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Is grunting in tennis bad for the vocal chords?Date: May 17, 2012 by Michael How  Views: 3912
I don't know if grunting is really the word, I am no Sharapova. When stretching for a shot, I make a strained noise. It's a kind of guttereal, forced air sound. This makes my voice feel coarse, raspy and dry.
Having read and contributed to threads on weightlifting damaging the voice, I am worried this is the same thing.
Replies (16): Threaded | Chronological
on May 18, 2012 1:54pm
Inhaling and then closing the vocal folds intensely just before an upper body exertion stabilizes the upper body to provide a neuromusculoskeletal strength advantage to arms/shoulders/torso. Evidently, someone in the 'tennis world' assumed that making a vocal grunt sound (sudden expulsion of high-pressurized lung-air between the closed vocal folds) with each racket-stroke exertion enhances the force with which the racket hits the ball. Personally, I'd have to see some well designed study results before I'd believe that. The necessary action is the intense closure of the vocal folds over the high-pressurized lung-air, and that can be done without the grunt and result in just as much racket-stroke exertion and racket-on-ball force compared to the 'grunt method.' Check it out?
on May 18, 2012 7:26pm
The exertions of ballet dancers are just as strenuous as tennis players but they learn to breathe efficiently using the technique Leon explained above.
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on May 19, 2012 4:14pm
Okay, grunt really isn't he word. I will qoute my first post.
"When stretching for a shot, I make a strained noise. It's a kind of guttereal, forced air sound. "
I cannot help this it seems natural. I might do the same when trying to add a few mph on to my serve. Again, unlike grunting, it is unintentional,
on July 7, 2012 8:31am
Hi Michael,
I am a vocalist and understand something about taking care of the voice. Awareness is the first step and you are taking that step right now by asking if this is ok for your voice. You CAN change your sounds if you reprogram yourself. If you need to vocalize something, how about humming instead, of course as it implies, with your mouth closed. This actually will be a good vocal exercise in bringing your sound to the front of your mouth as well!!!
What I would do to "retrain" yourself away from the grunting, would be to start humming in reaction to small things that happen, so it becomes a bit more habitual and will kick in to replace the grunting when it is time.
Let me know if this helps!
Another thing would be to keep your vocal chords lubricated, by drinking warm,not hot, not cold, water. Stay away from tea with tanic acid or lemon or fruit juices that will strip the vocal chords of their much needed lubrication.
Lisa
on May 20, 2012 6:12am
Hello, Michael -- I addressed the grunting during physical exertion topic in my recent Choral Journal article, "Weightlifting, Singing, and Adolescent Boys" (October 2011). You'll find related and useful (hopefully!) information on pages 36-37 and 41-42.
on May 20, 2012 11:01am
I agree with Ann Reid. This sound is certainly not GOOD for your voice, and if it makes your voice feel bad, then it's time to figure out a substitute. If you need to expell air, see if you can do it without that strained sound.
Jay Lane
President, McClosky Institute of Voice
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on May 20, 2012 2:36pm
Can't imagine it's that bad after the lovely Flower Duet I heard from Venus and Serena.
on May 21, 2012 3:35am
I will try to stop next time I play. If this a natural, unavoidable thing, will I have to give up tennis? :(
on May 21, 2012 12:56pm
Michael: No, you could give up singing instead! But as I recall, this grunting thing started with the teenaged girl player who also introduced the 2-handed hold on the racquet (whose name I can't remember, but she was quite prominent and probably was imitated by a great many young players to this day). Perhaps you should consult a pro and find out how to give maximum effort without having to damage your voice.
All the best,
John
on July 6, 2012 10:44am
I believe you're thinking of Monica Seles. And rather than grunting, I believe you can instead focus on a very quick exhale for physical exertion. Grunting creates a lot of tension, whereas an exhale does the opposite, it allows that tension to release. It will take awhile to train your body to do this, but it's better in the long run for both singing and tennis.
on July 7, 2012 6:41am
I am a mom of two tennis players, once at the collegiate level and one at the junior level and I think this "grunting" behavior has gotten out of hand, especially with the young kids. I can understand that occasionally you would naturally make a gutteral sound as you described when straining to hit an especially difficult shot, but these kids are practically screaming on every stroke.
We were at a national 12 and under tournament this past week and there were a couple of players practically screaming with every stroke. When I asked my younger daughter's coach why some of the kids do this (thankfully my daughters don't). He had a simple answer. "Because Sherapova does it." I think the tennis "powers that be" should make a rule about this and put a stop to it, but that is another subject all together.
In your case...don't stop playing a sport you love. Just find a way to release that subglottal pressure that is more healthy for you.
on July 7, 2012 8:08am
The fact that it makes your voice feel coarse, raspy and dry is the sign that it is unhealthy for your voice. As Leon pointed out, it is probably the intense pressure of the closure of the vocal folds, and the air being forced through that intense pressure during the "grunt," that is the cause. If you're unable to just exhale the air during your stroke, as was suggested, if you could just relax the folds enough to turn the grunt into a shout, it might keep your voice from getting so raspy.
Old habits die hard and I hope this issue doesn't distract you too much from your game. (I would also caution that if the raspiness stays with you the day after your last game, or if it comes on really quickly as you start to play, you might want to go to an EENT doctor to have your throat scoped, just to make sure you haven't caused more serious damage.)
Good luck, Michael.
on August 19, 2012 1:17pm
Sounds like an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David commented on Cheryl's grunting with every stroke.
on August 20, 2012 5:55am
I've been a weightlifting enthusiast for 20 years now, and there is plenty of grunting in the gym. I had some trouble with my voice when I got started, but pretty quickly exchanged my grunting for a forceful hiss. I wouldn't say I've had any ill-effects ever since, for over 19 years now. The forceful exhale certainly does aid in power, but the vocalization is not necessary for that benefit.
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If you watch movies of tennis players of two or three generations ago you are likely to hear less grunting than today, and there were pretty good tennis players then too.
Save the voice. The grunt is most likely not improvng your tennis game.