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Never hit peak heart rate

‎02-27-2021 17:48

‎02-27-2021 17:48

I'm 50 years old and my resting heart rate is around 56.  I love playing tennis but I never hit peak heart rate.  I play with a friend who has an iPhone.  She's also the same age as me.  Her heart rate is at 170 while mine is at 125 or max 140.  I can't tell if I'm in really good shape or if my FitBit Sense isn't tracking properly.  I'm not that out of breath either so it's hard to tell. 

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3 REPLIES 3

‎02-27-2021 18:33

‎02-27-2021 18:33

If you're not out of breath, you're not in peak zone.

I wouldn't expect any sustained peak heart rate in tennis, as there are frequent breaks in activity - maybe briefly during an especially active point.

You must mean your friend has a Apple Watch - don't think iPhone in itself shows heart rate.

Before posting, re-read to see if it would make sense to someone else not looking at your Fitbit or phone.

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‎02-28-2021 07:47 - edited ‎02-28-2021 07:51

In response to JohnnyRow

‎02-28-2021 07:47 - edited ‎02-28-2021 07:51

You are probably in better shape than your friend if your HR is that much lower for similar exercise.  But I agree, tennis is not the kind of activity that will put you in peak for very long.  Also, the fitbit (or any of the watch types) doesn't tend to grab very very brief periods at high HR, there is a bit of smoothing compared to something with a chest band HRM.   So a quick sprint and recover may not register.   

Also the Age/HR zones thing is just a guideline.  I know people whose Max HR is much lower than the formula and people whose MAX  is much higher. and they have to create custom zones between their resting HR and their Max.    MaxHR has little to do with fitness and more to do with their own particular biology.  

I've always been a fan of perceived exertion - If you can carry on a conversation during the workout you are at most at the lower end of the cardio zone.  The low end of peak zone is more the threshold where you could COULD speak and sustain this effort but you would really rather not.  Max HR the world starts to get a little fuzzy. 

 

MTA: 170 HR for tennis seems awfully high, if I was going to suspect one of the devices being off, I would probably suspect hers.

 

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‎03-02-2021 14:22

‎03-02-2021 14:22

I'm similar age and RHR and rarely hit maximums either at all or for any length of time playing tennis. I do hit maximums (and more) running though so I'd suggest that tennis is just not so challenging on the heart - but still a great all around exercise.

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