Numerous experts have weighed in on the matter of tennis players and grunting and it turns out players make noise for several reasons.
Ever wonder why there’s so much grunting in tennis?
Numerous experts have weighed in on the matter through studies and other informed commentary and it turns out players make noise for several reasons.
One is to psych out their opponent. Making a noise on a relatively quiet court can cause the person on the other side of the net to become distracted.
That shift of attention, even if it’s incredibly brief, can create enough of a delay in reaction that it could result in missing the ball.
Grunting can also convey a player’s total dedication to the match and show that they’re exerting their maximum effort.
Letting off some steam is another motivation as those involved in play, especially at the professional level, tend to be under a great deal of pressure.
The vocal displays aren’t all for psychological reasons, though.
An experiment involving college-level players showed that when the participants grunted, their forehand shots and serves sailed across the court approximately 5 miles per hour faster.
For all the good it does, the noise making has failed to win over many people.
In 2012 several organizations banded together to try to put an official end to it.
