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Does tennis give you a good body?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 22, 2026

Unique among other sports, tennis is truly a workout for the entire body. Your legs, shoulders, arms, hands, upper back, and lower back all get a good workout. You strengthen your core muscles. Playing tennis regularly is an optimal rigorous strength training routine for your whole body.

What does tennis do to your body?

lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure. improving metabolic function. increasing bone density. lowering body fat.

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.

Does tennis make you bigger?

Not particularly, it's definitely more of a cardiovascular exercise/endurance sport with some focus on specific strength. Your core muscles and your shoulders will definitely develop some strength and speed, and your legs will likely develop explosively but increased muscle mass is highly unlikely.

Does tennis make you ripped?

No way to get "muscled" in the upper body from tennis, except mabe your forearm as you are exerting significant force there for the size of the muscle. You can increase the legs because at least you are lifting your body weight on groundstrokes and serves, and in running to the ball.

23 related questions found

Is tennis good for your abs?

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 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.

Does tennis slim your legs?

In tennis, athletes squat, sprint, jump and turn -- activities that strengthen the glutes, quads and calves. In addition, tennis is a great way to lose overall body fat; a 150-pound adult will burn approximately 570 calories in a 60-minute doubles game.

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).

Does tennis make you skinny?

As per research, women can burn up to 300 to 500 calories per hour by performing cardio tennis, while men can burn twice the calories. Apart from losing weight and toning your body, playing tennis also improves hand-eye coordination, improves bone density and increases flexibility.

Is tennis good for losing weight?

Because weight loss is all about creating a calorie deficit — eating fewer calories than you burn day in and day out — tennis can be an effective way to lose weight. Playing singles especially is a high calorie-burning activity, although a good, competitive match of doubles will also help keep you trim.

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.

Is 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.

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 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.

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.

Does tennis tone your arms?

Even if you play tennis for a couple of hours every week, you will be able to tone every inch of your arms, including your biceps, triceps, shoulders, and forearms.

Is tennis hard on the 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 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 more physical or mental?

We all know the old adage that tennis is just as much of a mental game as a physical game. However, tennis is actually significantly more mental than physical – 84.2 percent mental to be exact, according to two time Olympic gold medalist and 17 time Grand Slam champion Gigi Fernandez.

How do tennis players stay relaxed?

10 Ways to Calm Your Nerves When Playing a Tennis Match

  1. The Ideal State of Mind. ...
  2. Rituals and Repetition. ...
  3. Be in the Moment. ...
  4. Play Matches Regularly. ...
  5. Be Prepared. ...
  6. Don't Overdo Your Warm Up. ...
  7. Go Conservative if You're Going Through a Rough Patch. ...
  8. Strategize During Downtime.

Is tennis a HIIT workout?

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.

Is tennis the best exercise?

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.

How many calories burned 1.5 hours tennis?

Cardio Tennis is a heart pumping, fun way of burning calories. For a competitive singles tennis game, the average person burns 575-775 calories per hour. If they are hitting balls in non-competitive play, the average person will burn 350-500 calories per hour.

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.