Can tennis get you fit?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 06, 2026
Tennis is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that improves muscular strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and agility. Since you need a partner to play a match, it can also increase social interactions. Plus, tennis is a sport you can play at any age.Tennis is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that improves muscular strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and agility. Since you need a partner to play a match, it can also increase social interactions. Plus, tennis is a sport you can play at any age.
Can you get skinny from playing tennis?
Tennis is the most physically challenging sports, and if you play it consistently, you can shed some kilos and tone your body. Playing singles is a high calorie-burning activity, but even doubles can help you shed unwanted fat from the body.
Is tennis better than gym?
The results revealed that the tennis players enjoyed a more favourable BMI and displayed better upper body and lower extremity function than the gym-goers who are those not used to holding a racket. Jackson explains: “As we age, we lose muscle mass and we lose bone mineral density over time.
What does tennis do to your body?
Because tennis includes short bursts of activity, it offers the same conditioning benefits of interval training, which has an unparalleled positive effect on the heart and lungs, slashing your risk of heart disease by 56% (!). Just an hour of play burns between 400 to 600 calories.
Is it OK to play tennis everyday?
So if you're in good health, and under age 30, you can safely play at a high level 3-4 times per week. If you're between 30-50, 2-3 times per week is a good number. After age 50, you might not want to play competitive tennis more than twice a week, and if you must exceed that number, keep the 3rd match friendly.
17 related questions foundIs tennis the healthiest sport?
After tracking more than 8,500 people for over 25 years, the data showcased that seven sports contributed to increased life expectancy for active participants compared to sedentary peers. Tennis was not only included in the seven sports that contribute to a healthier life, but it came in on top.
Can you get abs from tennis?
Every tennis game or practice session works both major ab regions simultaneously, so the increased definition is noticeable and consistent. Playing tennis truly is a full body workout.
Is learning tennis hard?
Many people consider tennis one of the hardest sports to learn, due to the need for hand-eye coordination, flexibility, agility, strength, and speed. Players must master different shots and learn the mental side of the game, which is considered the hardest part.
Is tennis hard on your body?
Tennis is a sport that puts a lot of stress on your muscles and joints, particularly if you are playing on hard courts. When you take time off and you are not performing the very specific movements that tennis possesses, it is highly likely that your muscles, and even joints will be sore once you return.
Is tennis better than running?
Calories Burned
According to the Mayo Clinic, a singles tennis match burns 584 calories for a 160-pound person, while high-impact aerobics burns 533 during that same time. Tennis also provides a longer post-workout calorie burn.
Is tennis a strength or cardio?
Based on the definition above, tennis can be considered a very good cardio workout. You're moving frequently, using your arms and legs, raising your heart rate, and breathing more frequently. Some tennis exercises (like rallies or moving) will be better cardio workouts than others (short points).
Is tennis a high impact sport?
Since tennis matches incorporate a lot of bursts of energy coupled with moments of rest and subtle contemplation of your opponent it's considered an HIIT or “high-intensity interval training.” This kind of work-out boosts cardiovascular health because you engage your core, upper and lower-body muscle groups.
What are the disadvantages of tennis?
Disadvantages of Tennis
- Potential for serious injuries.
- Tennis equipment can be costly.
- Not a team sport.
- Tennis cannot be played alone.
- Lack of tennis courts.
- Tennis takes some time to learn.
- Motivation might be a problem.
- Tennis may be time-consuming.
Does tennis burn fat?
Playing singles is a high calorie-burning activity, but even doubles can help you shed unwanted fat from the body. If a person weighing 70 kilos plays singles tennis match for an hour, it would help him to burn 520 calories.
Does tennis make your arms bigger?
How much does playing tennis affect muscle growth though? I would think a tennis racket isn't strong enough but maybe you can make a lot of gains just from playing tennis. It's noticeable, but really not a big deal. Your dominant arm will of course be bigger, if you don't workout your non-dominant arm.
What is the toughest sport?
Boxing. The Sweet Science. That's the sport that demands the most from the athletes who compete in it. It's harder than football, harder than baseball, harder than basketball, harder than hockey or soccer or cycling or skiing or fishing or billiards or any other of the 60 sports we rated.
What age is too late to start tennis?
You may think because you didn't play tennis as a kid or even as a teenager, it's too late to start now. The truth is, you can begin playing tennis at any age, and it's great for your physical and mental health. Tennis truly is a sport you can play for a lifetime.
What is the easiest sport?
Here's a list of easy sports that can be picked up easily without material time or money investment:
- Badminton. Hands down, one of the easiest and most rewarding sport to learn is Badminton. ...
- Swimming. Swimming is a sport that can be learned at any age. ...
- Cycling. ...
- Table Tennis. ...
- Volleyball.
Do tennis players live long?
People who regularly play tennis have the longest life expectancy compared with people who do other activities, such as jogging, swimming, or bicycling. In fact, tennis players live an average 9.7 years longer than people who do no exercise, according to researchers of the Copenhagen City Heart Study.
Does tennis add years to your life?
Promote Longevity
Again, tennis was a clear winner, associated with an astonishing 9.7-year-longer life span. By comparison, badminton was shown to add an average of 6.2 years to life expectancy; soccer, 4.7 years; cycling; 3.7 years; swimming, 3.4 years; and jogging, 3.2 years.
Is tennis good for your brain?
Tennis helps you deal with physical, mental, emotional and social challenges which in turn increases your capacity to handle stress. From alertness to tactical thinking, tennis enhances the neural connections in your brain. Kids who play tennis regularly get better grades and achieve higher in school.
What are 5 positives and 5 negatives of tennis?
The Pros and Cons of Tennis
- Pro: Exercise.
- Con: Health Risks.
- Pro: Mental Benefits.
- Con: Costs.
- Pro: Social Benefits.
- Con: Social Drawbacks.
- Tennis: Yes or No?
Is tennis good for back pain?
While tennis elbow and wrist problems are common sports injuries associated with tennis, the sport can also create or worsen lower back injuries.
How long does it take to learn tennis?
Assuming that a good tennis player can hold rallies and do all basic strokes, the realistic timeframe is 1 to 3 years. The amount of practice, fitness level, and adoption skills affect the time. It is tough to tell how long it takes to get good at tennis because everyone has different definitions of good.
What is the healthiest sport for your body?
The Healthiest Sports for Your Body
- Swimming. Many health benefits are related to swimming. ...
- Biking or Cycling. You don't have to join Tour de France to reap the benefits of this sport. ...
- Tennis. Tennis is one of the healthiest sports because it can burn 600 calories. ...
- Running. ...
- Squash. ...
- Golf. ...
- Hiking. ...
- Rowing.