Pipe Smoking and Sports

[ziv]

Does pipe smoking affect sports performance, in your experience? I'm talking specifically about cardio sports, like tennis or volleyball or badminton or table tennis, which I love.
For me, I did notice that my performance suffered after I had picked up pipe after a very long hiatus, but I also know that I tend to overthink a lot.

 

[xrundog]

If you’re inhaling, that definitely will affect your wind and endurance. I’ve never inhaled with cigars or pipes. I’ve slowed down a lot the last few years, but before that I worked myself pretty hard and didn’t have any problems. All that said, as one ages, it’s takes work to maintain endurance.

 

[didimauw]

If you went from a non smoker to a pipe smoker, you will probably see your performance drop. But if you go from cigarettes to only pipe, you will see an increase in performance.

 

[ziv]

If you went from a non smoker to a pipe smoker, you will probably see your performance drop. But if you go from cigarettes to only pipe, you will see an increase in performance.

Never been a cigarette smoker - I've had maybe half a dozen cigarettes in my entire life.
Is the drop gonna be permanent, or is my body going to learn to live with nicotine intake?

 

[didimauw]

You'll get used to it. Especially like @xrundog said, inhaling will be your worst enemy.

 

[ziv]

If you’re inhaling, that definitely will affect your wind and endurance. I’ve never inhaled with cigars or pipes. I’ve slowed down a lot the last few years, but before that I worked myself pretty hard and didn’t have any problems. All that said, as one ages, it’s takes work to maintain endurance.

No, I don't inhale, at least not on purpose. Does anyone inhale when smoking a pipe?
The age thing, of course, but when I played after I started smoking, I felt like I was slow and short of breath. There could have been other reasons for that, of course, like not enough sleep or bad food, etc.

 

[RPK]

I participate in 2 kind of sports. Throwing the ball for my dog and upland hunting (walking) behind her in the Fall and Winter. I don't believe that my performance in either of these has been affected by my pipe smoking.

 

[tobakenist]

I started to smoke a Pipe when I was belaying my fellow climber, just to keep my hands warm, in my early day's of climbing it was not called a sport, but to keep myself fit for my climbing I started to cycle, and then racing in cycle races, quiet successful and still puffing on my pipe, only a amateur but not bad. At 69, still fit and still puffing away.

 

[bullet08]

40, 60 and 75. ,Those are the ages researchers found to have most impact in aging. There's sudden drop in every aspect of physical, medical and emotional at those ages. They forgot 42.

I haven't seen any impact from smoking. I usually move as least as possible.

 

[ziv]

I haven't seen any impact from smoking. I usually move as least as possible.

That's one way to address the issue!

 

[Hutch Piper]

I never smoked cigs before a pipe and have not noticed any difference (I do a lot of walking).

 

[spike]

I routinely have my first pipe at 11:30:each day, six hours after getting up.

I play pickleball at noon on Thursday, and can smoke only half a bowl before playing. I haven’t noticed any change in my ( limited) performance.

 

[Streeper541]

I smoke at least three to four pipes a day... Sometimes more. I play hurling and lift weights three to five times a week, and am currently training for strongman competitions. I don't think the pipe affects my performance very much... What really affects my performance is the fact that I'm 44 years old and weigh almost 300 lbs. Just my .02

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Does pipe smoking affect sports performance, in your experience? I'm talking specifically about cardio sports, like tennis or volleyball or badminton or table tennis, which I love.
For me, I did notice that my performance suffered after I had picked up pipe after a very long hiatus, but I also know that I tend to overthink a lot.

You can probably smoke a pipe and play Ping Pong at the same time.

 

[ziv]

You can probably smoke a pipe and play Ping Pong at the same time.

Yeah... except it is not ping pong, it's table tennis, but that's a common misconception.

 

[warren]

I ran my two at lunch time, every desk bound day. I smoke a Camel and my captain, who I ran with, did also. I readily admit getting in shape was tougher as a smoker, took more time and effort. Staying in shape? No big problem.

I was younger then. Don't forget to factor in age when working out.

 

[warren]

A serious table tennis player will make you sweat and pant. A skilled player will quickly wear you out, have you running all over the place.

 

[ziv]

A serious table tennis player will make you sweat and pant. A skilled player will quickly wear you out, have you running all over the place.

Indeed. Very different from the casual basement game that's known as "ping pong" in the US.

 

[kcghost]

Only performance drop I've seen is when you try to smoke and play sports at the same time.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Yeah... except it is not ping pong, it's table tennis, but that's a common misconception.

LOL, they are one and the same. Unless you are trying out for the Olympics I'm not sure I'd worry about pipe smoking and being in shape for Ping Pong but folks should take their hobbies as seriously as they want to take them. Pro football players used to have a cigarette on the sidelines back in the day.

Only you know if smoking a pipe affects anything you do - either smoke 'em and live with the differences, if any, or don't. But someone else saying it did or didn't affect them is really irrelevant to your physiology.