--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why has slamming a ball with a racquet…" description: "\"Why has slamming a ball with a racquet become so obsessive a pleasure for so many of us? It seems clear to me that a primary attraction of the sport is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/nat-hentoff-1615_aggression_why-has-slamming-a-ball-with-a-racquet-b_431468.png" --- # Why has slamming a ball with a racquet become so obsessive… ![“Why has slamming a ball with a racquet become so obsessive a pleasure for so many of us? It seems clear to me that a primary attraction of the sport is the opportunity it gives to release aggression physically without being arrested for felonious assault.” quote by Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/nat-hentoff-1615_aggression_why-has-slamming-a-ball-with-a-racquet-b_431468.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/nat-hentoff-1615_aggression_why-has-slamming-a-ball-with-a-racquet-b_431468.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/nat-hentoff-1615_aggression_why-has-slamming-a-ball-with-a-racquet-b_431468.png) > “Why has slamming a ball with a racquet become so obsessive a pleasure for so many of us? It seems clear to me that a primary attraction of the sport is the opportunity it gives to release aggression physically without being arrested for felonious assault.” [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The sport provides a socially acceptable outlet for aggression, satisfying a primal urge to strike without legal consequences. **In simple terms:** Tennis lets people release aggression safely. Key Takeaway Channel competitive energy into constructive activities. Themes competition aggression sport Mood analytical observational Type critical explanatory When to use this quote - team sports - stress relief - fitness routines Key Concepts psychology of play catharsis social norms Questions to Reflect On - Is aggression the main draw? - What alternative outlets exist? A Different Perspective Physical aggression may not address underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) ## Related quotes > [I had once thought I would become a doctor but gave up on the thought soon enough. I took up the racquet instead. Later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-v-sindhu/i-had-once-thought-i-would-become-a-doctor-but-gave-up-on-the-thought/) [P. V. Sindhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-v-sindhu/) > [“It was not Gilda and a racquet being used reflexively to some purpose. It was not Gilda using a racquet. It was one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-peck/it-was-not-gilda-and-a-racquet-being-used-reflexively-to-some-purpose/) [Steven L. Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-l-peck/) > [When I was a kid, my parents would play badminton, but I hardly joined them. I'd just pick up their racquets and fiddle around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/when-i-was-a-kid-my-parents-would-play-badminton-but-i-hardly-joined/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova, because I was just a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-just-could-never-have-imagined-that-i-would-be-mentioned-with-chris/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [“Andrew slung his racquet across his shoulders at Neil's approach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/andrew-slung-his-racquet-across-his-shoulders-at-neil-s-approach/) [Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/) > [Hitting the ball has never been my issue, so I can literally not pick up a racquet for two months and hit the ball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/hitting-the-ball-has-never-been-my-issue-so-i-can-literally-not-pick/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [I am disappointed when I lose and don't play well, for example. But it is not so disappointing to lose when you play good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-wilander/i-am-disappointed-when-i-lose-and-don-t-play-well-for-example-but-it/) [Mats Wilander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-wilander/) > [If you lived the doubles, as I did, which was very stressful, you are sitting down in a chair experiencing a match without being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-forget/if-you-lived-the-doubles-as-i-did-which-was-very-stressful-you-are/) [Guy Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-forget/) > [Learning was never structured for me. I started playing when I was two. I would go to the gym with my dad who played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-waselenchuk/learning-was-never-structured-for-me-i-started-playing-when-i-was-two/) [Kane Waselenchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-waselenchuk/) > [I will let my racquet speak for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwala-gutta/i-will-let-my-racquet-speak-for-myself/) [Jwala Gutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwala-gutta/) > [With all the lead tape, my racquet is heavier than the model you're going to find off the rack. It's got most of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-anderson/with-all-the-lead-tape-my-racquet-is-heavier-than-the-model-you-re/) [Kevin Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-anderson/) > [I spoke to Wilson, and I think we came up with a great plan and great racquet for myself and for my game. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sakkari/i-spoke-to-wilson-and-i-think-we-came-up-with-a-great-plan-and-great/) [Maria Sakkari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sakkari/) > [“He looked for his racquet first and was relieved to find it right where he left it. On the heels of relief was confusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/he-looked-for-his-racquet-first-and-was-relieved-to-find-it-right/) [Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/) > [It's not easy for the players change the racquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-martin-del-potro/it-s-not-easy-for-the-players-change-the-racquet/) [Juan Martin del Potro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-martin-del-potro/) > [It is never too late to get into tennis! While I started playing at the age of 8 when my parents gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-stosur/it-is-never-too-late-to-get-into-tennis-while-i-started-playing-at/) [Samantha Stosur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-stosur/) ## More by Nat Hentoff > [My parents were Orthodox Jews but not very regular Orthodox Jews. I was bar mitzvahed and all that. But God was hardly ever mentioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-parents-were-orthodox-jews-but-not-very-regular-orthodox-jews-i/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [There are enough people who are starting to be actively involved that we can turn things around. And we need to encourage others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/there-are-enough-people-who-are-starting-to-be-actively-involved-that/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ \[Margot Hentoff\] thinks - first of all, she - this I hear from a lot of people beside her. She thinks that men have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/margot-hentoff-thinks-first-of-all-she-this-i-hear-from-a-lot-of/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [My father was pretty independent. He was - he was arrested once in Nashville when he was on one of his sales trips because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-father-was-pretty-independent-he-was-he-was-arrested-once-in/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ My chronology is terrible. \[Work with William Shawn\] must have some ago. It was after he was fired by Newhouse. After New - when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-chronology-is-terrible-work-with-william-shawn-must-have-some-ago/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ We disagree heavily on abortion \[with Margot Hentoff\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/we-disagree-heavily-on-abortion-with-margot-hentoff/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [Now that is dangerous, when the people don't know what's happening to their Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/now-that-is-dangerous-when-the-people-don-t-know-what-s-happening-to/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ \[My wife Margot\] was the - I guess, the coordinator or the production manager \[of The Jazz Review\], and we got to know each… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-wife-margot-was-the-i-guess-the-coordinator-or-the-production/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [The book that really, really shaped my politics and has forever is Arthur Koestler's "Darkness at Noon," which is a novel based on terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/the-book-that-really-really-shaped-my-politics-and-has-forever-is/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [I have I guess 3 passions. One is the Constitution. The other is jazz and the other is being an atheist prolifer which, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/i-have-i-guess-3-passions-one-is-the-constitution-the-other-is-jazz/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [If the American people have their health care paid for by the government, depending on their age and their condition, they will be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/if-the-american-people-have-their-health-care-paid-for-by-the/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ \[A.J. Muste\] was - he - I don't know what he finally came out believing in, but it was some kind of higher being. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/a-j-muste-was-he-i-don-t-know-what-he-finally-came-out-believing-in/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [That is what is happening with the Tea Parties. I wrote a column called "The Second American Revolution" about the fact that people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/that-is-what-is-happening-with-the-tea-parties-i-wrote-a-column/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [I read like everybody - like every other writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/i-read-like-everybody-like-every-other-writer/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ Margot \[Hentoff\] dislikes Bill Clinton because he's totally untrustworthy, and you really ought to have some faith in whoever's going to be your president. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/margot-hentoff-dislikes-bill-clinton-because-he-s-totally/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) [Explore all 222 Nat Hentoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [We have nothing in our history or position to invite aggression; we have everything to beckon us to the cultivation of relations of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-nothing-in-our-history-or-position-to-invite-aggression-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [I can remember watching MTV Cribs - these amazing houses - and looking around my house where there was no carpet on the floors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/i-can-remember-watching-mtv-cribs-these-amazing-houses-and-looking/) [Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I really like battle ropes. They're so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) Empress Dowager Cixi > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [This is passive-aggression in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-passive-aggression-in-action/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 860 Aggression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why has slamming a ball with a racquet become so obsessive a pleasure for so many of us? 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