We have reached a milestone in our steady march through the tennis training techniques glimpsed in the background of the Netflix docuseries “Break Point.” This is the final installment from Season 1 of the show. Aryna Sabalenka is shown using a compression massage device during the WTA Finals. A close-up reveals that she is using the Hyperice Normatec system.
The fact that so many tennis players employ full-time physios on their team is a testament to the efficacy of massage when recovering from competition or intense workouts. Athletic exertion causes lactic acid and other waste products to build up in the muscles. The lymphatic system will eventually clear it all out, but it takes time. Massage is believed to speed up the process.
A professional tennis player of Sabalenka’s caliber has the financial resources to invest in the best of everything that might improve her on-court performance. Her use of the Normatec device on-screen during the show is a powerful endorsement. Additionally, Sabalneka can afford the services of a physiotherapist, which suggests that the device is at least somewhat adequate as a substitute for human massage.
Here’s the rub. (See what I did there?) I have never tried the Normatec Recovery System. I am pretty sure I had a chance at the Senior National Clay Court Championships earlier this year. A local Cryo therapy company had a tent advertising its services and offering on-site sessions with a full-leg compression massage device. Now that I have seen Sabalenka use one in conjunction with competition, I will not bypass the opportunity to at least try it out in the future.
In the meantime, the exact model that Sabalenka is seen using is readily available at the consumer level. While the name-brand Hyperice version is a little pricier than some of its competitors, it is not out of reach for most people who actively compete in the tennis ecosystem. It occurs to me that there is an above-average chance that someone who reads this blog may already have a pair or has at least tried them out. I would love to hear about that experience.
It is always exciting to see a professional tennis player use a tool or technique that is within reach for players of all levels. The Hyperice Normatec Recovery System can be used by high-performance tennis players, serious recreational players, or even weekend warriors who want to unleash their peak potential. It looks like a good investment to me.
Hyperice Normatec Recovery System (<-Sponsored Link)
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