Getting Started with Jessica’s Routine
Okay, so I saw this article about how Jessica Pegula trains, that body workout thing for her crazy tennis power. Honestly, I was curious. Can someone not built like a tank actually benefit from whatever she does? Figured I’d give it a shot myself, like, physically try following along, see what happens. No fancy gym either, just my local spot after work.
What I Actually Did
First off, let me say it wasn’t just bashing a ball against a wall. Her routine seems to focus on building power from the ground up. Like:
- Started with deadlifts. Yeah, actual deadlifts! Not huge weights, but focusing on keeping everything tight, pushing through the floor. My legs felt it instantly.
- Moved to this weird medicine ball twist throw thing. Stand sideways, twist hard and chuck the ball against the wall. Looks easy? Totally isn’t. Found myself stumbling at first, coordination was zero. Took a few tries to not look like a goofball.
- Then, loaded carries. Grabbed the heaviest kettlebell I could handle, carried it one way across the gym, switched arms, came back. Sounds simple, right? My grip was screaming by the end, and my core was ON FIRE. Like, holding myself together hard.
- Finished with jump squats onto a box. Explosive power stuff. Jump up onto the box, step down carefully. Repeated way too many times. Legs felt like jelly.
The whole thing felt different. It’s less about bulking up, more about generating force quickly, transferring it smoothly. That core tension during carries? Killer. The explosive jumps? Pure leg burn. The throws? Awkward as heck until you get the twist right.
So, Did It Work?
Okay, immediate thoughts: I was wiped out. Seriously wiped. More than my usual workouts. But good wiped? Maybe. Felt powerful for a bit after throwing that ball! But honestly?
- Core is king: Didn’t realize how much she must engage her core constantly until I tried mimicking the moves. Those carries? Pure core strength.
- Power needs practice: Being explosive feels weird if you’re used to slow lifts. Takes real focus to move fast and controlled at the same time.
- It’s specific: This ain’t for someone just wanting a sweat. Every movement felt aimed straight at mimicking parts of a tennis swing or explosive court movement.
Went for a hit two days later. Felt… different. Not magically like Pegula, obviously! But, stepping into a backhand felt stronger, maybe? More solid through contact. Could be placebo, who knows! The core stuff definitely felt useful for stability.
What I Realized
Trying it hammered it home: Pro routines are no joke. The intensity, the specific focus on power transfer… it’s a whole different animal. Her routine isn’t just about getting strong, it’s about moving strong fast, using the whole body as one unit. Felt pretty awesome to even attempt a tiny piece of it, even if my medicine ball throws probably made people laugh! Makes you appreciate the sheer strength those players build, hidden under all that tennis grace.
