Any sport can lead to injuries, and to protect yourself as an athlete, you need to take steps to minimise injuries as much as possible. But the right approach varies based on your playing environment. If you're playing on a synthetic grass tennis court, keep these tips in mind to reduce injuries.
1. Warm Up and Stretch
Regardless of your workout surface, always warm up and stretch before playing. Warm muscles are much less likely to get strained or sprained than cold muscles. To warm up, just take a few quick laps around the tennis court.
2. Wear the Right Shoes
Purpose-built shoes will keep your feet from sliding around the turf. They also reduce the risk of blisters and provide additional padding between your feet and the synthetic turf. If you play a lot of tennis, you may want to invest in different shoes depending on whether you're playing on synthetic turf, clay, or another surface.
3. Keep Racket Handle Dry
This tip applies regardless of your playing surface. A wet handle can wear down your skin and cause blisters. Wear moisture-wicking gloves or keep powder nearby to dry your hands.
4. Consider Covering Your Skin
When people fall on synthetic turf, they aren't going to get big gashes or cuts like they might on a concrete or clay court. Instead, they're more likely to get a small abrasion that feels like a slight burn.
This is like a very mild form of road rash, and to protect yourself, you may want to wear long sleeves and trousers while playing. Opt for lightweight breathable materials so you're comfortable playing.
5. Keep the Turf Cool
To minimise the risk of burns, you should also try to keep your court's synthetic turf cool. Shade can be helpful for the long-term, but as needed, feel free to water your court.
6. Dry the Court Before Playing
If your court has adequate drainage, rainwater should go away fairly quickly. In most cases, you need to address drainage when installing the court, and the most effective way to handle this issue is by layering gravel under the turf.
In the event that your court drains slowly, simply make sure that it is dry before you start playing.
7. Treat Injuries Promptly
A lot of athletes ignore minor injuries, but to protect your health, you should give injuries attention, regardless of their size. In particular, you should clean injuries that occur on a synthetic tennis court. This helps to ensure that they don't get any bacteria inside or become infected.