Tennis is an excellent full-body workout that blends cardiovascular exercise with strength training, agility, and strategic thinking.
But have you ever wondered how many calories you burn while playing tennis?
This article will help answer this question and provide insights into the calorie-burning potential of tennis and related sports.
Understanding Calorie Burn in Tennis
When assessing how many calories you burn playing tennis, several factors come into play.
These include your weight, the intensity and duration of your game, and the type of tennis you’re playing (singles, doubles, or hitting against a wall).
Here, we’ll explore the various factors that affect calorie burn in tennis, from the length of a match to the intensity of the game.
How Many Calories Does an Hour of Tennis Burn?
On average, a person weighing 155 pounds can expect to burn approximately 520-600 calories per hour playing singles tennis.
For doubles tennis, the same person would burn approximately 400-450 calories per hour.
These estimates can vary depending on the intensity of the game and the player’s weight and fitness level.
Does Tennis Burn a Lot of Calories?
Comparatively speaking, tennis is an efficient calorie-burning activity.
It combines bursts of high-intensity movement with lower-intensity periods, similar to interval training, which is known for its ability to maximize calorie burn.
A vigorous game of singles tennis could potentially burn more calories than low-impact activities such as walking or yoga.
Calories Burned in a Tennis Match
The calorie burn during a tennis match can vary significantly based on the length and intensity of the match.
For example, a high-intensity singles match that lasts 2 hours could burn between 1040-1200 calories for a 155-pound person.
How Many Calories Do Tennis Players Burn?
Professional tennis players may burn a significantly higher number of calories due to the higher intensity and longer duration of their matches.
Estimates suggest that a professional tennis player could burn up to 1500 calories during a three-hour match, but this could vary greatly based on individual metabolism and the match’s intensity.
Calories Burned in Different Tennis Activities
Playing Doubles
When considering how many calories are burned in doubles tennis, it’s important to remember that doubles games usually involve less ground coverage, so calorie burn might be lower than in singles matches.
A 155-pound person could expect to burn about 800-900 calories in 2 hours of doubles tennis.
Hitting Tennis Ball Against a Wall
Practicing tennis by hitting a ball against a wall can also burn calories, though likely fewer than a match due to the less intense nature of this activity.
A 155-pound person could burn approximately 300-400 calories in an hour of this exercise.
Serving Tennis Balls
The action of serving tennis balls alone may not burn a significant amount of calories compared to playing a full match, but it contributes to the overall calorie burn.
Repeatedly serving can help tone your upper body and improve your core strength.
Tennis Vs. Other Sports: Calorie Comparison
Pickleball Vs. Tennis
Pickleball, a sport similar to tennis but played on a smaller court with a modified ball, typically burns fewer calories than tennis.
A 155-pound person might burn around 350-400 calories per hour playing pickleball.
Pickleball VS Tennis | Can I Burn As Many Calories As I Can Playing Tennis?
Squash Vs. Tennis
Squash is a high-intensity sport that can burn a similar amount of calories to a vigorous game of tennis.
A person weighing 155 pounds might burn around 600-750 calories per hour playing squash.
Table Tennis
Table tennis, or ping pong, is less physically demanding than regular tennis.
A 155-pound person might burn around 200-350 calories per hour playing table tennis.
Calories Burned Tennis Calculator
Various online calculators can help estimate the calories burned during a tennis match based on your weight, the game’s duration, and the intensity level.
To use these calculators, input your personal details and get an approximate calculation of your caloric expenditure.
Calories Burned in Tennis for Beginners
If you’re just starting out with tennis, you might burn fewer calories at first as your body adjusts to the movements and intensity of the game.
As your skill and fitness level improve, you can expect to burn more calories during your tennis matches.
Conclusion
Tennis offers a great way to get in shape, tone muscles, and burn calories.
With its dynamic and engaging nature, it’s no surprise that many turn to tennis as their exercise of choice.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, every game, set, and match is an opportunity to burn calories and have fun.
FAQs – Calories Burned in Tennis
1. How many calories does playing tennis typically burn?
On average, an individual weighing around 160 pounds can burn approximately 365 to 600 calories in an hour of tennis, depending on the intensity of the game.
The exact number can vary based on factors such as weight, muscle mass, intensity, and individual metabolism.
2. How many calories would I burn during 2 hours of tennis?
If you weigh around 160 pounds and play for 2 hours at a moderate intensity, you would typically burn between 730 to 1200 calories.
This is a rough estimate and individual calorie burn may differ.
3. Does playing doubles tennis burn fewer calories than playing singles?
Yes, typically playing doubles burns fewer calories than playing singles because it involves less movement and intensity.
However, the exact difference depends on the style of play and individual effort.
4. How can I calculate the calories burned while playing tennis?
There are various online calculators where you can input your weight, the duration of your game, and the intensity of your workout to get an estimate of the calories burned.
Alternatively, fitness trackers and smartwatches often provide an estimation as well.
5. How does playing a game of pickleball compare to tennis in terms of calories burned?
In general, tennis tends to burn more calories than pickleball due to its higher intensity and larger court size.
However, this can vary based on the individual and the effort they put into the game.
6. How many calories does a professional tennis player burn during a match?
Professional tennis players can burn thousands of calories during a long match due to the high intensity and duration of professional level play.
However, this will vary based on factors such as the player’s weight, age, and gender, as well as the length and intensity of the match.
7. Does hitting a tennis ball against a wall burn a significant amount of calories?
Yes, hitting a tennis ball against a wall can still burn a significant amount of calories.
Although it might be less intense than a full match, it involves constant movement and thus contributes to calorie burn.
8. How many calories do I burn when playing squash vs. tennis?
Both squash and tennis are high-intensity games.
Squash might burn slightly more calories on average because it typically involves more rapid, high-intensity bursts of movement, but the difference is not huge.
The exact calorie burn will depend on individual factors and game intensity.
9. How many calories are burned in a 30-minute tennis game?
An individual weighing around 160 pounds can burn approximately 182 to 300 calories in 30 minutes of tennis, depending on the intensity of the game.
Remember that this is a rough estimate and individual calorie burn may vary.
10. Does beginner level tennis burn fewer calories than advanced level?
Yes, generally, beginner level tennis might burn fewer calories than advanced level due to less intense and rapid movements.
However, beginners might exert more energy due to inefficiencies in technique, which could also contribute to calorie burn.
11. How many calories are burned while serving tennis balls?
The exact number of calories burned while serving tennis balls depends on how many you serve and how intensely you do it.
However, as serving is a brief and less movement-intensive part of the game, it will burn fewer calories compared to baseline rallies or volleys.
12. Does table tennis burn fewer calories than lawn tennis?
Yes, generally, table tennis burns fewer calories than lawn tennis because it involves less movement over a smaller playing area.
However, it still can provide a good workout and contribute to your daily calorie burn.
