Playing tennis in cold weather!

Find out how to keep playing tennis, even in cold winter weather.

Playing tennis in cold weather often feels miserable to tennis enthusiasts. Our design team has experienced that first-hand. So they set out to find solutions so that you can play tennis comfortably even when temperatures fall below 10 degrees. Moreover, it's important to understand how cold works on the body.
In this article, you'll discover plenty of information about playing tennis in cold weather.

1/ Equipment to fight the cold

It's cold! So the first step is, of course, to cover up.
Dress warmly before you get to the court - the worst thing would be to feel cold before you even begin.

Start out with a suitable outfit that allows you to be neither too hot nor too cold during your first few minutes of play.
Don't forget that cold comes in through the extremities, so keep your head and hands covered as well. Artengo has designed special gloves for playing tennis in the cold.

Don't wait to get too hot to remove a layer, since moisture is the main enemy of the cold. Humidity can generate a freezing effect that will sharpen the feeling of cold.
So use clothing that provides heat, but that also wicks away perspiration. Artengo has designed a full range of products combining both features: providing warmth to fight the cold, but also very effectively wicking away perspiration to prevent this freezing effect.

2/ Warmth and freedom of movement

Additional layers often means reduced freedom of movement. It's true, playing with a second layer often leads to irritation when moving around the court.
Artengo has designed products allowing you to make no compromises between warmth and freedom of movement, whether for your upper or lower body.

3/ Warm-ups are important!

A good warm-up allows you to decrease the risk of injury. In cold weather, your muscles and heart are more fragile, since they are less well-irrigated by blood. Extend the length of your warm-up to gradually raise your body heat.

4/ The importance of hydration and diet against the cold

Cold promotes dehydration and contributes to increasing the viscosity of your blood, so the heart needs to work harder to produce the same effort. So it is recommended to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout in order to combat that effect.

Similarly, your body will burn more calories than usual to warm up, so adapt your diet before and during your workout.

5/ Cold and its impact on equipment

Balls tend to lose their pressure when subject to low temperatures. The racket's stringing also tends to stiffen and lose performance. So it is recommended to store your rackets and balls out of the cold.

Next, play conditions are slower in cold weather. Balls, whose air penetration and pressure are affected by low temperatures, have less bounce.
To combat this effect, it's generally recommended to slightly lower the tension of your strings (by one or two kilos).

Now you have everything you need for playing tennis, even in the cold.

Have a good game!

adrien magnier

Tennis Competition Product Manager

Adrien is product manager for men's competition clothing, competition rackets, and Artengo's full advanced range.