# Preventing blisters (tennis players or anyone else)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-blisters-tennis-players-or-anyone-else/235237>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 19, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-blisters-tennis-players-or-anyone-else/235237 "2004-03-19T17:18:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WarlokElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/22d042/32.png) [@WarlokElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarlokElf)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-blisters-tennis-players-or-anyone-else/235237/1 "2004-03-19T17:18:24Z")

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From March to about August, I play a bit of tennis. March and April I play 6 times a week, 2 hours per day. I’m afraid I will develop blisters from all of my playing, so I am looking for any prevention tips. It will be difficult for me to ease my grip, as I am quite comfortable during play. It hasn’t been much of an issue in the past, but this year I am playing much more competitively and working much harder.

I know that some people tape up their fingers. Is that to prevent blisters or to help ease the pain of blisters when continuing playing? What environmental conditions promote blisters; sweat, cold, heat?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-blisters-tennis-players-or-anyone-else/235237/2 "2004-03-19T21:37:57Z")

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In judo I used to tape my finger tips to keep them from shredding. That was a while back; I haven’t had any problems since getting back into judo & bjj. Definately give taping a try if you are concerned about it.

Caveat: Tape doesn’t stick to oil & sweat. Some tapes work great, some don’t work at all. Try 3M athletic tape.

An alternative you could try would be that liquid bandage stuff. You paint it on your skin like nailpolish, and it dries into a semi-flexible rubber-ish barrier.

Don’t suffer for no good reason. Try the tape or the liquid bandage. Let us know if the liquid bandage works.

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**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-blisters-tennis-players-or-anyone-else/235237/3 "2004-03-19T22:05:43Z")

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Keep your hands and racket dry with chalk. Also, get some moleskin tape.