Why is sharapova allowed to scream

The problem is not only on the court. Fans present can be exposed to pain caused by the noise generated by these two women. Instead of planes passing overhead, at the U. Open you can effectively hear them on the court whenever at least one of these two play. The human pain threshold is decibels , according to a Purdue noise chart. That same chart says that a jet flyover at 1, feet is dB and a Bell J-2A helicopter at ft is dB. Sharapova has had her screams recorded at up to dB.

Some believe that he and the coaches of the many Eastern European players who make a loud noise when striking the ball have taught their pupils to scream. Bollettieri says he did not teach "grunting. Grunting in Tennis. That paper admits that, as many believe, loud "grunting" is unsportsmanlike and is a "distraction to opponent," which means the opponent is unable "to hear impact of racket on strings", which causes the "opponent error to increase" and "a slower opponent response time.

And there is no admission from any other coach that they have taught their players to scream. Indeed, because Monica Seles preceded the most famous active screamers, it is plausible that they are only following their childhood hero. Whatever their initial purpose, there is real evidence that, like the Bolletteiri paper says, screaming distracts the opponent and provides a real advantage.

Indeed, a scientific study has been around for two years that shows the benefits of using a scream and supports player claims that screaming unfairly provides the screamer with an advantage. Their conclusion? The study is no secret. Yet tennis authorities and players alike play down the effect, with the CEO of the WTA, Stacey Allaster, claiming that the rule change likely to come no sooner than was due to a "slight increase" in fan complaints.

Sharapova already said that she does not intend to change, although her sound was less prominent this week, perhaps because she has toned it down but more likely because CBS is no longer broadcasting as loudly from the court when she plays. What we do know is that tennis is far worse for these screams coming from women and men. This will detect if the noise made by the players is of an acceptable level or not. The plan is to discourage grunting in the tennis academies of the future pros.

Although this plan is great moving forward, grunting will nevertheless still be a part of the game in the coming years. From Sharapova's famous screams to Venus Williams ' angry shrieks, let's take a look at today's recognizable and obnoxious tennis grunts. World No. He even gets creative with his voice when he hits a winner, as shown in the video against Andy Murray.

Yes, many could argue that Rafael Nadal doesn't grunt on every point like Maria Sharapova. Having said that, he still has a very distinct yell, unlike most players on the ATP tour. Nadal tops the list for the men with the loudest and, quite frankly, the most obnoxious grunt.

Novak Djokovic is not too far behind, either. Fernando Gonzalez also deserves an honorable mention. He, too, displays an excessive grunt in the video. Unfamiliar to the everyday tennis fan, Elena Bovina, who is currently ranked outside the top , certainly makes the top tier in women's grunting. You might not realise it, but you use sound to gauge how hard your opponent hits the ball, and also the direction of the shot.

Studies have shown that when their opponents are grunting, tennis players are between three and four per cent worse at assessing where the ball is heading and at what speed. One study suggested that players take 30 milliseconds longer to react. That might not sound like much, but in that time the ball has probably travelled around half a meter through the air. One devious trick is to let out a huge grunt, as if you've hit an enormous topspin forehand that took a lot of effort, but then throw in a gentle drop-shot.

Your opponent won't be expecting that. Because the grunt is so loud, you think the ball is coming fast and suddenly the ball just goes slowly. It's interesting to note that Bollettieri says grunting allows for a "psychological and physiological release of tension". Psychologists have suggested that grunting helps a player to feel more assured of themselves on court, which will allow them to produce better tennis.

As a grown woman, Sharapova's grunts have exceeded decibels, which might make her the loudest grunter of all time, though there is no official record. She used to say that grunting was just something she had done since a young age. It was part of her tennis technique. Trying to stop grunting when she was in her twenties would have been as challenging as trying to hold the racquet with a new grip.

It was always fascinating, though, to listen to her practice sessions, when she would be completely silent; she only grunted when she was playing matches.