Singles tennis burns ~475 calories per hour? Really?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've been playing a lot of tennis lately, like 3 hours a night, from 7pm to 10pm. Just out of curiosity I looked up how many calories it burnt and I have to say I'm a bit incredulous at the results.

For singles, it averages about 475 calories per hour for a guy who's 155 lb.

Uhhh... that's seems really really high, doesn't it? I mean, we're not exactly world class tennis players. We are both 3.0 to 3.5 players, meaning we can sort of keep the ball in play, but frequently error when we try and go for winners. And the points are quick - most last less than 1 minute. But we don't really stop to rest much except get some water and there are maybe 15 points per 3 hour session where it's crazy and we both feel like collapsing. I guess in 3 hours there's an average of 220+ points.

I have to eat a sandwich or two hot dogs right before playing or else I'll crash. And after 3 hours we both hit a wall - our bodies simply can't generate any more power behind our strokes and no amount of focus can fix it.

I just find it hard to believe that in 3 hours I could have burned up about 1400 calories...

Is this still considered cardio? Due to the frequent change-ups the cardio is never actually sustained, unlike in long distance running or something.

If I play this much tennis, I can just go lift weights at the gym and that's a pretty complete workout right?

 

[Koing]

The most accurate way is to wear a heart rate monitor for an hr to see what you get.

I always put down 1/2 the time for exercise logging purposes as yes it seems high. On Wednesday I play 2hrs of Tennis, most if not all of the sets are doubles so it's lower for doubles.

It's considered more like anaerobic intervals than cardio. Rarely do you play for more than 60seconds after the serve.

Yes this would be a pretty complete workout IMO if you hit weights.

Depending on you feel your game is going I'd recommend having a BCAA drink for your sessions. I always have a BCAA drink with me with about 10g of BCAA and I feel that it helps me out. Or take a shake about an hr before hand.

I'm pretty battered after 2hrs of Tennis. Singles is much tougher than doubles though.

Koing

 

[TecHNooB]

forget the numbers. just do what you're gonna do and adjust your food intake according to results you're seeing.

but yea, 3 hours of tennis + weights is plenty of exercise imo.

 

[Univa]

Thanks for such great discussions. I had a lot of willingness to learn about all these.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The most accurate way is to wear a heart rate monitor for an hr to see what you get.

I always put down 1/2 the time for exercise logging purposes as yes it seems high. On Wednesday I play 2hrs of Tennis, most if not all of the sets are doubles so it's lower for doubles.

It's considered more like anaerobic intervals than cardio. Rarely do you play for more than 60seconds after the serve.

Yes this would be a pretty complete workout IMO if you hit weights.

Depending on you feel your game is going I'd recommend having a BCAA drink for your sessions. I always have a BCAA drink with me with about 10g of BCAA and I feel that it helps me out. Or take a shake about an hr before hand.

I'm pretty battered after 2hrs of Tennis. Singles is much tougher than doubles though.

Koing

Does heart rate really translate that well into calories burned?

I'll see what I can do about getting a BCAA drink on me. The issue is that I live out of a car, so cleaning glasses and keeping cold things like milk is an issue. I guess I could just mix powder with plain water in my water bottle and rinse it later in a public bathroom or something.

 

[Koing]

Does heart rate really translate that well into calories burned?

I'll see what I can do about getting a BCAA drink on me. The issue is that I live out of a car, so cleaning glasses and keeping cold things like milk is an issue. I guess I could just mix powder with plain water in my water bottle and rinse it later in a public bathroom or something.

The most accurate method is the heart rate monitor.

You mix the BCAA in water. It comes in powder form. Mix it in a protein shaker or any bottle that has a wider top so it makes pouring the powder in easier.

Koing

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Man if heart rate determined calories burned I could probably eat 5000 calories a day since my resting is generally 100+ >.> <.< Instead I need to eat 1300-1500 : (

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The most accurate method is the heart rate monitor.

You mix the BCAA in water. It comes in powder form. Mix it in a protein shaker or any bottle that has a wider top so it makes pouring the powder in easier.

Koing

Do you recommend a good heart rate monitor? Maybe something that actually logs your heart rate over time and maybe even allows you to download the graph to your computer or smartphone? Kind of like a heart rate profile?

I'm logging exercise but some of them are just confusing and bordering on non-nonsensical. Last night I went bowling for 3 hours. Of course there is an activity called "bowling" on the calorie tracker, but what does that entail? Is that 3 straight non-stop hours of chucking bowling balls down lanes? Because that's not what happens especially if you're in a group and you're waiting around for your turn. There can literally be a 95% level of error in such an activity depending on the actual activity level. Do I say I bowled for 3 hours or do I say I did it for 13 minutes (4 games, 20 rolls per game, each roll taking maybe 10 seconds)??? I mean, really, 13 minutes is the total time I actually spent doing the activity of rolling a ball down an aisle. And that's probably being liberal.

 

[Koing]

People tend to recommend the polar ones. I don't have any personal experience with any.

I wouldn't log any physical exercise/ activities that you can't measure *vaguely* accurately. People log HOUSE CLEANING, mowing the lawn, cleaning windows. COME ONE people, if you are logging that you are DEFINITELY not going to lose any fat.

I don't even log weights in the gym. I only log swimming and tennis at half time.

Koing

 

[SociallyChallenged]

People tend to recommend the polar ones. I don't have any personal experience with any.

I wouldn't log any physical exercise/ activities that you can't measure *vaguely* accurately. People log HOUSE CLEANING, mowing the lawn, cleaning windows. COME ONE people, if you are logging that you are DEFINITELY not going to lose any fat.

I don't even log weights in the gym. I only log swimming and tennis at half time.

Koing

I don't think you can connect the Polar ones to create a live-action graph. I have the Polar RS100, which is a great watch for beginners. It includes average heart rate for a given session in addition to maximum heart rate. It helps a lot by giving you feedback about how hard you're working and if you need to slow down to maintain the desired duration. With it, I've realized my max heart rate is significantly lower than my calculated max HR by about 10bpm. I keep that in mind all of my other activities now.

 

[Koing]

I don't think you can connect the Polar ones to create a live-action graph. I have the Polar RS100, which is a great watch for beginners. It includes average heart rate for a given session in addition to maximum heart rate. It helps a lot by giving you feedback about how hard you're working and if you need to slow down to maintain the desired duration. With it, I've realized my max heart rate is significantly lower than my calculated max HR by about 10bpm. I keep that in mind all of my other activities now.

The polar ones I looked at a few months ago you can connect to a computer and polar have a website and you can do a lot of things by the looks of it.

I decided in the end I didn't care enough to spend £50-80 on a HR to see how many calories I'd burn in 2hrs. If a waterproof one was available I'd think more carefully as I swim 2x a week and it would be nice to know how many calories I burn in 20laps.

Koing

 

[RichieZ]

how do you calculate calories from HR? I use one on my bike but in conjunction with a powermeter, HR to me is just another way to measure how hard I'm working and making sure I keeping in the right zones.

 

[Koing]

From:
http://burntech.tv/how-heart-rate-monitors-calculate-calories-5-tips-to-improve-accuracy/

So in conclusion, heart rate monitors calculate calories by running collected data (your heart rate) against input ted data (your stats) in order to recognise your training zone and the likely calorie cost of been in that zone. The reading is not an absolute and shouldn&#8217;t be treated as such, yet its a useful guide to your workout.

Koing

 

[xaeniac]

Yes, tennis is intense cardio.

 

[smackababy]

Speaking of tennis, I finally got my GF to play tennis with me (and by 'got' I mean I bought her gear and told her she is doing it or I will find a hot partner to play with >_> ).

Well, it wasn't as good of a cardio session as I wanted (because she is awful), but I did get a little running around trying to keep a volley up after her awful hits.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Speaking of tennis, I finally got my GF to play tennis with me (and by 'got' I mean I bought her gear and told her she is doing it or I will find a hot partner to play with >_> ).

Well, it wasn't as good of a cardio session as I wanted (because she is awful), but I did get a little running around trying to keep a volley up after her awful hits.

Ugggg... Tennis is probably the worst sport for a newbie to pick up because the learning curve is so high (and continues to be high basically forever). I don't generally play with new people unless I know what level they are beforehand, and I definitely won't play with a newbie since there isn't any 'play' involved.

I would get her lessons so she knows where to start with stance, grips, form, focus, and a working knowledge of how to actually hit the ball. And then take a bunch of balls and drill her (teehee).

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Basketball is similar to running at a 10 minute*mile pace. I'dguess that Tennis is similar. Alot of standing with intermitant sprints.

 

[Koing]

Basketball is similar to running at a 10 minute*mile pace. I'dguess that Tennis is similar. Alot of standing with intermitant sprints.

Basketball is a lot more active than Tennis for most people at most levels IMO.

Tennis is only good exercise if you play against someone that his also relatively good. You will rarely ever rally longer than 60seconds in a match once the serve has taken place. I can't wait to play tomorrow

Koing

 

[smackababy]

Basketball is similar to running at a 10 minute*mile pace. I'dguess that Tennis is similar. Alot of standing with intermitant sprints.

Basketball is much better on skill gap though. Plus, I don't think I've ever run as slow as a 10 minute mile pace playing bastketball, but I am not exceptionally good (and pretty short) so all I had was hustle. But, even the worse players can get a good workout, just by running up and down the court. If I were to play against a complete novice (such as my GF) for real in Tennis, I'd pretty much ace every serve.

But, I am not really playing for the workout factor, more of a fun activity with the GF.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Basketball is a lot more active than Tennis for most people at most levels IMO.

Tennis is only good exercise if you play against someone that his also relatively good. You will rarely ever rally longer than 60seconds in a match once the serve has taken place. I can't wait to play tomorrow

Koing

Yeah, for sure. Tennis definitely has a barrier to entry - you're not going to get much of a workout (or much fun) if you're new and not very consistent and all you're doing is walking to fetch balls that are hit out or at the net.

The only way that I can envision beginner tennis being a good workout is if you chase down literally every single ball, regardless of if it's out or not.

 

[smackababy]

Yeah, for sure. Tennis definitely has a barrier to entry - you're not going to get much of a workout (or much fun) if you're new and not very consistent and all you're doing is walking to fetch balls that are hit out or at the net.

The only way that I can envision beginner tennis being a good workout is if you chase down literally every single ball, regardless of if it's out or not.

Heh, playing with a complete novice was the opposite for me. I got a decent workout chasing down her balls and sending them softly back to her. She only really had to walk when she missed entirely or hit the net.

 

[Koing]

Heh, playing with a complete novice was the opposite for me. I got a decent workout chasing down her balls and sending them softly back to her. She only really had to walk when she missed entirely or hit the net.

Use 8 balls. Don't f0ck around so much

Koing

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Oh, and I recommend getting pressure-less tennis balls for practice.

Unlike regular tennis balls, they don't ever lose their bounce, either due to being hit or just sitting around in normal atmospheric pressure (they actually get slightly bouncier over time). As long as you're not prone to losing balls, these will last forever or until the felt is gone.

http://www.holabirdsports.com/tretorn-micro-x-4-cans.html

They are more expensive than normal balls, but they're less waste.

 

[Koing]

Oh, and I recommend getting pressure-less tennis balls for practice.

Unlike regular tennis balls, they don't ever lose their bounce, either due to being hit or just sitting around in normal atmospheric pressure (they actually get slightly bouncier over time). As long as you're not prone to losing balls, these will last forever or until the felt is gone.

http://www.holabirdsports.com/tretorn-micro-x-4-cans.html

They are more expensive than normal balls, but they're less waste.

I'd get them but I already have 2 new cans of slazenger balls from a few months ago. I also use balls that the club provides as well. But yeah thanks of the info.

Today played mens doubles. 2 sets, 2 different partners. First set was 6-2 win. I only warmed up with about 20 shots or so. Didn't seem to affect me too much today, having not played for 4 weeks. I played less aggressive and more percentage tennis and not going for winners all the time . 2nd set was with a different partner. Started out well. I kept serve but we were 5-3 down in the end. Managed to pull it back to 5-5, then 6-6 and went to tie break. It was close then we won 7-3 in tie breaker Booyah!

Felt really good to play some Tennis again. Can't wait for next Wednesday.

Koing

 

[HendrixFan]

Basketball is similar to running at a 10 minute*mile pace. I'dguess that Tennis is similar. Alot of standing with intermitant sprints.

I guess it depends on how you play. I see alot of people standing around on offense playing basketball, and even more just standing on defense. When I play I'm using more energy playing defense than sprinting the floor. If I have teammates that know what they are doing, and I try to get to those courts more often than not, then I move constantly on offense too.