Anybody play in a match better than they warm up?

[Hokiez]

I admit, I suck at warming up. I hit balls long, in the net, short, double bounce, all the junk you hate to do when warming up. Even my serve is off. I might get 40% of my warm-up second serves in. If I played like I do in warm-ups I'd get bageled by 3.5's. I think it's because I can't/don't focus during the warm-up.

Come match time, I'm like a different player all together. I can hit the ball where I want from most positions on the court, pick my spots on serves, and generally play pretty decent tennis. I win pretty much all my 4.0 matches (I lost once in the spring league in 8 matches and haven't lost just playing for fun with people on the same team) but in warm-up, I don't look it. I'm not a pusher at all, I hit big top-spin forehands (can flatten it to hit winnders) and backhands (can't flatten this out) and a big serve. I'm not a higher level due to consistency (or lack there of) and I only play once/week or once every other week.

Any other people out there work the same way = crap warmup - good match.

 

[boojay]

Absolutely. My best tennis comes during a match. What's more, I also serve significantly better in a match than when I practice. Just practicing the serve doesn't get me motivated.

Anyway, there's something about a match and the nerves, and the competition that really gets my adrenaline pumping. It gives me such a rush even though it can get quite nerve wracking, but that's why I love it so much--can't get that feeling any other way.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

Warmup is just 'warmup'. ie help loosen up. your best game should come in match.
Most may have issues probably due to match tension and other mental aspects that kind of tighten them up.

I feel very good when playing matches. Usually in warmups i try to just loosen up and try stuff mainly to access opponent. Sometimes one can pick up some opponent preferences and use to advantage.(eg: weak backhand, preferences and early nerves)

I see Tennis like playing Chess and hence always look for ways to break opponent Mentally (within rules of game ofcourse)

 

[rosewell4ever]

I good 10 -15 min warmup for me to get grooved into mine and my OP's shot making. First 1-4min crap! Bear in mind i do play early morning and its winter time where i live. No indoor courts

 

[Grizvok]

I just try to get the feel on my warmup strokes and get loosened up for the most part and not tell my opponent about my game.

 

[goober]

warmup I hit 50%. If the other guy hits to the corner I won't chase it down. I hit only second serves. So yeah I look pretty lame in warmups.

 

[Tanner77]

warmup I hit 50%. If the other guy hits to the corner I won't chase it down. I hit only second serves. So yeah I look pretty lame in warmups.

this shouldn't be what you do actually, i think you should treat warmup such as if you were playing because what if they do it during the match and your not ready for it exactly how you should be. if you chase it down during warmup you could chase it down easier. hitting only seconds serves during warmup is good idea, plus its funny because opponent won't expect the difference so they might stand closer or something.

 

[Mad iX]

No point going all-out in warmups anyway. So nothing wrong with that imo.
I just get my strokes flowing, concentrate on footwork, etc.
Once the match starts you don't want to worry about those. All your focus has to be on the ball.

 

[Tanner77]

not saying go "all-out" just saying that you should move around, i've played people that stand on the middle mark of the baseline and expect you to hit it straight to them everytime and they hit corner shots. so if your moving you get more loose i guess i could say.

 

[goober]

this shouldn't be what you do actually, i think you should treat warmup such as if you were playing because what if they do it during the match and your not ready for it exactly how you should be. if you chase it down during warmup you could chase it down easier. hitting only seconds serves during warmup is good idea, plus its funny because opponent won't expect the difference so they might stand closer or something.

No that is what I do actually. It is not like I am not moving around. My feet are active and I move side to side but I don't chase balls that require a lot of effort to get to. What is the point? If a ball is hit very short I let bounce twice. If it is hit to the corner I let it go unless it is going very slow. I don't try to hit winners- everything is focused on loosening up and correct form.

 

[Tanner77]

i get your point. i also let balls bounce twice but i run some. this is an opiniated question so i understand.

 

[Bodacious DVT]

i cant warm up to save my life. Im OK at groundies and volleys, but when my opponent wants to warm up his volleys, i either dump balls into the net or send them flying over his head. kind of embarassing

 

[dave333]

I play lazy. 2nd serves, no chasing down, no smacking the ball for winners etc.

Its an effective mental and timing effect on opponent; they think they'll have it easy, and change of pace.

 

[Tanner77]

i cant warm up to save my life. Im OK at groundies and volleys, but when my opponent wants to warm up his volleys, i either dump balls into the net or send them flying over his head. kind of embarassing

i do this too, (part about the letting your opponent practice volleys and they fly over his head) i feed really high or to far and ends up a passing shot.

 

[tennisnj]

Anybody play in a match better than they warm up?

Always actually. Granted most warmups I spend the 10 minutes trying to confuse the heck out of my opponents by serving lefty, then righty, hitting 2 hands on both sides, hitting 1 hand on both sides. (Naturally ambidextrous)

 

[Hokiez]

Oh, I'd forgotten about feeding volleys. I look like a 2.0, maybe a 1.5 feeding volleys in warm-up consistently smacking balls off the frame, over the guy, in the net, etc. It's actually embarrassing to be on a court with a 4.0 or 4.5 and can't feed balls right to the guy. Get in the match and I'm blowing passing shots by the guy let and right. I think a big portion of it is I completely lack the ability to hit a 60% shot in either tennis or golf. I'm about a 7 handicap (was as low as a 0/1) but must ensure I don't leave a 40 yard shot and don't get me started on putting. Same in tennis. I'm trying to hit a reasonably paced ball to the guy and not hit it through him, and it seems as if I have only one speed.