Tennis grunting: need or tactics? Considerations related to sports ethics.

Authors

  • Simone Cigni ospedale san paolo milano

Keywords:

tennis, grunting, sport ethics

Abstract

Using a huge variety of vocalizations by tennis players has become an incresaing attitude, both at a competitive and amateur level. The real usefulness of this habit in the execution of the athletic gesture is much debated: if on one hand it is believed that it is useful in the timing of the kinetics of the shot, consequently improving its effectiveness, on the other hand is undoubtably disturbing for the opponent. The two factions remain today very far from a meeting point that is more necessary than ever in relation to the purely ethical aspects of sports activity, considering that psychological and technical needs of those practicing this habit clash with the opponent attitude, seeing his concentration lowered when responding to the  shot.

References

Callison, ER., Berg, KE., Slivka, DR. Grunting in tennis increases ball velocity but not oxygen cost. J Strength Cond Res. 2014 Jul;28(7):1915-9. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000333.

Davis, KM., Sandage, MJ., Plexico, L., Pascoe DD. The Perception of Benefit of Vocalization on Sport Performance When Producing Maximum Effort. J Voice, 2016 Sep;30(5):639.e11-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2015.07.013. Epub 2015 Aug 17.

Farhead, N., Punt TD. Silencing Sharapova’s grunt improves the perception of her serve speed. Percept Mot Skills. 2015 Jun;120(3):722-30. doi: 10.2466/30.PMS.120v20x2. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

Flatman B. (2009-06-14). "One more grunt and you're out: Wimbledon to crack down after complaints". Times Online. London. Retrieved 2009-07-06 Spiro Zavos (2008-01-23).

Foote, K. https://www.edwardssports.co.uk/news/post/why-do-tennis-players-grunt, is it necessary? June, 21, 2024.

Jeansonne, J. Scream queens distract opponents, says Evert. Indian Express. 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2009-07-06.

Jeansonne, J. Grunting in tennis: Gamesmanship or unsportsmanlike?. Newsday. Archived from the original on 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-07-06.

Müller, F., Jauernig, L., Cañal-Bruland, R. The sound of speed: How grunting affects opponents' anticipation in tennis. PLoS One. 2019 Apr 15;14(4):e0214819. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214819. eCollection 2019.

OʼConnell, DG., Hinman, MR., Hearne, KF., Michael, ZS., Nixon, SL. The effects of "grunting" on serve and forehand velocities in collegiate tennis players. J Strength Cond Res. 2014 Dec;28(12):3469-75. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000604.

OʼConnell, DG., Brewer, JF., Man, TH., Weldon, JS., Hinman, MR. The effects of forced exhalation and inhalation, grunting, and Valsalva maneuver on forehand force in collegiate tennis players. J Strength Cond Res. 2016 Feb;30(2):430-7. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001120.

Rossingh, D. Tennis legend Navratilova calls grunters cheats. News.com.au. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2009-07-06

Rossingh, D. First Seles, now Larcher: grunts escalate in Paris. Bloomberg. Retrieved 2009-07-06.

Sinnett, S., Maglinti, CJ., Kingstone, A. Grunting's competitive advantage: considerations of force and distraction. PLoS One. 2018 Feb 22;13(2):e0192939. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192939. eCollection 2018..

Sinnett, S., Kingstone, A. A preliminary investigation regarding the effect of tennis grunting: does white noise during a tennis shot have a negative impact on shot perception? PLoS One. 2010 Oct 1;5(10):e13148. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013148.

Zavos, S. Take the grunt out of tennis. The Roar. Retrieved 2009-07-06.

Published

2026-04-08

How to Cite

Cigni, S. (2026). Tennis grunting: need or tactics? Considerations related to sports ethics. Sport and Exercise Psychology, 3(2). Retrieved from https://ledijournals.com/ojs/index.php/pse/article/view/3287