# "Orgasmic" tennis players-gotten out of hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 30, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518 "2009-06-30T21:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/1 "2009-06-30T21:42:31Z")
[Chris Evert weighs in](http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4293867): "Steffi Graf hit the ball a ton and she didn’t grunt. There were a lot of players, hard-hitting players, and you never heard a peep out of them. “I don’t understand the philosophy of it.” I agree that’s it’s distracting-seems like an affectation as opposed to anything which really gives you a significant edge. Some of the “grunts” are so over the top that I can’t help but chuckle when I hear one. And to be fair yes some men do the same thing (tho typically not at the top of their lungs). ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/2 "2009-06-30T22:28:57Z")
For some, I suspect it’s meant to be some form of intimidation, although I can’t imagine it having any actual effect with athletes at this level. Personally, I think it’s a bit silly. It was kinda cool when Seles was the only one doing it but now everyone and their mother is doing it and it’s tiresome. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/3 "2009-06-30T22:53:25Z")
Come one, come all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/4 "2009-06-30T23:22:33Z")
My wrestling coach used to encourage it. He referred to it as the “umph factor,” and believed that it forced just a little bit more effort into whatever it is that you were doing. Whether there’s any truth to that I don’t know, but maybe more and more coaches are buying into it. Then again, he didn’t really encourage us to do it at the top of our lungs either. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/5 "2009-06-30T23:28:05Z")
I suspect it has to do with the [Valsalva Maneuver](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver). It is this maneuver people use to get more strength when shovelling snow (and which is notorious for causing heart attacks). ---
**Author:** ![special\_ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@special\_ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special_ed)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/6 "2009-06-30T23:44:49Z")
I think it’s much the same as a kihop in martial arts. I suppose it might be a bit intimidating, but the thought behind it is to tighten your abdomen while exhaling forcefully. When your abdominal muscles are tightened, the energy from your lower body more efficiently moves through to your upper body. ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/7 "2009-06-30T23:59:19Z")
Another point brought up in the video from the OP’s link is that the sound of the grunt masks the sound of the racket hitting the ball. Supposedly at that high level play what sort of sound the contact makes tells you something about the type of hit. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/8 "2009-07-01T00:07:31Z")
I think it’s obligatory here to link to [Tina and Amy Play Sexy Tennis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQs7Jcaazw) ---
**Author:** ![MarkF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MarkF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkF)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/9 "2009-07-01T14:16:51Z")
> [@](#): > > My wrestling coach used to encourage it. He referred to it as the “umph factor,” Other than expressing horror at the proximity of a complete strangers anus to your face at critical moments, I can’t see how this works meself… 😃 On tennis I can understand some exhalation at point of impact when stiking the ball but some of these people would embarrass porn voice over artists as being slightly unconvincing… Is it Azarenko? Sheesh… I was glad Serena wiped her out yesterday… ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/10 "2009-07-01T15:13:42Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I suspect it has to do with the [Valsalva Maneuver](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver). It is this maneuver people use to get more strength when shovelling snow (and which is notorious for causing heart attacks). This is completely wrong. The Valsalva maneuver stimulates the vagus nerve. This is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, causing a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. This can sometimes cause a loss of consciousness ([Vasovagal Syncope](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vasovagal-syncope/ds00806)). It does nothing however to increase strength- the parasympathetic nervous system doesn’t work like that. It also does nothing to cause heart attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/11 "2009-07-01T15:20:17Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > I think it’s much the same as a kihop in martial arts. I suppose it might be a bit intimidating, but the thought behind it is to tighten your abdomen while exhaling forcefully. When your abdominal muscles are tightened, the energy from your lower body more efficiently moves through to your upper body. I had always assumed that was the point. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/12 "2009-07-01T15:33:13Z")
I can understand grunting at times when you’re playing hours and hours of competitive tennis. But with the women in particular it’s definitely forced, possibly coached, and in some cases it’s an intimidation tactic. This gets debated periodically and I’m not sure anything will ever get done about it, but with Michelle Larcher de Brito out there, there’s a new case in point. She’s ridiculously loud, and shrieks even when she’s not hitting the ball particularly hard. You can see her vocalizing on YouTube, but you probably shouldn’t watch at work. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/13 "2009-07-01T15:45:38Z")
> [@St.Urho](#): > > This is completely wrong. The Valsalva maneuver stimulates the vagus nerve. This is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, causing a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. This can sometimes cause a loss of consciousness ([Vasovagal Syncope](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vasovagal-syncope/ds00806)). It does nothing however to increase strength- the parasympathetic nervous system doesn’t work like that. It also does nothing to cause heart attacks. Okay, I’ve been called a liar once too many times around here. Here are some citations concerning the extremely well-known, well-documented, instinctive use of the Valsalva maneuver for increasing abdominal stiffness when engaged in strenuous activity – such as shovelling snow – and its resultant link to heart attacks. - [Exercise Physiology for Health, Fitness, and Performance](http://books.google.ca/books?id=gRrp3yphhC0C&pg=PT395&lpg=PT395&dq=valsalva+maneuver+snow+shoveling&source=bl&ots=En23e590-n&sig=SAJj-gj9IpwoqObnVwCDEjlt3lE&hl=en&ei=Cn9LSpyIOpXONauvqZ8B&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1), Sharon Plowman, Denise L Smith - [Differences in cardio-respiratory responses to snow shoveling and shovel performance between elderly males and females](http://www.seppyo.org/~bgr/23/BGR23P41.pdf), Bulletin of Glaciological Research - [“Killer Snow”, Family Health Guide](https://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/fhgupdate/U/U5.shtml#killerSnow), Harvard Medical School - [“PULMONARY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION”, Movement Science 340 workbook](http://www.umich.edu/~exphysio/mvs.340/WorkBook%20Chapters/CH12.DOC), University of Michigan I found these citations (and hundreds just like them) through the difficult and complex means of typing “valsalva maneuver shoveling snow” into Google. I can see why you’d have found it much easier to just accuse me of making it up out of whole cloth, what with researching it being such a difficult task. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/14 "2009-07-01T15:49:13Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > [“PULMONARY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION”, Movement Science 340 workbook](http://www.umich.edu/~exphysio/mvs.340/WorkBook%20Chapters/CH12.DOC), University of Michigan > > I found these citations (and hundreds just like them) through the difficult and complex means of typing “valsalva maneuver shoveling snow” into Google. I can see why you’d have found it much easier to just accuse me of making it up out of whole cloth, what with researching it being such a difficult task. Through the difficult and complex means of clicking on your fourth link I have determined that it’s a worksheet and doesn’t actually provide any information, much less function as a citation for your claim. In view of the hard work I have just put in, I’m going to call it a day and not bother clicking on the others. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/15 "2009-07-01T15:57:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Through the difficult and complex means of clicking on your fourth link I have determined that it’s a worksheet and doesn’t actually provide any information, much less function as a citation for your claim. > > In view of the hard work I have just put in, I’m going to call it a day and not bother clicking on the others. - Physiological Consequences of the Valsalva Give one reason why individuals with heart and vascular disease should refrain from all-out straining exercise such as shoveling wet snow or lifting a heavy weight.\* Yeah, that totally doesn’t support my claim. And completely ignoring the three other citations proves completely that I’m wrong. Troll. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/16 "2009-07-01T16:01:56Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > Yeah, that totally doesn’t support my claim. And completely ignoring the three other citations proves completely that I’m wrong. Troll. No one called you a liar, and calling other posters “trolls” is not allowed unless you are in the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/17 "2009-07-01T16:25:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No one called you a liar, and calling other posters “trolls” is not allowed unless you are in the BBQ Pit. That being said, you really can’t dispute that **SmashTheState** did in fact provide a prompt list of several reputable citations which agree completely with his assertions. **Really Not All That Bright** appears to be deliberately cherrypicking the weakest of the links and is being quite disingenuous by saying the listed references don’t provide information. From the Harvard site: > [@](#): > > Without knowing it, shovelers sometimes perform a version of the Valsalva maneuver, bearing down as they would during a bowel movement while holding their breath. Waiting to exhale while straining like that can lead to abrupt changes in your heartbeat and blood pressure. I mean, really? I learned about the Valsalva maneuver, complete with watching my own EKG of the phenomenon, in first-year anatomy. And FWIW, I agree that the tennis grunt appears to be more form than function for a lot of players. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/18 "2009-07-01T16:26:56Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#): > > **Really Not All That Bright** appears to be deliberately cherrypicking the weakest of the links and is being quite disingenuous by saying the listed references don’t provide information. I didn’t cherry-pick it; it was the first one I clicked on. Since he didn’t bother to quote any of the relevant text, I’m not going to bother reading the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/19 "2009-07-01T16:38:30Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#): > > That being said, you really can’t dispute that **SmashTheState** did in fact provide a prompt list of several reputable citations which agree completely with his assertions. The cites definitely look on-target. (Google Books didn’t let me view the first.) But I wasn’t commenting on the strength of his argument. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518/20 "2009-07-01T19:04:21Z")
Frank Deford, possibly my favorite sports commentator, chimed in about this on _Morning Edition_ a week ago today. There’s audio of Michelle Larcher de Brito toward the beginning of the essay: [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105827095](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105827095) > [@](#): > > “Opponents have whined that this is distracting, which has, in the past, been a familiar complaint lodged against other female players, most recently Maria Sharapova, and before her, Monica Seles… Of course, what’s the matter with a spot of noise in tennis? Or golf, for that matter? Why does everybody have to hush up to let an athlete serve a fuzzy ball all by himself or to address a small, dimpled one lying motionless in the grass … when someone like a baseball batter is expected to be able to concentrate sufficiently amid a roaring din, able to hit a curved spheroid thrown toward him at 90 miles an hour?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orgasmic-tennis-players-gotten-out-of-hand/501518.md?page=2)