Is tennis a great cardio exercise?

estebancambias

What I mean is, if someone is trying to gain mass, would tennis be a good way of having cardio as part of a regime?

I say this because its fully of short bursts, rather than like a football match.

Just putting it out there really.

pvt.joker

If someone was trying to gain mass, why would they have cardio as part of a regime?

estebancambias

for the laugh.....I mean you look at American footballers..they are able to keep their size because their game is full of short sprints. I am wondering would Tennis have same effect.

Look at Nadal for example, his arms are huge, and the guy is probably just gone 20. There is not many people in the gym I go to that are bigger than him.

Al_Fernz

The optimal way to gain muscle mass is to lift heavy weights and eat right.

Money Shot

It's a great sport - tough, enjoyable and I'd say welcome in any fitness 'regime'. Tennis won't help you gain the mass you desire, but it shouldn't prevent you gaining it either provided you don't over do it and refuel properly. It will help you keep fit and flexible though.

It would be a shame to give it up just because you thought it would hinder you're weight gain regime.

Al_Fernz

estebancambias wrote: »

for the laugh.....I mean you look at American footballers..they are able to keep their size because their game is full of short sprints. I am wondering would Tennis have same effect.

Can you support this claim with some evidence?

Hanley

Al_Fernz wrote: »

Can you support this claim with some evidence?

I assume that's a p!sstake??

Look at NFL players ffs.

I believe the point was that since it's mostly interval work that happens on the field and not sustained LIT cardio, muscle mass isnt negatively effected.


EDIT: And for god's sake.. if you want to play tennis, play tennis!!! It's not going to have THAT much of an impact. If you're really concerned, just get a good weight gain shake and have one a day to balance out any extra kcal expenditure from playing. You don't have to lock yourself in the gym to the exclusion of everything else if you want to build muscle. I really don't think it's a healthy attitude to have.

Al_Fernz

Hanley wrote: »

I believe the point was that since it's mostly interval work that happens on the field and not sustained LIT cardio, muscle mass isnt negatively effected.

That I understand and would not dispute.

look at American footballers..they are able to keep their size because their game is full of short sprints

I took this to mean that American footballers are big because of the amount of high intensity cardio in their game. A better way of saying it might have been "...they are able to keep their size because their game is not based on long periods of lower intensity cardio"

Money Shot

Hanley wrote: »

EDIT: And for god's sake.. if you want to play tennis, play tennis!!! It's not going to have THAT much of an impact. If you're really concerned, just get a good weight gain shake and have one a day to balance out any extra kcal expenditure from playing. You don't have to lock yourself in the gym to the exclusion of everything else if you want to build muscle. I really don't think it's a healthy attitude to have.

This is quality advice - i doubt anyone will take one blind bit of notice though. Hope you do though.

Hanley

Al_Fernz wrote: »

That I understand and would not dispute.



I took this to mean that American footballers are big because of the amount of high intensity cardio in their game. A better way of saying it might have been "...they are able to keep their size because their game is not based on long periods of lower intensity cardio"

He said they can KEEP their size because of the short sprints, not that they are the size they are because of it. I thought it was pretty clear?

Money Shot wrote: »

This is quality advice - i doubt anyone will take one blind bit of notice though. Hope you do though.

Aye... it's funny, the more "advanced" I get, the more I realise so much of what people put themselves thru or deny themselves to get big muscles or drop fat is complete and utter rubbish. I remember one year I didn't go to ****** because "I couldn't afford the time off training and eating". That was 3 years ago and it's a decision I regret to this day. And it was a completely dumb a$$ move to make too. Now if I need a weekend off training I'll just double up on one of my days or skip a rest day. It's not a big deal anymore and I'm considerably bigger and stronger now than then.

Al_Fernz

Hanley wrote: »

He said they can KEEP their size because of the short sprints, not that they are the size they are because of it. I thought it was pretty clear?

I thought "keep" meant that they could cease resistance training for some kind of prolonged period - (i.e. in season) and maintain the muscle mass they had built because of the high intensity of their games. i.e. the stimulation of the fast twitch muscle fibres in this way is enough to maintain their size.

Looking back maybe it is clear. Maybe I'm an idiot. Or maybe I'm the one only one on here thinking outside the box?:cool: ehhhhhhhhhh.....probably not:o.

There seems to be a lot of threads coming up here about lifestyle and fitness. They always remind me of this cartoon I saw in MAD magazine. It has this muscular guy in a mirror posing and this average joe kind of guy next to him.

Muscular Guy: Look at this body - I'm like a God.
Average Joe: Wow. You look great - I bet you're a great hit with the ladies.
Muscular Guy: Girls? Who has time for girls?

Money Shot

Hanley wrote: »

Aye... it's funny, the more "advanced" I get, the more I realise so much of what people put themselves thru or deny themselves to get big muscles or drop fat is complete and utter rubbish. I remember one year I didn't go to ****** because "I couldn't afford the time off training and eating". That was 3 years ago and it's a decision I regret to this day. And it was a completely dumb a$$ move to make too. Now if I need a weekend off training I'll just double up on one of my days or skip a rest day. It's not a big deal anymore and I'm considerably bigger and stronger now than then.

It's great that you've learned that so young, and so early in your career, and it augers well for longevity, enjoying your sport and success. If you can manage it at competition level, it should be an easy balance for people just training to keep fit to make.

If you're clever about it, you can have the best of both worlds, and if you're really clever you'll make sure you have. Moderation and common sense.

estebancambias

Sorry lads the wording was awful.

It wasn't something I thought too much about. It just came to me while I was doing nothing.

Also Nadal isn't as big as I thought, or not as big as he used to be.

Hanley

estebancambias wrote: »

Sorry lads the wording was awful.

It wasn't something I thought too much about. It just came to me while I was doing nothing.

Also Nadal isn't as big as I thought, or not as big as he used to be.

He still whooped Federor today tho didn't he!!

maxi-twist

estebancambias wrote: »

Also Nadal isn't as big as I thought, or not as big as he used to be.

Having seen him in person he is not big at all, i'd say he is about the size of your average 1/2 day a week in the gym guys. If anyone put in a bit of effort they could get that "big".

In other news,im an avid tennis player. Its probably one of my most favourite sports to play and watch so im all over it when it comes to the cardio!

GoneShootin

As a competitive tennis player for the last 5 years I can tell you first hand that it is not in of itself a sport you could use to get fit. Singles is the only way you can do yourself justice, but as most competitions around the country are doubles, then you will be dependant on an active "singles game" population in your club. In most tennis clubs doubles is played socially than singles, so again you're caught there.

Tennis is a game you get fit to play well, not a game that gets you fit by playing it!

davyjose

maxi-twist wrote: »

Having seen him in person he is not big at all, i'd say he is about the size of your average 1/2 day a week in the gym guys. If anyone put in a bit of effort they could get that "big".

He might not be big, but he does not look like someone who spends half a day in the gym. I know you didn't exactly say that, but I just want to mop that one up.
The guy is clearly an athlete, with just one glimpse of him.

maxi-twist

sorry that wasnt supposed to say 1/2 i meant it as 1 or 2!

celestial

'Big' is relative though. Objectively, Nadal is a bit of a tank - check those arms.

In tennis terms, he's a beast!