Regular Tennis Nets Results, Too

By — KRISTI L. NELSON

Not quite up for Cardio Tennis? The plain game is a fine workout on its own, said tennis professional Jeff Brainard.

“You get an overall body workout” playing tennis, said Brainard, who taught both regular tennis and Cardio Tennis before moving to Knoxville last month for a position with a local tennis academy. “You’re using every muscle pretty much. It’s a great workout for your legs.”

A singles game can burn 493 calories an hour, said Consumer Reports’ 2005 Fitness Issue, which ranked it the No. 5 sport for most calories burned per workout.

It’s a cost-effective sport, in terms of equipment needed, Brainard added. Buy a racquet and balls, and you can play in public parks in shorts and a T-shirt.

And “you can play it forever,” Brainard said. His youngest student was 3 years old, and he’s also taught a woman in her 90s to play.

Brainard himself started playing at about age 10.

“It’s an easy sport to pick up,” he said. “It’s a difficult sport to master. I’m still learning.”

But he likes that tennis, faster-paced than some other sports, is a mental as well as a physical challenge. Though coaching can teach you skills, he said, “you still have to figure it out all on your own when you’re in a match.”

Knoxvillians who want to learn to play have no shortage of options. In addition to individuals, local fitness centers and country clubs that offer lessons, people can learn the moves at Tyson Family Tennis Center (865-522-3303; www.ci.Knoxville.tn.us/ recreation/), Jack Murphy/West Hills Tennis Center (865-539-0414; www.gkta.org) or Smoky Mountain Tennis Academy (865-670-7682; www.smokytennis.com), where Brainard teaches.

(c) 2006 News Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.