Some tennis related questions?
Asked by
rebbel (
35547
)
September 6th, 2009
I’m watching tennis at the US Open at the moment and i have some questions.
1. Do the players have to pay for their tennis-outfits and -rackets themselves, or are they provided for free by their sponsors (I ask because some are using multiple rackets and outfits per match)?
2. Where do the women put their (2nd service-) balls?
In their pants or in a specialy designed device (they never seem to lose them while playing points)?
3. Why does the net have a ‘dent’ in the middle?
4. What happens to the old balls after they’ve called for new balls after 7 games.
5. Does the grunting and screaming/shouting really helps the (mainly women) players to put more power and/or conviction in their strokes?
Well, that’s about it.
If you have some or one answer, or a question of your own, be my guest and put it out there!
Thanks in advance.
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4 Answers
1. Sponsors, especially
at that level.
2. I believe they tuck them
under the spandex bottom they wear under their skirts- on the outside of the thigh.
3. The net is tensioned at either end and in the middle. The middle part is anchored to the ground. The purpose is to keep the top “rim” of the net uniformly taught.
4. Not sure. Tossed, recycled or sold as souveniers, I imagine.
5. It probably aids with timing, a small measure of power, and intimidating the opponent. Mostly to do with timing the stroke though, I believe.
I agree with @kevbo but would like to add on to
#2 some tennis panties have an actual pocket for the extra ball.
#5 it is like in martial arts where the expulsion of air at the point of impact increases the power of the strike or stroke. Seems like it started with the players coming out of the Bolleteri school. I don’t mind a grunt but some of these screamers like Sharapova are really over the top and annoying!
1. The higher ranked tennis players are likely provided with these free of charge. The top players are paid to wear them. I’m sure Serena and Venus get to choose. Lower ranked players probably have to foot the bill themselves.
2. They just tuck the ball inside the elastic band of the leg of the outfit.
4. I don’t know that tennis balls are recycle as a matter of course, but there are some groups who accept old tennis ball donations so they can be given to dog owners.
5. Grunting is because it’s f-in hard on the body to go chasing down all those ball and hit them back with the power they do. I highly doubt it’s for effect alone.
Thanks guys, for your answers.
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