How Much Wind is Too Much for Tennis? [Explained Here!]

As a sport, tennis is growing day by day as more people are playing it. But playing tennis can be very challenging in windy conditions. 

If you’re planning to play in windy conditions, you may be confused about the strength of the wind.

So. how much wind is too much for tennis?

Sustained wind speed above 26 miles per hour is considered to be too much wind for tennis. Although it’s possible, it’ll be very difficult to play tennis when it’s too windy. Sudden winds and gusts over 31 miles per hour can be considered too windy to play tennis. 

Don’t stop reading here because you will need more details than this. Read till the end!

Should You Play Tennis in a Windy Condition?

Yes, you can play tennis in windy conditions. Playing tennis in windy conditions will add versatility to your playstyle for tennis. That way, you will get better at playing tennis.

But you cannot play in every windy condition, especially when the wind is too high. There is a limit to windy conditions in which you will be able to play tennis.

How Much Wind is Too Much While Playing Tennis?

Wind speeds affect each player differently. It depends on many factors like their skill level in tennis, experience in windy conditions, etc.

But for an average tennis player, wind speeds higher than 20 kilometers per hour are considered to be too windy. This chart below will help you understand better-

Here, the best condition to play is a calm wind. There are 0 knots in the calm wind. So, essentially the wind speed should be zero when accounting for ‘calm’ wind. 

The worst conditions are when the wind speed is 26+ mph. You can still play when the wind speed is more than 26 miles per hour. However, the adjustments you have to do will be a hassle if you’re not a pro. 

Professionals can adjust and play in really windy conditions. For instance, Rafael Nadal plays tennis at gusty wind conditions of 50 miles per hour.

Too windy conditions can greatly affect the gameplay of tennis. There are multiple effects that I’ve elaborated on in the next segment. Keep reading to know them.

What Are the Effects of Playing Tennis When It’s Too Windy?

Some common effects that too windy conditions change about tennis are-

Serve:

The serve will change in windy conditions. As you will toss the ball to serve, it may move while it’s airborne. This will add a level of difficulty to your service. In such situations, the pancake serve of tennis usually helps out a lot of players.

In addition to that, your regular footwork for tennis won’t work. You will have to adapt to new footwork tactics that go with the wind. This goes for both services and gameplay!

The Trajectory of the Ball:

Due to the wind, the tennis ball may swing out in different directions. For example, if the wind’s blowing towards the right-hand side, the ball might slightly curve to the right. This can be misleading for you and your opponent as well.

Speed of the Ball:

The speed of the ball will change upon the direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing your way, the ball may slow down after hitting. In such situations, an arm-friendly tennis racket may give you the upper hand.

On the contrary, the ball may come at you faster than expected because the wind’s coming from the opposite direction.

The speed also depends on the weight of the tennis ball. With that mentioned, always try to play with high-quality tennis balls.

Now that you know the effects of the wind, you should know how to counter it. I’ve provided some strategies below on countering these disadvantages, give it a read.

Strategies for Playing Tennis in Windy Conditions

You can rely upon a few tactics that’ll help you counter the effects of the wind. These tactics/strategies are-
Be aware of the direction of the wind. It will help you plan and hit your shots better. You can also use your gripping to your advantage here.

You might need an overgrip on your racket to improve your gripping strength and stance.

• Use drop shots and top spins. If the wind’s in your opponent’s direction, the ball will achieve a great speed by the topspin.
  
  Drop shots are effective in the wind because of how close it goes by the net. It can prevent your shots from being too far-fetched into the opponent’s side.
  
• Change your footwork. Windy conditions will throw your regular footwork off. Keep your footwork relaxed and smooth in windy conditions.
  
  Start by making small adjustments to your footwork. Avoid erratic movements as they can increase the risks of injury. You can use tennis shoes to increase your foot grip.

• Try gaining strength. It is quite clear that you will require more strength to play tennis in the wind. 

To be comfortable while playing tennis in the wind, you can try training your strength by lifting weights for tennis. It will be beneficial while playing tennis and in your daily life as well!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Is 15 mph wind strong?

No, 15 miles per hour wind is moderate. Sustained wind speeds ranging from 5 to 20 are called ‘Breezy’. Although 15 miles per hour wind is moderate, it’s not uncomfortable at all.

Can you play tennis while it’s raining?

Yes, you can absolutely play tennis in the rain. It’s great and all when someone else says the courts are fine to play on, but if you aren’t comfortable, don’t risk it. Particularly when playing on wet courts, any slip can lead to a pretty severe injury that could leave you sidelined for a few months.

How much air is in a tennis ball?

The air inside a tennis ball is determined by its pressure. The pressure inside a tennis ball is 26.7 PSI. The normal air pressure around us is 14.7 PSI. Accordingly, the air pressure inside the ball is 12 PSI more than that. Ultimately, it equates to a total of 26.7 PSI.

The Final Words

Hopefully, now you know how much wind is too much for tennis after reading this article. 

Indoor tennis is a great option for playing tennis if you’re a beginner. You can avoid weather conditions such as wind, rain, sun, etc. 

Have fun at the tennis court!