Can you play tennis in the rain

If one street is blocked due to road works, you'll find another way to get to your friend's house. If the Pub you're in closes at 12 a. Here are my five tips on what you can do to improve your game when it's raining. Reflex volleys Indoors, get into pairs, stand a few metres apart and focus on a "firm wrist" and contact in front of your eyes. This will help your overall ball control and general coordination. Then, on the court, no matter the conditions—volleying will be easy!

Ball toss Did you know that the problem with most people's serve is an inconsistent ball toss? Set a target on the ground a racquet length away from your front foot is a good guide and get the ball to land on the target. Balls will also feel heavy on contact because they will absorb water and moisture.

All of this can make playing in the rain an unpleasant experience, but you can bring a few extra balls and regularly rotate them during play once they start to get too soggy. Keep them in a bag until you use them so that they remain dry.

While nylon, polyester, and Kevlar strings hold up fine in the rain, you should not use natural gut in wet conditions. The strings will at the very least lose tension and possibly break during play as they become stretched. Those who are used to the feel of natural gut will find switching to a synthetic string to be difficult, but doing so will help protect your racket. You can use a synthetic gut in place of natural gut in these circumstances. In order to keep your equipment protected and dry, bring a bag that you can store your rackets, tennis balls, a towel, and other gear in.

At the very least it will help avoid additional exposure to the elements. If you are able to temporarily place your bags under an enclosed, roofed area, do so to avoid the bag itself from getting soaked.

If not, the bag should help to keep your gear relatively dry. Opt for a waterproof bag if at all possible. Since many tournaments are played rain or shine, it might be a good idea to get out there from time to time and play in rainy conditions.

This will allow you to be better prepared if you ever find yourself in a competitive situation where you have to play in the rain. Just be sure to come prepared with extra gear to help you get through it all.

You will need to adjust your style of play under rainy or wet conditions. Since balls will be heavier and not bounce as high, you will need to adjust your swing or bend your knees more.

You will also need to swing harder at the ball since it will feel heavier. You may need to adjust the motion on your serve as well. Like on your groundstrokes, you will need to swing harder and adjust the toss since the ball will be heavier.

While not the best experience, playing in the rain is certainly possible. Sometimes there is no alternative. If you do have indoor courts in your general vicinity, you are better off scheduling them in advance as they will get filled quickly. Playing Under Wet Conditions Playing tennis in the rain is not the best experience. When I was a junior tennis player myself, I had the misfortune of growing up in a region infamous for rain—Seattle, Washington.

But in those other 3 long seasons, it felt like the downpour would never stop. On multiple occasions, rain would pick up out of nowhere during a competitive match. It was up to us, the players, to decide if we wanted to keep playing or if the rain made the courts too slippery to continue. I was always the last person to leave during these storms. I believed the rain gave me an advantage due to my style of play.

I also wanted to appear macho, of course. All in all, I was lucky to not suffer a sprained ankle. Although this climate posed many challenges for myself and other tennis players, I was fortunate enough to have access to indoor courts, inside a giant inflatable bubble.

Please keep in mind this article refers to hard courts, not clay or grass. Your shoes will have much more traction on hard court as compared to clay, though it can still be iffy. Remember that playing tennis in the rain always increases your risk of injury due to slippage. You are still at risk if you have high-quality tennis shoes, as these are not designed for traction on wet surfaces. In a light misty rain, you may be able to hit around. However, if puddles start to form, this is a clear indicator you should stop playing tennis.