February can be one of the trickiest months for tennis players. Cold temperatures, damp courts, shorter days, and limited outdoor opportunities can all affect how and how often you play. But with the right approach, February can actually become a great month for improvement, giving you the platform for a strong spring season.
Dealing with conditions
Whilst we know that February doesn’t always bring the best weather conditions, this month is all about progress not peak performance. Focus less on results and more on:
Technical development
Physical readiness
Creating consistent habits
Short-term goals like improving your second serve, footwork patterns, or rally consistency are far more valuable than worrying about wins and losses.
Indoor Tennis
We’re fortunate that we have 3 world class indoor courts. No wind, rain or weather condition disruption. Here is a perfect place to work on your technique, clean contact with the ball, longer and more controlled rallies.
Whilst we know that getting on an indoor court can be tricky with high demand but even a shorter 30 minute session can make all the difference for your come spring.
Adapting your game to weather conditions
In wet and damp conditions tennis balls tend to fluff up making it a heavier ball. In these conditions try to hit with a lot of spin and height over the net. You can always use the Wilson Trinity balls which last longer and are a more environmentally friendly due to being packaged in recyclable tube, not needing the traditional pull ring tube. The balls keep that fresh ball feeling 4x longer than traditional tennis balls.
Slice is a great way to deal with windy conditions; it allows the ball to cut through the wind and increases your consistency. This will help come spring to add a lot of variety to your game and to get you out of trouble.
Don’t throw the ball as high when serving on a windy day. This minimises the ball movement with wind and can surprise your opponents by reaching them earlier. You should be mindful of how this is going to affect your timing but with a bit of practice this is a great skill to have in your game.
Look after your body
Cold muscles can lead to injury. Luckily with an Avenue Tennis membership you have full access to the whole facility. Take the time to warm up in the gym before your court booking. You should do a low intensity cardio exercise such as rowing or the cross trainer giving you a full body warm up. Stretches should be dynamic meaning moving whilst stretching to improve the elasticity of the muscles.
If the weather is too bad you can still help your game by going to a yoga class such as Restorative back care, Pilates, MELT and many more.
Equipment
You could reduce your string tension in the winter months to help deal with those heavier balls. String tension works like a trampoline, the lower the tension the longer the ball stays on the strings giving you more power.
Gloves are the obvious way to combat cold hands. Whilst you may reduce your ability to have steady hands when hitting the ball, you could always wear a glove on your ‘nonplaying hand’. Another alternative is to cut a hole in an old sock and put this over your hand. It will allow you to hold your racquet by poking it through the hole.
Having the right mindset
Cancelled sessions, cold fingers, and tough conditions can be frustrating. February is a great month to develop mental toughness.
Work on:
Staying positive in difficult conditions
Competing hard even when tennis feels messy
Controlling what you can (effort, attitude, preparation)
Players who embrace February often find matches feel easier later in the year.
Think Long-Term
The players who improve most over a season are often the ones who used February wisely.
Ask yourself:
What do I want to be better at by April?
What habits can I build now?
February is not glamorous — but it’s foundational
Final Thoughts
Playing tennis in February is about discipline, patience, and smart preparation. If you accept the conditions, train with purpose, and focus on improvement rather than perfection, you’ll arrive in spring sharper, fitter, and more confident.
Put the work in now — your future tennis will thank you.