Written by Mark Sampson
It’s a familiar sight at any tennis match—players blowing on their fingers between points. But why do they do it? And does it help?
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons behind this habit and discuss whether or not blowing on your fingers helps you play better tennis.
Why do tennis players blow on their fingers?
Many have wondered about the reasoning behind tennis players blowing on their hands during a match. Tennis players blow on their hands for two main reasons:
Improve Grip
Tennis players blow on their hands because it can help to improve their grip on the racket. When dry, your fingers can slip more easily on the racket strings. Blowing on your fingers helps moisten them, giving you a better grip and help you control the ball more effectively.
Cool Them Down
In addition, blowing on your fingers can help to cool them down. If your fingers are too hot, they can become sweaty and slippery, making it difficult to hold on to the racket. By blowing on your fingers, you can help keep them at a comfortable temperature, improving your grip and preventing your hands from getting sweaty.
Other reasons tennis players blow on their fingers
In addition to improving grip and cooling down your fingers, there are a few other reasons that tennis players blow on their hands:
Relieve Muscle Tension
Some players believe that blowing on their hands can help to relieve tension in their muscles. While the jury is still out on whether blowing on one’s hands can actually ease muscle tension, there is no doubt that the act can be beneficial in other ways.
For one thing, it can help to focus the mind and calm the nerves. In the heat of competition, it can be easy to get caught up in the moment and lose track of one’s game plan. Blowing on one’s hands can serve as a reminder to slow down and take a few deep breaths.
It can also help to physically release some of the tension that has built up in the body. By exhaling slowly and steadily, players can help to relax their muscles and reduce their anxiety levels.
Helps to Focus
Some others say the feeling of the warm breath on the skin is said to help them to center themselves and stay in the moment.
In addition, blowing on the fingers can help bring players out of their heads and into their bodies, promoting a more present state of mind.
While there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, it is clear that for many tennis players, blowing on their fingers helps them focus and play their best.
Does blowing on fingers help you play better tennis?
It’s hard to say for sure. But many players believe that it does, and there is some scientific evidence to support this.
One study found that blowing on your skin can help to improve blood flow and increase dexterity. Another found that blowing on your hands can help to improve grip strength.
So, while we can’t say for certain that blowing on your fingers will help you win your next tennis match, it is clear that it can have some benefits.
Does blowing on fingers really work?
When you blow on your fingers while playing tennis, it actually has a two-fold effect. The first is physical—the increase in blood flow and dexterity can help you play better. The second is psychological–the act of blowing on your fingers can help you focus and feel more confident.
Blowing also has a collective effect – when everyone on the court is blowing on their fingers, it creates a sense of camaraderie and unity.
As a result, blowing on your fingers while playing tennis can be beneficial in multiple ways.
FAQ
Why do tennis players blow on their rackets?
Tennis players blow on their rackets because it can help to improve their grip on them. When dry, your fingers can slip more easily on the racket strings. Blowing on your fingers helps moisten them, giving you a better grip and helping you control the ball more effectively.
In addition, blowing on your fingers can help to cool them down. If your fingers are too hot, they can become sweaty and slippery, making it difficult to hold on to the racket.
Why do tennis players blow on their racquet hand between points?
Tennis players blow on their racquet hand between points because it can help to improve their grip on the racket and keep their hands from getting sweaty. Some also say it is just a habit they have picked up.
What else can tennis players do instead of blowing on their fingers?
As any tennis player knows, the sport requires great hand-eye coordination. From serving to volleying, players need to be able to control their racket with precision.
Unfortunately, this can be difficult when the fingers are cold and stiff. In order to keep their fingers warm, many players blow on them between points. However, players can do a few other things to keep their fingers nimble.
First, they can tuck their hands into their armpits between points. They can also wear fingerless gloves or tape their fingers together. Furthermore, they can bounce the ball on the strings of their racket to contract and release their hand muscles.
By trying one or more of these techniques, players can maintain their dexterity even in inclement weather.
So, does it actually help?
Tennis players blow on their fingers for a variety of reasons. The most popular reason is that blowing on your fingers helps you play better tennis by cooling them off. There are other reasons tennis players might do this, such as drying them off or removing the smell of sweat.
While some scientific evidence supports the idea that blowing on your fingers helps cool them down, more research is needed to determine if this actually improves performance.
In the meantime, it’s up to each player to decide if blowing on their fingers helps them play better tennis or not.
Now that you know why tennis players blow on their fingers, go out and try it for yourself!