Fitness review: social tennis
Want to test your fitness, agility, hand and eye coordination and mental strength? Look no further than tennis!
I used to play tennis heaps as a kid, I couldn’t get enough of it. I was that annoying sibling always standing in front of the TV while the tennis was on, swinging my imaginary racquet while my brothers and sisters threw things at me.
And that enthusiasm has never waned. But apart from the casual game here and there and hitting a few balls at my partner’s family reunion, it had been awhile since I’d been on a tennis court. So, inspired by the summer of tennis, I headed down to my local club to give social tennis a go. And it didn’t disappoint.
The details:
Duration: 60 minutes coaching and 60 minutes of doubles afterwards
Style: Adult group class – 10 to 12 people
Cost: $20 casual drop in; cheaper for members
Who’s there: All ages, male and female
What to wear: shorts, moisture wicking t-shirt, tennis shoes or cross trainers. Bring a towel and keep your water bottle close by.
What to expect:
Social tennis is a weekly fixture at your local tennis club where the emphasis is on group coaching in a fun and relaxed social environment followed by a social doubles hit-out afterwards.
When you first turn up and pay for your session, you’ll be asked what level you’d like to play (beginner, intermediate or advanced) and then given a court number to head to. Once on court, the coach will introduce themselves and the warm-up starts – easy, service line rallies, working your way backwards to the baseline.
The rest of the coaching session is in the form of tennis drills: working in pairs and with the whole group, building to a cardio/running session towards the end. I thought we might be given some stroke corrections or technique tips, but there wasn’t any given in the intermediate session I went too. I’m sure if anyone approached the coach though, he’d help. Here are some of the drills we did that you’re likely to do:
Volleys: 2 players (the ‘champs’) are positioned at the net, with the rest of the group on the baseline. In a doubles format, two players move forward to try to get the ball past the champs. First to three points replaces the champs, or heads back to the baseline line-up.
Moving forward: Similar to the drill above. This time, 3 players stand on the baseline opposite three players also on the baseline. The coach feeds (i.e. hits) the ball to one group as a low approach shot, so that the whole group moves forward to the service line. The coach continues feeding the ball to these players, and whacks in a lob for someone to smash back.
Round the world: This was the last drill to get the heart rate up. The group is split into 2 to play a continuous rally, where you hit the ball over the net and race around to the other side to hit it back. The game continues until only 4 players remain (if you miss the ball/hit it out/hit the net you’re out) who play doubles, until only one player remains.
Would I recommend this fitness workout to a friend?
Yes! Not only is it fun, but because of the different coaching sessions it doesn’t matter what your ability is, you’re catered for. You’ll also find out pretty quickly just how fit you are! If you’re absolutely new to tennis, make sure you ask the coach what grip you should have for holding your racquet so you don’t pull up sore the next day.
What I liked: the drills, social aspect, playing doubles and using strategy – tennis is a mental game! You’ll burn a few calories too.
What I didn’t like: I wore my Nike flex running shoes and these got scuffed up a fair bit due to the tennis surface. If you have tennis shoes or cross trainers, definitely wear them instead of joggers.
What do I rate this fitness workout out of 5?
Fitness: 4/5 Strength and toning: 3/5
Weight loss: 3.5/5 Wellness (mind, body, soul connection) 4/5
What would I listen to playing social tennis?
Has this review inspired you to hit the courts and let your inner Rafa or Serena get loose? Share your thoughts in the comments box below!
If there’s a fitness workout you’d like me to review, email hello@askthatfitgirl.com
Till next time, Maryanne
