Why do tennis players grunt and is it necessary for the game?

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The discussion centers around the grunting of tennis players, particularly focusing on Maria Sharapova, with participants expressing annoyance at the noise during matches. Some argue that the grunting is excessive and distracting, comparing it to inappropriate sounds. Others suggest that grunting may enhance performance by increasing power through rapid exhalation, a technique used in various sports. While some find the sound annoying, others admit to being less bothered by it, even finding it somewhat appealing. The conversation touches on the impact of grunting on the viewing experience and its potential to obscure the sound of the racket hitting the ball, which could affect players' reaction times. Overall, the debate highlights differing opinions on the necessity and impact of grunting in tennis.
Pengwuino
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If anyone here has ever caught a few tennis matches, especially with that stupid Sharapova chick, do you agree that the grunting is just TOO MUCH??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LawWhZcmV0

My dad is SO happy whenever she is eliminated from a tournament. What the hell is her problem?? And why do most tennis players grunt like disgusting pigs?

When I watched that video to give an example, I felt like closing my door and turning the volume down in case someone thought I was watching a porno.

DISCUSS!
 
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Oh wow...my ears are bleeding.
 
Pengwuino said:
When I watched that video to give an example, I felt like closing my door and turning the volume down in case someone thought I was watching a porno.
Hilarious. Some porno that would be.
 
She does that here because they don't let her do that in Russia? Here she has First Amendment rights.
 
SW VandeCarr said:
She does that here because they don't let her do that in Russia? Here she has First Amendment rights.
Nah, I think its her sponsors telling her to scream louder.
 
Funny I was just watching women's tennis on TV and the woman, Russian, sounding like she was in labor, annoying after about three games,
I turned the channel. Evo, break out the women's tennis banning gun, and go postal on them. I wonder how many people would not attend a match because of their antic's, men and women both ?

Rhody... :eek:
 
Yelling/Grunting/etc. is thought to increase power in many different types of activities that require short, powerful bursts of energy. If it does improve performance, I can't fault anyone for doing it. I do agree that it's annoying, though.
 
What annoys me in particular, is that sound and video are out of sync.
You can see that the ball is hit and that only after the grunt comes.
That makes it seem artificial, unnecessary, overdone, and annoying.
 
I never noticed the problem, but then again, she said she was disgruntled with me.
 
  • #10
Just be glad Bruce Lee didn't play tennis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQfzvQFTtEw
 
  • #11
Ivan Seeking said:
Just be glad Bruce Lee didn't play tennis
Yeah, he could probably return a volley with accuracy with a well placed kick of the heel of his foot !

Rhody... :wink:
 
  • #12
No accounting for taste. Some people are just loud whether its in bed or on the tennis court.
 
  • #13
afaik, most poeple who watch women's tennis to perv at these early 20's
so the grunting probably isn't that offensive
 
  • #14
I looked at the date of the OP, expecting it to be 8 years old, but it wasn't.
 
  • #15
I've once heard it described that it obscures the sound of the racket striking the ball, which is apparently of nonzero importance to one's reaction time.
 
  • #16
Hurkyl said:
I've once heard it described that it obscures the sound of the racket striking the ball, which is apparently of nonzero importance to one's reaction time.

Actually that makes a hell of a lot of sense.
 
  • #17
Dembadon said:
Yelling/Grunting/etc. is thought to increase power in many different types of activities that require short, powerful bursts of energy. If it does improve performance, I can't fault anyone for doing it. I do agree that it's annoying, though.

Rapid exhalation tightens the core muscles giving more power. Mixed martial arts fighters do this, although not quite like these grunting women :smile:
You can hear a slight hiss sound when they punch though.
 
  • #18
Ivan Seeking said:
Just be glad Bruce Lee didn't play tennis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQfzvQFTtEw

Good one. The K'ihap is a basic technique in Tae Kwon Do.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLB0H_LAg0w
 
  • #19
Dembadon said:
Yelling/Grunting/etc. is thought to increase power in many different types of activities that require short, powerful bursts of energy. If it does improve performance, I can't fault anyone for doing it. I do agree that it's annoying, though.

Exhaling increases power - it has nothing to do with what sound you make. I do some amateur boxing and a lot of times new people will be taught to make sounds while punching because it makes it easier for them to recognize their own breathing patterns. However, if you've been doing it for a couple years or more, people will think you are an amateur if you are still very vocal. It's expected that you learn to breath without vocalizing.
 
  • #20
Doesn't annoy me, slightly arousing actually, but then I am a perv and she is quite hot.

Yeah also Shota kan karate or stomach karate, uses shouts to increase the power of moves. It's a well known technique in many sporting disciplines.
 
  • #21
Galron said:
she is quite hot.

Yep. Not annoying at all. :biggrin:

[URL]http://im.in.com/media/download/wallpapers/2009/Apr/maria_sharapova_420x315.jpg[/URL]
 
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  • #22
Ivan Seeking said:
Yep. Not annoying at all. :biggrin:

[URL]http://im.in.com/media/download/wallpapers/2009/Apr/maria_sharapova_420x315.jpg
[/URL]

I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers, much less grunting.
 
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  • #23
i think she's faking it
 
  • #24
I do a lot of rock climbing so I obviously watch climbing videos. One of the biggest grunters in rock climbing (also probably the best climber) is Chris Sharma.

Amazing video, but lots of grunting lol.

If you don't want to watch it all, skip to 1:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlcQ3mxlNfs
 
  • #25
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  • #26
wuliheron said:
I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers, much less grunting.

Are you serious? That's disgusting. Have you ever tried to get cracker crumbs out of the sheets? You have to spend a weekend washing all the bedding.
 
  • #27
KingNothing said:
Are you serious? That's disgusting. Have you ever tried to get cracker crumbs out of the sheets? You have to spend a weekend washing all the bedding.

No problem, just get yourself a dog. However, ramen noodles and jello are really messy.
 
  • #28
KingNothing said:
Are you serious? That's disgusting. Have you ever tried to get cracker crumbs out of the sheets? You have to spend a weekend washing all the bedding.

lint rollers are awesome
 
  • #29
Here is a girl who does actual grunting like a pig.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyZSckIjp4c


ling.
 
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