Winter is approaching fast, but that doesn’t mean you have to hang up your racquet until spring.

If you don’t have access to indoor courts or simply prefer playing outdoors, don’t allow the nip in the air to stop you from enjoying a game. With the right gear, you can still sharpen your tennis skills all winter long.

Here are some practical tips and tricks for playing tennis in cold weather.

Maintaining your tennis skills in winter will give you an advantage at the start of the spring season.

As long as there’s no snow on the ground and temperatures don’t hit below freezing, it’s safe to practice tennis when it’s chilly outside. Playing in cold weather can be just as entertaining and enjoyable. But playing tennis in winter takes a little more preparation than playing during the warmer months.

Below are 5 tips to help you play all winter long. Give some (or all) of these a try to see more success on the courts this winter.

Your regular tennis attire needs a winter makeover. Playing tennis in 40° as opposed to 80° is a considerable change. So what do you wear to play tennis in the winter? You want to dress accordingly to stay warm without limiting your mobility.

Here’s a quick list of clothing and accessories to keep you warm, comfortable, and on your game.

Sunglasses - A lot more tennis players wear sunglasses while playing today! While it might have been tabu during matches 30 years ago, keep in mind players were not overly aware of the damage UV rays can do to the eyes. In addition, the winter sun is lower in the sky, so it’s even more important to protect your peepers.

Check out some tennis-friendly shades here. Keep in mind that polarized sunglasses offer the most sun protection.

Gloves - Protect your hands from the cool temps with a lightweight pair of gloves. If you find it hard to feel the grip with gloves on, consider at least wearing them change-overs or during your warm-up.

Another option is the Tourna Hot Glove Tennis Mitt, which has a narrow opening where you can insert your racquet.

Layers - Your best bet is to wear a few thin layers of clothing that you can easily remove after you warm up. Wear your regular tennis clothes but add a long-sleeved shirt, a comfortable sweatshirt, and a thicker pair of socks. If you get too hot, remove a layer of clothing and keep on playing!

Another thing to consider is a hat. A fleece beanie, baseball hat, earmuffs, or ear covers can help keep you warm and be easily removed.

It takes a little longer to loosen up the muscles in colder weather. A 10-minute stretching routine before you play will prepare your body and help keep you toasty! It’s a good idea to do your warm-up inside so your muscles don’t tense up immediately from the cold.

If you prefer to do your stretching outside, you should begin with a quick 5-minute aerobic exercise to awaken your muscles and get your blood pumping before starting any stretching routine.

Racquet strings can become stiff in low temperatures, making them feel firmer and less powerful. Plus, high-tension strings are more prone to breakage in the cold. Soft tennis strings tend to perform better in the winter.

Sometimes when it’s colder, we tend to forget to drink enough water. You probably won’t feel as thirsty as you would playing on a hot day, but your body still needs plenty of water to stay healthy.

Drink a good amount of water before going outside, and keep a bottle on hand when you take a break.

Did you know tennis balls work differently in cold weather? The ball feels lighter in hand but much harder on contact. This is because tennis balls have less kick and spring without heat and humidity. So the colder it is outside, the less the ball will bounce.

Shots with topspin will be less effective so opt for better cold-weather shots like Drop Shots, Slice Shots, Flat, and Slice Serves.

Tennis in winter can feel like a completely different game. The unusual temperatures can add a cool twist to tennis. Depending on where you live, you might be able to play outside year-round as long as you dress the part and there’s no ice on the ground.

Use these tips to improve your game during the colder months. Just because the temperature drops doesn’t mean you have to lose your momentum and training pace!

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