Tips for Playing Tennis in the Cold Winter

Cold weather in the winter changes a lot about your tennis. Strings contract and become stiffer, balls lose bounce, and your body needs more time to warm up.

But with the right adjustments to your setup, preparation, and tactics, you can maintain your game through the winter months.

This article covers how cold affects your string bed, what tension changes to make, how to prepare your body, and tactical shifts that work when temperatures drop.

How Cold Weather Affects Your String Bed

In the cold, strings contract rather than expand. This makes them less elastic and stiffer than they would be in warmer conditions.

The result is less string movement, less pocketing, and less energy returned to the ball. You lose that responsive feel that comes from a well-functioning string bed.

The snapback that generates spin also becomes more sluggish, and the feedback you get on each shot feels muted.

The ball itself becomes harder and loses internal pressure in cold temperatures. This reduces bounce significantly and makes each shot feel heavier on impact.

The combination of stiff strings and hard balls feels like hitting a rock with a baseball bat rather than a tennis ball with a plush string bed.

Two identical rackets with identical setups will behave completely differently in hot versus cold conditions. A setup that gives you perfect control in July might feel dead and unresponsive in January.

Adjusting Your String Tension for Winter

The first step to adapting your game to winter play is to lower your string tension by 2-3 lbs relative to your summer setup.

The reduced tension compensates for the stiffer feel and restores string movement and feedback. You get back some of that pocketing and energy return that the cold takes away, meaning your shots will feel more like they do in normal conditions.

Pro players do this consistently. Setups at winter events like Paris or London are noticeably looser than at hot outdoor tournaments like the Australian Open.

If the best players in the world are making these adjustments, recreational players should follow suit.

When you do this, choose strings that have great tension maintenance like Zero, Sync, and Vivo because they offer consistent performance for longer even at lower tensions.

Preparing Your Body When It's Cold

Warm Up Longer Than Usual

Cold muscles take longer to reach their ideal temperature in the winter, increasing the risk of pulls and strains if you don't warm up properly.

Dedicate 15-20 minutes to a dynamic warm-up before hitting.

Focus on arm swings, lunges, jogging, and light mini-tennis to raise your core temperature, and get your joints moving through their full range of motion before you ask them to perform.

When you are warming up, be sure to check the court surface for frost or ice patches before playing, especially on lines where slipping is most dangerous. No match is worth an injury from losing your footing on a frozen court.

Once the match has started, keep moving between points to maintain your warmth. Standing still during changeovers or between games lets your body temperature drop quickly.

Stay active, bounce on your toes, and keep the blood circulating.

Dress in Smart Layers

Wear moisture-wicking synthetic base layers to keep sweat off your skin. Staying dry is essential to staying warm, and synthetic fabrics pull moisture away from your body far better than natural fibers.

Add an insulating mid-layer and a windproof outer shell you can remove once warmed up. The layering approach lets you adjust as your body temperature rises during play. You might start with everything on and strip down to your base layer as you get into the match.

Avoid cotton entirely when playing, as it stays wet and causes your body temperature to drop. Cotton absorbs sweat and holds it against your skin, which is exactly what you don't want when it's cold outside.

Protect your extremities with thermal gloves between games, thick socks, and a beanie or headband. Your hands, feet, and head lose heat quickly, and keeping them covered makes a big difference in overall comfort.

Before and after your session, make sure to wear warm layers like The "SLAP" Hoodie. The time before you start hitting and after you finish is when you're most vulnerable to the cold.

Stay Safe and Hydrated

Even though it’s cold, you still lose fluids through respiration and sweat. The dry winter air pulls moisture from your body with every breath, and you sweat more than you realize under all those layers.

Bring warm drinks like tea or room-temperature water in a bottle to stay hydrated and maintain your core temperature. Drinking something warm keeps your insides comfortable and makes hydration more appealing when it's freezing outside.

Conclusion

Winter tennis requires adjustments across the board.

From lowering your string tension by 2-3 lbs to warming up longer and dressing in layers, every change helps you play more comfortably and safely in the cold.

Try Zero, Sync, or Vivo, which have great tension maintenance to play your best, most consistent tennis even at lower tensions in the winter.

About the Author: Juan is the co-founder of ReString. He was born in Argentina, raised in Japan, and moved to the US to pursue college tennis. He now plays as an ATP & WTA hitting partner.