Just seems to me as if this has got completely out of control now. For example, I used to enjoy watching Sharapova play, but the noise that comes out of her mouth whenever she hits a shot is now SO off-putting to the point of being unbearable.
And is there any scientific proof that you hit the ball better when you do this?
It's just crazy in my opinion. Monica Seles was the first tennis player I saw who 'popularised' grunting. Boy, does she have a LOT to answer for.
What do you think? Is it necessary at all? Does it take away from your enjoyment of the match?
Over to you...
2007-07-06 07:45:55 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Tennis
Fair point, Flaming sword, but does that mean that in your opinion players who don't grunt couldn't care less?
2007-07-06 08:01:54 · update #1
Well, I know in martial arts that people don't just say "hai yah!" just because it sounds cool, it actually empties their lungs so that if they get hit in the solarplexis they don't get the wind knocked out of them. Granted, pro tennis aren't all that likely to get hit by the ball, but it can be an intimidation tool or a self-motivator...sometimes it sounds a little funny, but it doesn't turn me off from the game. I think it's natural for humans to grunt or make noise when they are exerting a lot of effort and concentration. I know I did something similar in football whenever I went in to hit someone or throw a block.
2007-07-06 09:37:57 · answer #1 · answered by Dan in Real Life 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Language evolves. "Grunt" is the term every single tennis writer uses to describe any vocal noises made by the player when hitting the ball. This habit started on the men's tour, but it slowed down a lot; on the WTA, however, too many of them do it in a way too exaggerated fashion. That is why we use the term grunting even for women... it's just a tennis vocabulary term applied to anyone. It's like the term "groundstroke"; you probably will not find it in a dictionary, but it appears very sound to make the word up with its two components... someday, these things will be discussed and placed in a dictionary as such, for sure. As far as I know, the whole of which you call English wasn't used, nor spoken this way originally; it evolved to be as it is.
2016-04-01 00:42:06 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it ruins the competition.
Not all players grunt when playing tennis.
Some tennis players grunt to show there emotions during the game, either they're disappointed in the way the flow of the games is going for them, or just that they feel like on top of the world when they know that they are going to win their match.
For me, i don't grunt during my matches cause my throat gets sore, but that's another story.
Maria Sharapova justs wants to win badly, just like any other player.
Anyway, it all comes down to who can win the matches in the end.
2007-07-06 07:56:39 · answer #3 · answered by Magnificent Bliss Rocks! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does not bother me when someone is screaming or shouting.
But when watching the game it becomes really irritating when
it eventually becomes monotone of their grunting.
Sharapova and Serena like to grunt a lot and specially Serena
grunts so loud when she is about to hit the ball....Seles was the
big time grunting player.
Men also have picked this up and I would not like it personally
only while watching the game.
2007-07-06 08:53:49 · answer #4 · answered by JustDoit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey there! I see that someone already pretty much mentioned this, but I can tell you that it actually does serve a purpose. Just like in Martial Arts ... you yell and grunt for a reason. It actually focuses you on the action (which helps to prevent injury) and gives you added strength/power ~ believe it or not. I took Karate for many years and we were made to do push ups if we weren't yelling or grunting out "Kee-Yah! ~ while punching and/or kicking during practice! =)
I do agree with you that it gets annoying after awhile, however. But since it does improve a players game I doubt we'll see it go away. (Perhaps it is also intended as a sign of intimidation!) And thanks for adding me as a contact ... I liked your description of those you wanted on your contact list! =) Nice to meet ya!
2007-07-06 15:47:55 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't really bother me at all and I still enjoy watching Sharapova. Both of my parents, on the other hand, are really bothered by it and so much so that they cheer for whoever Sharapova's opponent is just to see her defeated. I don't know of any scientific proof, but it seems it'd be awkward for the player to have to change something that's just kind of ingrained in the play of their game now...
2007-07-06 07:52:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me to play against someone who grunts is very annoying and distracting. Everyone makes a little noise during a physically exerting point, but not to the extent that some players grunt. It is something that they have been taught to do, its definitely not natural.
2007-07-06 08:49:58 · answer #7 · answered by Kathleen A 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh God it really does bother me. I'm not a pervert, but the grunting sounds like they're having uncomfortable sex.
Maybe they should wear a pool ball in their mouths Pulp Fiction style. That would stop 'em.
2007-07-06 07:54:34 · answer #8 · answered by Johnson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For most players it's OK. But with Maria Sharapova and Rafa Nadal, it's really extreme. It's almost embarassing watching them play. People think you're watching porn, until they see it's tennis.
2007-07-06 08:17:41 · answer #9 · answered by Dr D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it doesn't bother me, except for maybe sharapova's grunt sometimes, but not all players do it, there is not many but Federer for example only grunts rarely
2007-07-06 15:11:50 · answer #10 · answered by Tennis lova 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋