During a tennis match, players do many unusual things that may perplex the audience. Watch a professional tennis match at least one of the players will be blowing on his fingers at some point or the other. Not all, but many have this habit of blowing in their fingers frequently. Many professional players do this out of habit, but the other reason is to keep the temperature down or to warm fingers during severe weather. The answer to Why Tennis Players Blow on their Hands is to keep their fingers cool or warm according to the weather.
Humid Conditions
Tennis during hot, humid summer is extremely strenuous, especially in the high-level circuit. The grip of the racquet becomes slippery as sweat smears the palm of the player. There are numerous ways to counter sweat. Replacing grips frequently is one way to combat it. Worn out grips can are replaced easily, and professional players go through several grips during a match. They use materials like chalk or gel to enhance the grip during the match. If these materials are applied at the right moment, the grip remains firm and lessens slipping. These are the normal procedures the players follow during the match to keep their grip firm and steady. They can also wipe the sweat off from hands and handle the racquet with towels or other clothes, and of course, can blow on their fingers for an instant result. Blowing on the sweaty fingers has the cooling effect of evaporation. This habit of blowing on fingers may look awkward apparently to a casual viewer but certainly, remove sweat from the hand. It’s not like you are playing poker online from the comfort of your home.
This is the most common reason for blowing on the fingers. A sweaty, slippery grip can significantly hamper the performance of a player. It is impractical to change the grip of the racquet in the middle of a game, but blowing brings instant results.
Cold Weather
When the weather is chilly and cold, you can see many athletes are blowing in their hands and fingers constantly. The hot breath warms up the hands for a few seconds giving them a bit of relief. In severe cold weather, hands tend to get numb, and the grip of the tennis player becomes feeble. They blow on their hands and fingers to keep them warm to have a firm and steady grip. Fortunately, fewer top-level matches are played in winter, which is a big relief for professional tennis players.
A player can use hand warmers, gloves to keep their hands warm. He can keep a heater outside court near the bench to warm not only their hand and fingers but also warm the racquet strings and beam, which becomes frigid in chilly conditions. You may see some players try to warm the strings of the racquet with their breath during a match. The smallest margin of errors can make a big difference in a professional match, and players try to overcome every hurdle to win the match. Some players do this as a routine to get ready to receive a service from the opponent or just before serve.
