Wind can play a huge role in tennis.
Many of my tennis years were spent playing in North Dakota…which has some wind!
Personally, I enjoy playing in windy conditions and struggle more when playing indoors without the elements like wind helping my game!
I would use the wind to carry my groundstrokes further and I made sure to take mental notes on how the wind would affect my opponents.
It can either help or hinder your game, and you need to be aware of how to play in the wind if you want to have any chance of winning.
In this post, we will talk about some tips and strategies to try the next time you are playing tennis on a windy day.
How Playing Tennis in the Wind Can Change Your Game
When playing tennis when the wind is blowing you need to be aware that it can affect every part of your game.
The wind can change the trajectory of your shots, making them harder to hit accurately.
It can also make it more difficult to control the speed and direction of the ball.
In addition, playing in the wind can tire you out more quickly, since you’ll be working harder to hit the ball correctly.
How to Play Tennis in the Wind
There are a few things you can do to improve your chances of playing well in the wind.
You will want to adjust how you hit your serves and groundstrokes to ensure they are inbounds by adapting to the wind speed.
How to Serve in Windy Conditions
What worked best for me when it was my turn to serve on a windy day was lowering my toss quite a bit!
I already prefer using a lower toss when serving so this may be one of the reasons I thrive in windy conditions when others start to fall apart.
In tennis, you have to be able to adapt and many players depend on a really high toss to be able to smash the ball…but when in the wind that can really throw you for a loop.
Keep your toss low and if you are missing a lot of first serves then take it down a notch.
A smart solution is instead of hitting a really “powerful” first serve, just make sure to get it in….otherwise it is a lost point!
Should you hit the ball harder when it is windy?
When playing in the wind, you will need to adjust your groundstrokes to ensure they stay in inbounds.
To do this, you need to take into account the speed and direction of the wind.
Here are a few tips for adjusting your groundstrokes in windy conditions:
- When playing against a strong wind, hit the ball earlier than you normally would. This will help you control it better and keep it in bounds.
- You do not need to hit the ball as hard when the wind is at your back! Take advantage of this and save energy by not over-hitting which will cause the ball to be out of bounds.
- Be careful with lobs! They can be a great shot but if you don’t predict how the wind will take the ball then it could go too far and not be effective.
- You will need to hit harder when you are hitting into the wind. This will help ensure that the ball makes it over the net.
- Playing aggressively at the net can be a powerful move on a windy day because chances are your opponent will lose some of their accuracies when they are trying to hit passing shots around you when the conditions are windy.
Practice Playing Tennis When the Wind Blows
The best way to get better at playing tennis in the wind is to practice in windy conditions!
If you plan on playing most of your matches outdoors then it would be wise to do most of your practicing outdoors if possible.
This will allow you to learn to adapt to different weather conditions that you may experience.
If you decide to cancel your practice simply because it is too windy outside you could be doing yourself more harm than good!
Take the opportunity to play on that windy day and pay attention to how you can adjust and keep a mental note for that in case you end up playing a match on a windy day which is bound to happen.
By playing in gusts and different wind speeds, you will start to get a feel for how to hit the ball accurately.
You will also learn how to conserve energy when playing in the wind.
To become a really versatile tennis player you need to be able to play outdoors, indoors, and in all types of weather and conditions!
Observe How Your Opponent Handles the Wind
When playing against any opponent it is important to take note of how the conditions affect them.
Tennis players all react differently to things…some handle environmental changes well…others get completely frustrated by them!
How they hit their serves and groundstrokes will give you a good idea on what adjustments you should make to your own hits to make it more challenging for them.
Are they hitting shots too long because the wind is helping them?
If this is happening I would try to keep the ball deep on the court which will force them to hit longer shots.
Pay attention to whether or not they seem comfortable playing in the wind because this can really help you determine if their shots are going out of bounds more often than not, which will guide you to where you should be aiming your shots.
You can also try mimicking some of their techniques when it is your turn, you may be surprised at what you can learn from other plays that you may have not tried out on your own.
Don’t Be Afraid of a Tennis Match on a Windy Day!
Playing tennis in the wind can be a huge challenge, but with some practice, you can start to overcome some of the challenges it presents.
In this post, we have provided tips and strategies for playing well in windy conditions.
By adjusting your shots and playing smarter, you can improve your chances of winning on a windy day.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the player. It is beneficial for players to practice playing in windy conditions so they can learn how to control the ball and produce accurate shots even when it’s windy out.
Do not make playing tennis in the wind a personal challenge!
It will only serve as a distraction and cause playing to be more challenging.
Instead, look for ways that the wind can actually help you as a tennis player.
Adjust your serve and groundstrokes based on the wind. Know that depending on which way the wind is blowing you may need to either hit the ball harder or back off to ensure that you reach your target shot.
Yes!
Of course, playing tennis when it is windy requires a lot of skill and energy.
However, if you can master playing in these conditions, your game will improve dramatically!
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