Are you still on the fence on whether to pick up tennis for the first time or (like me before) deciding to return to the game after a break? Or should you enrol your children to tennis classes? Well, here are seven reasons for the go-ahead:
1. Playing tennis provides plenty of challenge.
Let me be upfront to say that tennis is a challenging sport. Observe or ask most beginners of the sport and you would find that the incipient stages are not so much of playing tennis but really ball picking (and repetitive drills). Unlike other popular racket sports such as badminton or (at current) pickleball, sustaining a consistent back-and-forth rally isn’t so simple. In fact, it can take weeks, months – and heck, even – years to have a nice flowing rally. Add to that the many other components that complete the sport (e.g. first serve, second serve, backhand slice, forehand slice, footwork, volleys, overhead smash, shot anticipation, tactics, etc, etc) and one is left wondering why even pick up such a complex and difficult sport in the first place? But – Ah – it is precisely in its arduousness, that playing tennis is or can become for one a deep reservoir of (shall we say) life-long exploration, discovery, refinement and hence deep and sustained satisfaction for one is not easily bored.
2. Hitting the tennis ball is (actually) satisfying too…
I am pretty sure that I am not alone in holding this sentiment, but O wait till you hit a clean shot with ball felt on the racket’s sweet spot along with legs, hips, shoulder, hands, head, eyes totally in-sync, finishing up with a smooth and extended follow through, accompanied by the sweet tune of “Thwap!” entering one’s earbuds as the ball leaves the strings… A symphony of movement, sound and sight, you could say, which is O so addictive… (you who had hit such a shot would understand and if not, I wish such an experience would indeed be bestowed upon you…)
3. … and so is being on court!
Barring those tennis courts which are gingerly narrowed and “caged” – sometimes even closed up from on top with low-height netting – most tennis courts give us a taste of – shall we say – the gratuitousness of life mediated through capacious spaces ranging from high ceilings (indoor courts) to “sky-is-the-limit” intersected with wide horizontal planes, potentially providing the perceptive – and even the unassuming (?) – individual a sense of calm and freedom while being on court.
4. Playing tennis gives a good workout.
I mean even ball picking serves that purpose too, right? No, jokes aside. Playing tennis provides quite the salutary blend of high-intensity cardio, anaerobic bursts, and muscle toning, resulting in what is said to be 400-600 calories expended per an hour long session. In fact, it is not uncommon for friends or students of mine who tell me that they sweat more and feel more spent after a tennis session as compared to their weekly run or gym session. And to top it off, a study has even shown that people who are active in tennis live longer than others who participate in other sports like soccer or swimming – go figure.
5. You can play tennis almost anywhere in the world.
Taking into account our hyper-mobile society and “globetrotters” out there, tennis being a global sport with an estimate of 106 million players across 199 countries, means a great deal to still enjoy tennis wherever you are on the globe. In addition, one gets the supplemental excitement and intrigue of experiencing playing on varied kinds of courts found over the world (apart from hard courts: clay, turf courts, grass courts, etc) with different playing conditions (humidity, temperature, etc) and (not to mention) views which truly mean no one court is quite exactly the same.
6. Playing tennis is cool, period.
Yes, tennis’ rich history, the different court surfaces, the iconic yellow furry ball, its celebrity player-ambassadors, all contribute to tennis’ cool factor but also consider this: its gear! (Here, I must admit that tennis players are spoilt for choice:) From a smorgasbord of different brands, rackets, strings, shoes, apparel, and bags to choose from, it is certainly fairly easy for one to appear hip on the tennis court (or anywhere really), and being invested in tennis gear can serve as a cool hobby in and of itself (I am not hereby advocating for irresponsible consumerism but with good taste and wise spending, one can also, I believe, experience the pleasure and “coolness” in gear use and/or collection)!
7. Lastly, playing tennis promotes social wellbeing.
Is it possible for tennis to be played alone? In a way yes, whether it be hitting the ball against the wall, self practising (which I have spent countless hours doing), or even hitting balls from a ball-feeder machine, playing tennis can be done in solitude. However, as tennis is a social activity created by and for social beings (i.e. us), the best experience comes from playing with others! Verily, tennis can be a wonderful means to meet new people, strengthen bonds, and have a jolly time together – all contributing to our social well being!
So there you have it: seven reasons to play tennis. What are you waiting for? Go play! 😄🎾
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