Can a posture shirt help my game?

Weakbackhand · Newbie

Can a posture shirt help my game?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hi weakbackhand and welcome!

What on earth is the t-shirt supposed to do?

(Are you a one-hander or a two-hander?)

with best regards from someone who has a highly dodgy forehand (it goes seriously AWOL in a match) but a tried and trusty backhand

(of the two-hander variety).

Weakbackhand · Newbie

Hey Coup, thanks for the welcome! Maybe I can loan your two-handed backhand. Hehe. I am a two-hander myself and just looking for something that can help my game. I never actually gave a shirt many thoughts in this regard, but then came across that Rusedski video and just felt he made sense talking about keeping an upright posture when you rotate through the ball. Just thought it could be interesting if anyone is wearing compression shirts while playing and if they could share their experience. (Doesn't have to be the one Greg is talking about. I´m sure there are others)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

A quick "Hi" to WeakBackHand from me too. Always good to have new input on the forum.

As for the "posture shirts", I would need a lot more than that to make my game even mildly respectable. I would suggest that Mr Rusedski is getting well paid for his marketing services.

Michael D · All-time great

Bob in Spain wrote:
A quick "Hi" to WeakBackHand from me too. Always good to have new input on the forum.

As for the "posture shirts", I would need a lot more than that to make my game even mildly respectable. I would suggest that Mr Rusedski is getting well paid for his marketing services.

Yes, I was thinking about a shirt that could shout out when you've contorted it into the wrong position... but on second thoughts, that might be a bit excruciating for all concerned. wink

On your comment weakbackhand, I think the mental reminders you have about posture and position are likely to be more important than anything your shirt can really 'tell' you.

-- Edited by Michael D on Wednesday 14th of August 2019 10:03:12 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, personally it sounds like a complete gimmick to me, weakbackhand. I mean, you can't even see your own t-shirt when you're playing so are you supposed to take a video and watch it back? Or is it supposed just to compress you? In which case, how does that help - I can fall over in a tight shirt, as well as a loose one. And wouldn't it stop all the torque you need to generate?

However, I don't know anyone who's tried one so I might be being unfair.....

NB remember your head is your heaviest bit - if your head falls forward, your body follows. So keep you head straight and up (do a bit of Pilates if you have trouble with that - Pilates is very good for tennis players (and other sports) in many regards - think 'bit of string from your crown to the sky').

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Wednesday 14th of August 2019 10:04:46 AM

Weakbackhand · Newbie

Haha Bob in Spain, they should have the shirt hit the ball for you.

Anyway, just went to their website to read more about it. So it seems the shirt will act as a reminder via some kinesio-tape like bands it has in the back. I am actually tempted to go for it as they do offer a trial period, so it seems risk-free to me, but don't really want to be unfair to them and buy a product if there is a big chance I will return it. Also just found a compression shirt from Under Armour, much cheaper, but then I think, why is that? Is that the tape which is in the Rusedski-one making the difference? Anyway, I don't expect you guys to do any research on this, was only hoping to hear from someone using compression shirts already while playing tennis (can still happen, early in the day still :) )

christ · Futures level

I would recommend watching Tin Cup for the golfing equivalent of this. There are an inordinate number of highly-paid snake-oil salesmen selling "aids" that aren't, or even if they are they are no replacement for work!