Toughest sport - Tennis anyone ? (1 Viewer)

[sylvester1954]

Having some banter with a friend recently about the toughest sport to take part in and that got me thinking. I am not really a tennis fan and will pass on watching it anytime but I do believe singles tennis is perhaps the toughest sport (or maybe cycling- Tour de France?). The physical endurance and psychological test it puts on players can be quite astonishing especially when you think of the Grand Slam tournaments that can last for up to six hours (one Wimbledon match was about 10 hours I think). It is purely gladiatorial insofar as pitting 1 against 1 with no team mates to assist. Furthermore its not just the technique (preparation, timing, footwork, good technique on the forehand, backhand, volley, serve) that most makes tennis so difficult, but rather, it's the mental aspect. If you lose heart after a dropped game or set then your likely to lose the whole match so one has the physc themselves up again and again and conquer that initial disappointment. The concentration and physical stress as the body has to stop start stop start for each serve or return means you have to be at the absolute peak of fitness throughout the season. What do you think ?

 

[ianthebuilder]

A mate of mine is a proffessional pork pie eating champion!! He has to drink about 10 pints and eat at least 3 fast food meals a day so he can expand his stomache ! now thats the peak of physical fitness in my book,,he works hard maintaining his 22 stone body shape,and never over exerts himself,,in fact he gets tired walking up town to sign on,,,what a sportsman eh !!!

 

[Chris]

Boxing I would say.

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[DiggerJon]

Egyptian PT gets my vote:- most participant pass out within 5 minutes of starting!

 

[MichelleRyall]

Motocross has been mooted as the toughest sport in the past. It takes a huge amount of fitness, physical strength, skill, mental strength, stamina and a big pair of b***s. Just google any motocross race and take a look. And if you really want proof have a look at some of the crashes and see how often they get straight back on the bike.

 

[laird of Dunstan]

fishing is the most gruelling sport ,those dammed maggots fight you real hard

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[Paddywack]

Cross country skiing - the answer any sports science book will give you.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Triathlon, especially the long Iron Man distance.

 

[MitchandJenny]

Sex.

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[Forestboy]

Reading gassing or political threads on here has to be right up there.

 

[Candapack]

Sex.

Marriage

 

[Sandancers]

Poker !! You have to work out a constantly changing set of opponent's risk profiles. You may be sitting at the tables for up to 10 hours until the next morning. And the card shuffling can be quite draining !!

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[billym]

Having some banter with a friend recently about the toughest sport to take part in and that got me thinking. I am not really a tennis fan and will pass on watching it anytime but I do believe singles tennis is perhaps the toughest sport (or maybe cycling- Tour de France?). The physical endurance and psychological test it puts on players can be quite astonishing especially when you think of the Grand Slam tournaments that can last for up to six hours (one Wimbledon match was about 10 hours I think). It is purely gladiatorial insofar as pitting 1 against 1 with no team mates to assist. Furthermore its not just the technique (preparation, timing, footwork, good technique on the forehand, backhand, volley, serve) that most makes tennis so difficult, but rather, it's the mental aspect. If you lose heart after a dropped game or set then your likely to lose the whole match so one has the physc themselves up again and again and conquer that initial disappointment. The concentration and physical stress as the body has to stop start stop start for each serve or return means you have to be at the absolute peak of fitness throughout the season. What do you think ?

Maria Sharapova just revealed her secret for tennis success.

 

[Chris]

My in laws are mad about tennis and have their own court.

Last summer I decided to take on their serve machine at full power.

About a 100 balls coming at me quick.

They had to scrape me off the court

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Sex.

That is true I was forced to give that up years ago as a young man I had to, I got married.

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[Emmit]

Sex.

You're doing it wrong.

 

[Pikeman]

Not getting too many serious replies on this, so I will tell you my experience. I have always played sport, since the age of 10 years old. Tried Rugby, Hockey and had a decent go at football for many years. Tried marshall art's when younger as well. I'm knocking on a bit now, but have been a club tennis player for the last 20 years. I can certainly say that because of the nature of the sport, I have had more injuries (some quite extended, resulting in operations) than any other sport I have been involved in. I have also seen young players pick up long term injuries that have ended promising careers before they even get started. I don't play much singles anymore as my body will not take it, but I still manage to clock up 8 hours a week on the courts - in fact I played this evening, it was 4 degrees, bloody freezing.

Keith

 

[Jabberwocky]

National hunt racing.

Permanently fasting but need mountains of strength and stamina.

Need to control a horse you may have never sat on before.

Multiple races in a day at multiple venues

Most jockeys have broken multiple bones multiple times, sometimes racing with broken bones.

No contest really.

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[MannClan]

Poker !! You have to work out a constantly changing set of opponent's risk profiles. You may be sitting at the tables for up to 10 hours until the next morning. And the card shuffling can be quite draining !!

Played last night - still recovering

 

[PhilG]

Motocross has been mooted as the toughest sport in the past. It takes a huge amount of fitness, physical strength, skill, mental strength, stamina and a big pair of b***s. Just google any motocross race and take a look. And if you really want proof have a look at some of the crashes and see how often they get straight back on the bike.

This... top guys are machines..wobblers like me not so much, but it is hard work.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Combat sports, especially MMA, due to levels of strength and stamina fitness required, the technical prowess across both striking and grappling disciplines required to be competitive, mental toughness and agility under pressure, just getting through the bloody training never mind actual combat.

But then some motorcycle racing requires similar traits, whether MotoGP, Dakar, MX etc.

Darts or snooker anyone?

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[Enword]

Try racing a F1 sidecar especially as a passenger for say Tim Reeves 7 times World champion

 

[MitchandJenny]

7 marathons in 7 days in 7 different countries (Mr Fines)
PS. Sorry about not being serious enough, but it is Motorhome "Fun".
Mitch..

 

[FJmike]

Try racing a F1 sidecar especially as a passenger for say Tim Reeves 7 times World champion

In my yoof I tried sidecar moto cross, absolutely cream crackered after twenty minutes and the driver said he went gentle with me.

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[TheTwoOfUs]

As the OP said, it has to be tennis. Which other sport takes that much out of you that you need to be on drugs for 10 years?

 

[Enword]

As the OP said, it has to be tennis. Which other sport takes that much out of you that you need to be on drugs for 10 years?

That's why I still admire Lance Armstrong so much, when I was on drugs I couldn't even find my bloody bike let alone ride it

 

[Puddleduck]

Think I'll stick to gentle e-biking or kayaking.

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[BobtheBass]

Speedway. Loads of collarbone injuries, one leg bigger than the other and a streak of madness a necessity. Modern day riders must clock up more air/rooad miles than any sportsman as well.