I'm back! (again)

[xtremerunnerars]

Hey everyone,

It's been a really long time since i've been on here and there are some major changes in my life:

1. I can drive now!
2. I'm a much better tennis player.


Because of those two things, I've realized that there are some problems. Being just a general athlete, my muscular strength was never really an issue because I have always been in great shape compared to the people i'd play sports with. I worry down the road that with my current training regiment and the tougher tennis that muscle imbalance will create an unnecessary and preventable injury.

Now that I'm starting to play much higher level tennis, I find that some muscles aren't quite up to speed (literally) with the rest of the body.

My quads and down are more than fine...I'm definitely a mostly-legs person. Where I notice the deficit in tennis would be the upper back/deltoid muscles that I use for a one handed backhand and definitely my hip flexors.

The muscles on that tight outside part of my leg and hip where the skin's not too thick usually hurt if I'm pounding away on the court for a few hours. My core and legs are certainly my strongest parts so I am not worried about changing up what I've been doing there.

I wouldn't call any of the pain severe, but I am concerned about playing several matches in succession say at a week long tournament or something.

I'm 5'10 and 146 pounds, and I'll be seventeen for 9 more months.


Other things that are weak/severely small compared to the rest of my body (but that I don't necessarily notice for tennis) would be my: biceps, which I refer to as "the part of my arm that's not the tricep" because they're really small, my pecs, and my low-mid back.

What I'm looking to get out of this is a way to bring those muscles up to speed but not neglect the other ones. I'm willing to work really hard (I do on the rest of my fitness) and although I'm in high school, I do my best to keep clean eating wise.

I'm not training to look great here for the ladies; I want functional strength, and if I look better than I do proportion wise now then that's alright I guess since they come hand in hand.

I really appreciate the help and quick responses that make me love this place!