How Many Calories Do Tennis Players Typically Burn?

Discover the Multiple Health Benefits of Playing Tennis  

Many people wonder if tennis is a good workout for weight loss. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in daily. How many calories are burned by playing tennis? While the answer to this may vary depending on athleticism and skill, the average person can burn up to 350-750 calories per hour playing tennis. Many of our Spare Time Sports Clubs locations in the Sacramento, CA area offer tennis courts and even host tennis leagues to help you stay in shape while participating in a sport you love. If you’re on the fence about picking up a tennis racquet to get in shape, read on as we discuss how many calories tennis typically burns and how it can benefit your health. When you’re ready to join the fun of this rousing sport, talk to us about the possibility of becoming a club member! 

Is Tennis the Right Sport for You at Spare Time Sports Clubs?  

Tennis is one of the oldest sports still played today. Modern tennis can be traced back to 12th century France, where it was played using only the palm of one’s hand. By the 16th century, racquets were added to resemble the game of tennis as we know it. Is the sport’s age any indication of its effectiveness for getting into shape? Not really. While it’s encouraging to know that tennis has been around for centuries, you must dig a little deeper to determine whether it’s the right sport for you. Pickleball is also a similar sport that you can play to burn calories.

The Age-Old Question: How Many Calories Does Tennis Burn?  

It’s nearly impossible to say how many calories tennis burns because it’s different for everybody. However, you can get a pretty good idea based on several key factors. In general, you’re likely to burn about 400 calories per hour of tennis. Before you reserve your court time, let’s take a look at some of the factors that affect how many calories tennis burns for the average player: 

• Length of Game – How long you play affects how many calories you burn. The same is true of any sport or physical activity, so how long you play tennis greatly impacts how many calories you burn. 

• Level of Intensity – The great thing about tennis is that anyone can play it, regardless of age or skill. You don’t have to be a professional tennis player to reap the health benefits of tennis. That being said, how hard you play affects how many calories you burn. When played at an intense level, tennis involves a lot of sprinting, lunging, jumping, and swinging. You don’t necessarily have to play at an intense level. If you’re playing a light doubles game (not swinging too hard and not having to sprint the entire width of the court), you may burn fewer calories than if you were playing an intense singles match. Conversely, you burn more calories while lunging, running, and swinging hard. 
• Type of Match – The kind of tennis match you play also impacts how many calories you burn. A singles match is just you and your opponent. In a singles match, you’ll have to hustle to cover the width of the court, meaning you’ll need to run and lunge harder. You’re likely to burn more calories in a singles match than in a doubles match because you’re doing more work. In a doubles match, you have a partner, so you don’t have to cover your whole side of the court. 
• Body Weight – Last but not least, your body weight affects how many calories you burn by playing tennis. Someone who weighs 250 pounds will burn more calories in an hour of playing tennis than someone who weighs 150 pounds. 

What Are the Health Benefits of Playing Tennis?  

You should note that tennis is primarily a cardio workout. Cardiovascular exercise is vital to many physical and mental health aspects. It’s one of the four essential exercise types, which also include balance, strength, and flexibility. But what are the specific health benefits of playing cardio tennis? Let’s take a quick look at the most significant benefits before you pick up your trusty tennis racquet: 

• Supports Heart Health – Because it’s an excellent form of cardio exercise, tennis benefits your cardiovascular health. One study showed that people who play tennis are less likely to develop heart conditions. 
• Works Out the Whole Body – One of the best aspects of tennis is that it engages almost every muscle in your body. People who play tennis (or other racquet sports) tend to have better musculoskeletal function than people who don’t. Tennis players also tend to have great upper and lower body strength. 
• Improves Balance & Coordination – Tennis involves a lot of intense lateral movements, which aren’t very common in everyday life. The side-to-side movements train your body to be better at balancing itself. Tennis can help improve your balance and coordination, which can help you avoid falls and other accidents. 

Why Is Tennis Such a Popular Physical Activity? 

Tennis is a popular pastime because anyone can play this contact-free sport. It also presents the perfect opportunity to meet new people while remaining active. While you can practice by yourself up against a wall, tennis is inherently a social sport meant to be played with others. Contact sports like football aren’t an option for everybody, as they make people vulnerable to contact-related injuries. There’s little risk of a contact-related injury in tennis, making it ideal for people of all ages and skill levels.  

Another great thing about tennis is that it doesn’t require much gear. All you need is a reliable pair of tennis shoes, comfortable clothing, a racquet, and a few tennis balls. Finding others at the same skill level as you is easy at Spare Time Sports Clubs. Many of our facilities feature indoor tennis courts, so that you can play in any weather year-round, day or night. In addition to tennis, many of our sports and fitness clubs also feature pickleball, squash, badminton, and racquetball courts for your enjoyment. 

Is Tennis a Good Workout to Lose Weight?  

You don’t have to play like a pro to reap the health benefits of playing tennis. It can be a good workout to lose weight depending on how long you play, the level of intensity, your weight, and other factors. Many people stay fit and trim by playing tennis. Anybody can play and enjoy tennis, so don’t delay! 

Is Tennis Better Than Running for You? 

Generally speaking, tennis is better than running because it provides a full-body workout. It works out almost every muscle group in your body, helping you build upper and lower body strength and flexibility. When you run, your heart rate pretty much stays at a steady pace. Cardio tennis is a stop-and-start sport, meaning your heart rate will increase dramatically during short, high-impact bursts of time, which can benefit your workout and overall health. 

Join One of Our Junior or Adult Tennis Leagues Today 

While the number of calories you burn playing tennis will vary based on multiple factors, it’s clear that it’s a fun sport enjoyed by many people interested in getting into shape and living a healthier lifestyle. At Spare Time Sports Clubs, we’re passionate about tennis. Many of our state-of-the-art sports and fitness clubs boast professionally maintained tennis courts, as well as junior and adult tennis leagues. If you’re looking for somewhere you and your family can start playing tennis, look no further than one of our clubs in the Sacramento area. Find one near you today, or contact us to ask about club membership!