Tennis is a great way to get some exercise and have some fun, but how many calories do you burn playing tennis? That all depends on how vigorously you play and for how long.
Tennis Calories Burned Per Hour
A non-competitive tennis match might only burn around 350 to 500 calories per hour, while a more intense and competitive match could torch around 575 to 775 calories in the same amount of time.
Calorie burning isn’t the only health benefit of tennis, though. The game can also help improve your coordination and increase your flexibility. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of playing tennis.
How Many Calories Does Playing Tennis Burn?
How many calories you burn playing tennis depends on a few factors, including:
- Your body weight
- The intensity of your game
- How long do you play
Body weight plays the most significant role in burning calories. People who weigh more will burn more calories than those who weigh less, even if they are playing the same game with the same intensity for the same amount of time.
That’s because it takes more energy to move a heavier body, so your body has to work harder and burn more calories to keep you going. There is an easy formula to calculate how many calories you might burn playing tennis.
Calorie Burn Per Minute in a Tennis Match = (MET x body weight in Kg x 3.5) ÷ 200
MET, or the metabolic equivalent of task, is a unit of measurement that estimates the amount of energy someone expended during physical activity. For tennis, the MET rate is between 5 and 8, depending on the intensity of the game.
For example, a 70kg person (Approx. 154 pounds) playing tennis at a moderate pace for 60 minutes would burn at least 368 calories. If that same person played at a more vigorous pace, they could expect to burn up to 588 calories in the same amount of time.
Calories Burned Playing Tennis (Single Matches)
Playing a single tennis match can burn around 300 to 500 calories per hour. If you’re playing a more competitive game with longer rallies, you could burn closer to 575-775 calories in an hour. Single match burn calories at a higher rate as the player have to run across the court to return the ball.
Calories Burned Playing Tennis (Doubles Matches)
The calorie burn for doubles matches should be something around 315 calories. But, as we said above, it all depends on your weight, how vigorously you play, and for how long. If the game is more relaxed, the calorie burn will be lower, and if the game is more intense, the calorie burn will be higher.
Other Benefits From Playing Tennis
In addition to burning calories and helping you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, playing tennis offers other benefits, as well. These include:
- Playing tennis regularly can help improve your coordination by teaching your brain and body to work together. The game also requires quick reflexes, which can help sharpen your reaction time.
- While you don’t have to be flexible to play tennis, the sport can still help increase your flexibility. That’s because reaching, swinging, and stretching all require a certain amount of mobility. The more you play, the more flexible you may become.
- Tennis is also a great way to relieve stress and improve your mood. The exercise can help release endorphins, which are hormones that boost your mood and give you a sense of well-being.
- And because tennis is usually played with partners or in doubles matches, it’s also a great opportunity to socialize and meet new people.
These are just a few of the benefits of playing tennis. If you’re looking for a fun and challenging way to get active, tennis may be the perfect sport for you. And, as an added bonus, you can burn some serious calories while you’re at it.
Conclusion
The number of calories you burn playing tennis will depend on your weight, how vigorously you play, and for how long. But, in general, you can expect to burn 300 to 500 calories per hour playing a single match and up to 775 calories per hour playing a more competitive game.
Playing tennis is a great way to get some exercise and have fun at the same time. And, if you’re looking to burn some calories, tennis can be an excellent choice. So, grab a racket and hit the court – your body will thank you.