been hiding indoors for several months needs a little bit of a tune up before hitting the courts. Unused muscles grow weaker, endurance becomes a distant memory, flexibility evaporates and those razor-sharp reflexes become duller than a mushroom. Add cooler conditions and slippery courts to the equation and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Flexibility – you know you had it when you lose it! Start stretching now – its far too late to try and get your body moving ten minutes before your first game of the season. This is especially important if you’re carrying old injuries. Ask a physio what you should be doing, or delve into the wonderful world of Youtube. And pay particular attention to warming up at the start of the season – cooler temps are not your friend. You’ve got to get those muscles warm before you start lunging for a ball, or even hitting hard. So many conditions like tennis elbow are aggravated in the first few minutes on court when you body is cold and stiff.
Fitness – A couple of weeks without working out or playing is all it takes to start feeling a difference. Do yourself a favor and schedule a little preseason work – a few easy jogs, bike rides or trips to the gym can make a huge difference to how you recover after a point, as well as increasing your body’s resilience to physical stress and injury.
Strength – we all start naturally losing muscle mass after the age of 30, and the rate accelerates after 60 – rather depressing reading for those of us who shudder at the thought of going to the gym. Luckily, tennis is one of the very best sports to preserve your body, but even regular tennis players can benefit from a little weight lifting, especially in the off season. If you don’t have a gym membership, then a cheap and convenient preseason alternative can be a set of elastic weight bands. They don’t take up much space, so you can keep one in your kit bag for pre-game stretching exercises. Pro players wouldn’t go near a tennis court without warm-up bands.
Give Your Credit Card A Workout
Shoes – check the state of your tread. Now’s a perfect time to buy new shoes online: if you get the wrong size, there’s still time to return them and get the right size before the season’s start. You can also spend a few hours walking around in a new pair to break them in, thereby avoiding the traditional April blister-fest!
Racquet Strings – strings lose tension over time, so pre-season is a great time to get a restring while you won’t miss your racquets for a few days. Don’t forget to move the cross strings up and down to check for wear on the main strings.
Grips – even if you’re not using your racquet, the grip material can degrade over time, tempting you to grip harder, which is very bad for your game and body. Grips are a disposable item – buy a multi-pack at the start of the season and enjoy the difference.
Socks – not a subject to get the pulse racing, but a high quality pair are an excellent way to protect feet from early season blisters.
Balls – as soon as you pull the pressure cap off, a pack of pressurized tennis balls will begin to lose pressure. Most balls are good for a month or two, but anything from last season will be noticeably flat by now. Go and buy a new pack, or a whole case to save some money. Flat balls just don’t bounce high enough – a problem that can be made even worse by early season low temperatures.
Build Some Fun Into The Start Of Your Season
Don’t just emerge, bleary-eyed, onto the court like some poor creature coming out of hibernation. Start the season in a purposeful way – phone around and get a load of friends on court the first nice day of the season. Bring some drinks, make it into a celebration of the return of the good times. Life’s short – you’ve got to grab these great moments with both hands! Pre-season gatherings at somebody’s house, or the local pub are also a great way to usher in the new season.
Alternatively, make this the year that you join a local club – you’ll meet tons of fellow players, and once you’ve invested a bit of money, you’re much more likely to make time to play. This is the perfect time to check out local clubs – you’ll be joining in time for all the start of season new member events.
Make This The Year You Really Improve Your Game
Get a lesson. There’s nothing better than getting better! It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what state your game is in, there are ways to improve your technique and enjoy the sport more. A great starting point is to have a lesson at the start of the season, then perhaps once a month going forward. Think of it as a tune up – tennis is a technique heavy game, so there are a few things you need to get right. Even after a lesson has ended, you’ll have a new voice in your head telling you do certain things differently.
Set some goals / challenges. This could be as simple as signing up for club competitions. You’ll have a point in time to work towards and a reason to put in the hours on court. If you want to get better, you’ll need somebody to practice with who’s a similar level and is also keen to improve. Coaches often have a mental list of suitable people, so be sure to ask.
And Finally…
Remember that this wonderful game of ours is so much more than just whacking a lump of rubber over a net. As soon as you start playing, a wonderfully social world will open up. Make the best of it – you’d be amazed at how many people meet their partners, do business deals and generally hang out with people they play tennis with. Maybe start a tradition of sharing a drink after a game, or heading home via the pub. Perhaps get a group together at the weekend and order a pizza to be delivered to the club when you’re finished on court. Invite new people to join a game of doubles, or offer to have a hit around with somebody who’s watching. Get kids on the court hitting and chasing balls. Invite friends who used to play to come down the club and have a hit. Organize a social event for your club to introduce people to new hitting partners. Take it in turns for your doubles group to bring snacks and drinks. It’ll all help this summer to become one to remember!