Outdoor vs. Indoor

With spring coming up, tennis players are beginning the shift from indoor tennis to outdoor tennis. This change is a big one for players, and it is important to understand the differences.

For the girls’ season, indoor tennis does not play much of a factor, since it is usually pretty nice weather for the majority of the season. We usually have only one or two matches indoors, if any.

However, for the boys season, it is much more prominent. This year, it might not as much, since their season is starting later due to COVID-19, but usually, it starts at the beginning of March, when the weather is still unpredictable.

For starters, indoor players do not have to deal with the sun. The sun plays a large part in outdoor tennis because of serving. Players are required to toss the ball high into the air, which, in the middle of the day, often means tossing the ball directly into the sun. Indoors, players do not face this challenge.

Another factor that outdoor players face is the wind. With a tennis ball not weighing very much, the wind has the ability to move it quite a bit. Some days, this is not a factor, but other days, it is the biggest factor in a match. Often times on windy days, the player with the most experience in the wind ends up winning the match.

The third biggest factor of outdoor tennis is the temperature. Players that deal with heat better often perform better during summer matches in the heat. Players who get dehydrated or lightheaded more easily don’t do as well in the summer heat.

The opposite of that is the cold weather. In cold weather, the ball does not bounce as high outdoors. This is a huge difference between outdoor and indoor tennis. Cold weather also comes with more layers of clothing. It is often much more difficult to move in more layers, and therefore players are often slower in the colder weather.

With all of these factors, it is important for players to have experience outside in order to perform well. The players with the most experience in extreme conditions often perform the best in them.

If you talk to a tennis player, he/she most likely strongly prefer one over the other. Players who thrive in the heat usually prefer outdoor tennis in the summer, while players who do not do well in the heat usually prefer indoors during the summer.

Here are a few of the most common reasons for tennis to be moved indoors:

• Extreme temperatures (cold or hot, although rarely due to heat)

• Precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.)

• No room outdoors (courts are full)

• Storms (thunder and lightning)

I hope this helps you understand the differences between outdoor tennis and indoor tennis. Personally, I prefer outdoor tennis in the summer, but indoor tennis when the weather is cooler. However, as most players do, I play both indoor and outdoor tennis, depending on the time of the year.

See you in a couple of weeks to talk more tennis!