Great new reasons to try tennis!

Published 13 June, 2016

Why you should get your game face on this summer…

  1. Whatever your level, running around the court will get your whole body moving, burning calories and toning up - and get your heart pumping! Constantly moving your feet means you’ll build lower body strength, while the racket action will work your top half.
  2. A 10st person playing tennis for an hour can earn you around 6 FitPoints® – equal to the same amount of time surfing or playing squash.
  3. According to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, playing tennis regularly can improve bone density and help ward off osteoporosis. 
  4. Studies suggest that regular moderate exercise, such as tennis, can help treat depression and improve mental wellbeing.
  5. It helps to improve hand-eye coordination. And it’s a good laugh!

I did it! ‘Tennis is fun and brilliant exercise’

Helen lives in Surrey with her husband and two children aged four and 11 months.

‘When I gave up smoking, the weight piled on, but it wasn’t until I couldn’t fit into a size 20 that I decided to join WW. I reached my goal weight in October and almost immediately afterwards got pregnant with my son. During the pregnancy, I put on 4st and so, six weeks after he was born, I was back at my WW Workshop. I felt despondent when the weight didn’t come off quickly. I kept persevering, though, and started exercising more, and I’m so pleased to have just reached my goal weight.

My weight loss really started when I focused on exercising. I walk my daughter to school each day and use the treadmill at the gym three times a week. This year, I’m hoping to do the Race for Life, a 5km run that raises money for Cancer Research. At the moment, I can do 3km in 45 minutes, alternating between walking and running.

I had tennis lessons as a child but the last time I played, I was about seven. I tried it recently and didn’t know what to expect, but it was great fun. I didn’t think I’d be any good, but I enjoyed myself and hit more of the balls back than I thought I would. Tennis is brilliant exercise, so I’m determined to encourage my daughter to get into the sport now that I’ve had a go.’