Why Do Tennis Players Grunt?
Have you ever noticed the loud grunts that some tennis players make during a match? Grunting has been around in professional tennis since the late 1980s when Monica Seles began grunting with every shot (her on-court grunts have been recorded close to 100 decibels!). While some fans believe grunting takes away from the beauty of tennis, other fans argue that it is simply part of the game now and should not be frowned upon. Either way, grunting has become accepted in professional tennis today as part of many players’ games.
Is grunting simply a show of intensity and passion, or is there actually more to it? Let’s explore why some tennis players grunt and how it might help their games.
More Power And Accuracy
Studies have shown that those who grunt while hitting their groundstrokes can generate 3.8% more speed than silent players, and an even greater boost of 4.9% in service speeds. It appears that grunting helps tennis players to increase the amount of physical power! Some experts also believe that grunting helps with accuracy by providing an auditory cue for timing their shots.
Habit
Sharapova’s grunt has reached 100 decibels, as loud as a motorbike. Credit: EuroSport.
The Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova said that she had been grunting since she was young and it was part of her tennis technique, so it would have been difficult to eliminate it as an adult. Interestingly though, Maria hardly grunted during her practice sessions, but only during competitive matches. Monica Seles has also said she grunted when she was 8 years old, and it was not something she only did as an adult.
Psychological Tactics
Grunting can help players stay relaxed while they're playing, as it releases tension and keeps players from tightening up during their swings. This allows for smoother strokes with faster racket head speed. Some players also feel grunting helps them stay in tune with their bodies and establish better control over their movements on the court.
Grunts may be used as intimidation tactics designed to unnerve opponents or simply to distract them. The noise created from grunting almost forces the opponent to listen and focus on it instead of the ball.
Is Grunting Allowed?
While grunting isn't technically illegal in tennis, it's still considered unsportsmanlike behaviour by some in the competitive world of professional tennis. So while some players may choose to grunt during matches, most will try to keep their noise level down so as not to distract their opponents.
It appears that grunting does have some tangible benefits for tennis players. It can help increase power and accuracy as well as provide psychological advantages. While grunting isn’t necessary for all players, it is understandable why some players rely on it during competitive matches. In the end, it seems to come down to personal preference and comfort when deciding whether or not to grunt. Ultimately though, whether or not you approve of these muffled screams will likely depend on your opinion about what makes for good sportsmanship overall.
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About The Author
Darren Teo is the founder of Play! Tennis, the most Google reviewed tennis academy in Singapore. His passion for making tennis accessible to everyone regardless of their age, experience and ability continues to drive his work at the school. He is a thought leader in LinkedIn with 14,000 followers.