Grunting when hitting?!

[ZappyAd]

We've been watching a bit of tennis recently (Wimbledon) and my daughter asked me 'why do they keep making those noises when they hit the ball?'

Good question!  We did a bit of research online and maybe it doesn't make any difference and players do it because other players do it, but apparently it could be because it puts off your opponent (even if only subconsciously your brain uses some processing power to check the sound and make sure it isn't a sabre tooth tiger) but also there was some research that suggested that a grunt can help you hit a few percent faster.

So obviously it go me thinking about golf :

(1) do you think grunting when hitting a golf ball would make a difference to how far you hit the ball?

(2) if grunting did give you an extra 5% speed (e.g. going from 100 to 105mph = 10 yds of carry on the driver?) - will you start grunting?

[newtogolf]

I don't know many people that swing their golf club at 100% power regularly, so it wouldn't seem a grunt would be really helpful on 99% of your swings.  Even if it gave me extra power, I wouldn't start doing it, I also hate it in tennis.  

[jamo]

I just say POWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Just getting that out of the way.

[mcanadiens]

I don't really know if I make an audible sound when I swing, but I hear (or maybe feel) it internally if that makes any sense. It's not exactly a grunt. 

1) If I actually do grunt, it's not something I do on purpose. The question for me would be, does suppressing the grunt hurt my swing. Either way, I have no idea. 

2) Heck yeah.

 

[Valleygolfer]

34 minutes ago, jamo said:

I just say POWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Just getting that out of the way.

I was well ahead of you on this but restrained myself. I am glad it is on the table now though....

[boogielicious]

53 minutes ago, jamo said:

I just say POWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Just getting that out of the way.

I prefer BOO-YA! Followed by OH NO!

[jkelley9]

57 minutes ago, jamo said:

I just say POWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Just getting that out of the way.

followed by "right in the kisser!"

[nevets88]

First it was just Jimmy Connors. Then Monica Seles took it to another level. It was so bad, the tennis powers that be then socially pressured her into not grunting for one match at W and can't remember if she didn't play well or lost but everyone collectively shrugged their shoulders and just let her go on and it was "Release the hounds!" point of no return. Thomas Muster was pretty bad too around that time. Now, forget about it, it's, ahem, par for the course. Maybe at a deep subconscious level, it's like, I can hit the ball harder than you, inferior player, passive aggressive micro aggression... sonic aggression.  Notice the grunt gets louder when going for a winner. 

It's like exhaling when you bench press or squat. See here. Whatever the case, it is what it is, Tiger Woods grunted on one of his epic swing out of his shoes swings out of a bunker one time, distinctly remember that. At the range one time, I witnessed a guy showing off in front of his lady friend, he hit like 5 irons in a row, grunting loudly on each one, oi.

There's a lot of grunting at the long drive championships, understandably.

I don't grunt, perhaps if I was really going for one, I'd do it without knowing. So uncivilized. My club would probably send me a letter and my caddie would give me dirty looks

[boogielicious]

2 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

First it was just Jimmy Connors. Then Monica Seles took it to another level. It was so bad, the tennis powers that be then socially pressured her into not grunting for one match at W and can't remember if she didn't play well or lost but everyone collectively shrugged their shoulders and just let her go on and it was "Release the hounds!" point of no return. Thomas Muster was pretty bad too around that time. Now, forget about it, it's, ahem, par for the course.

It's like exhaling when you bench press or squat. See here. Whatever the case, it is what it is, Tiger Woods grunted on one of his epic swing out of his shoes swings out of a bunker one time, distinctly remember that. At the range one time, I witnessed a guy showing off in front of his lady friend, he hit like 5 irons in a row, grunting loudly on each one, oi.

We were taught to do it throwing the shot put and discus in track. The golf swing it a more controlled motion though. I don't grunt but may exhale.

[Jeremie Boop]

Usually the only sound I make is right after and it's usually "oh *$%@" as I watch the ball go way off to one side or another.

[Groucho Valentine]

I knew i PGA professional who encouraged students to grunt and exhale while they were practicing. I understand the idea - a lot of golfers stop breathing with they swing- is just weird to hear people grunt during golf. 

[dchoye]

I do when I want to put a little bit extra on my drive, but I do it at the last hole and when  I don't really care about direction. I feel it increases my clubhead speed.

Its like what Nevets said. Exhale when squatting or bench pressing. Its healthier to exhale than to hold breath.

I believe grunting is the way tennis player force exhale and learn to do this because its harder to hold the breath in and body instinctly does it. Ideally its best to play like Federer who never grunts, he has quiet breathing pattern, but you can see his nose flares out when striking the ball or puffing out the cheeks when serving which means he's exhaling.

Answers the question do you breath in out when swinging a golf club.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2016 by dchoye

[JonMA1]

I only grunt when my opponent is swinging. That, or make arm pit fart noises. You have to mix it up or they'll just get used to it.

[Patch]

I don't grunt, but I am old enough break wind sometimes. Does that count?

[Buckeyebowman]

15 hours ago, jamo said:

I just say POWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Just getting that out of the way.

 

14 hours ago, Valleygolfer said:

I was well ahead of you on this but restrained myself. I am glad it is on the table now though....

Yeah, I say that too! But only in my head!

Some of these tennis matches sound like a scene in a really cheesy, XXX porn flick!

[disaster]

BOOOM

[Marty2019]

If I could get increased clubhead speed by swinging harder, maybe I would grunt.  But I can't.   I'm not coordinated enough to swing harder without getting all out of sync. 

[Valleygolfer]

I occasionally grunt and yell after some shots....