Lets say you're warming up against someone for either friendly or competitive play and they only hit slice shots with wicked under spin AND side spin (the kind where the ball almost bounces back towards the net even when hit deep). Is it rude to hit only these shots during warm up or should they make an attempt to feed normal balls to their opponent? I had dealt with this and found it slightly annoying but since all of his shots are like this even during a match, I didn't know if he even knows how to hit a flat or topspin ball. It was just friendly doubles too so I wasn't expecting a great warmup anyways. What do you think?
ettiquette quesiton when warming up
- Thread starter raiden031
- Start date
well he was also trying to warm up and so he had to play his normal way...u didnt try to hit slice to help him warm up right? ...
i mean if he did that during the warmup and then came out firing heavy topspin forehands then it would be obnoxious but if thats how he plays you cant expect him to try and help you warm up at the risk of throwing his own game off
i mean if he did that during the warmup and then came out firing heavy topspin forehands then it would be obnoxious but if thats how he plays you cant expect him to try and help you warm up at the risk of throwing his own game off
I didn't return slices back to him except a few here and there as part of my typical warmup. I actually make an attempt to warm up in a way that allows the longest rallies possible. But its hard to warm up when I'm constantly off balance trying to hit someone's slice shots and start shanking half my warmup shots.
spiderman123
Professional
Don't worry about it. Use it to get your rhythm right for balls hit in this way. Use it to your advantage.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
What level is this? If a lower level, or an old man, then it is expected. But if this is a guy who can play, then that's very poor etiquette. I've never dealt with something like that. If I did, I would probably ask them to please stop playing tennis like they are on the little yellow bus. If they didn't stop, I'd just ignore it. Whey they come up to net to get some volleys, just hit nothing but passing shots and lobs. Seem too rude? Well so was their not letting you warm up. Or if you don't want to do that, I'd just move on to serves.
The guy was a strong 3.0 player maybe around 50 years old. At least he wasn't trying for winners on every shot like some people.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Well that explains it. 3.0 explains everything. He's older, and a lower level, so that is probably how he warms up. Nothing you can do in that case.
Was the 'some people' directed at me?
No, I am talking about people who think they're playing live points when I'm trying to warm up. Yeah I would do the same back to them if it gets the message across.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Oh man, what you mentioned is one of my biggest pet peeves when warming up. Can't stand when someone hits hard to me right off the bat, especially in the winter months when it takes longer to warm up. To me, guys that do that routinely lose. They come in looking for the big mental advantage early, and end up getting tooled. The whole point of warm-up (aside from warming up) is to size up your opponent. I always laugh when I warm-up with someone like this because they are letting me know 'Look at me! Look at me! Aren't I good?!', instead of looking for my weaknesses.
LuckyR
Legend
Luckily this issue is a minor one if an issue at all. Either this is a social (meaningless) match, in which case it doesn't matter. Or it is a serious match, in which case you have already warmed up before showing up for the match.
Applesauceman
Semi-Pro
I never use my big serves during warm-ups, there's no point in tipping my hand, and using my second serve helps relax my arm and get myself in the correct service motion. Plus, it's more fun to see the expression on their face when I bring out the big serve during match play.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
That sounds like the time to warm up your footwork and balance.
People hit all kinds of weirdo stuff in warm-up, at my level at least. They usually hit the same way in their matches.
fe6250
Semi-Pro
We have a guy who fits this description well at our club too and I can't stand to warm up with him because that is all he can hit (and he's a 4.0!). Since I play mostly doubles, if I play this guy I warm up with my partner and explain to the opponents that we have a 'routine'. It sometimes gets some funny looks, but is worth it in order to get loose. Before we start we switch and warm up so I can get a look at some of his odd shots.
shell
Professional
Yes, I think this is really the case. The warmup isn't really to warm you up, because you should come out already prepared to play. But it is frustrating to not see the other players shot potential. I might call it a bit of gamesmanship though - fair but annoying.
"The Code," which is the summary of procedures and guidelines that all players should follow based on tradition and custom, covers warm-up. It states that players should provide warm-up time for their opponent and that warm-up and practice should not be confused. It also states that "each player should make a special effort to hit shots directly to the opponent." It states also that as far as warm-up serves and returns are concerned that a player should take all warm-up servies before the first serve of the match and if a player returns serves, they shuld be returned at a "moderate pace in a manner that does not disrupt the server."
The Code can be found in Friend At Court, the tennis rules & regulations handbook.
The Code can be found in Friend At Court, the tennis rules & regulations handbook.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
The warm-up is the only warm-up you get around here in the winter months. It is a shame to waste it.
I was severely annoyed at my opponents last night. My partner and I took the court on time. Our opponents weren't there, so we started warming each other up. It was a full seven minutes before the opponents were ready to play, what with them putting in their pony tails, stripping off their sweats, adjusting their what's it. My partner and I had done everything but the serves when they wanted to warm up short.
I didn't know what to do about this. Our matches are 90-minutes timed, so every minute matters. The rules allow for a 10 minute warm-up, with five minutes for players who arrive late. If we were supposed to start at 8:30 and they ambled onto the court at 8:37, I figure they get until 8:42 to warm up. Trouble was, my partner and I couldn't serve with them warming up short and hitting groundstrokes and overheads. So we wound up starting the match very late.
Like I said, I didn't know what to do. Anyone?
LuckyR
Legend
Ultimately you cannot change other people's behavior.
spiderman123
Professional
Why couldn't you do your warm-up serves with your partner when they were warming up with crosscourt groundstrokes against each other?
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
It never occurred to me. You mean, we serve down the line, or we require them to hit cross-court?
saram
Legend
I am very blunt with people. If someone is out there to hit winners during warm-up, I just tell them that if they are going to hit winners during warm-up, then let's just play. If they continue to hit winners during warm-up, I just start blasting everything off the back fence behind them. If they ask what I'm doing, I'll share that if they are not willing to allow me to warm up then I'll deny them the same thing.
Sure, it causes some tension, but gets my point across quickly. And, I kinda like tension when I'm playing...I hit a little harder if I'm upset with the guy across the net.
Sure, it causes some tension, but gets my point across quickly. And, I kinda like tension when I'm playing...I hit a little harder if I'm upset with the guy across the net.
spiderman123
Professional
You require them to hit cross-court. You are the ones who just need to practise serves so you can definitely request this.
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
I once warmed up with a guy who did this (hit winner and drop shots in warmup).
After feeding him the first three balls, and his subsequent winners>>> I walked over and picked up all three balls again, and then handed them to him.
When he fed me the three balls, I hit 3 winners on him, and then said>> I'm ready and walked off the court to get water. He was royally pissed, and told me he wasn't warmed up. I took this opportunity to tell him I was not going to be his personal "ball-boy", and that I had already warmed up against the wall before the match.
did not go well for him, as I refused to warm him up.
A.Davidson
Semi-Pro
I think you should FEED normal balls (average height, distance, pace, and topspin), but after that, I think the line blurs.
I guess you should do what you're comfortable doing, but sometimes in can get out of hand...
I guess you should do what you're comfortable doing, but sometimes in can get out of hand...
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