Pre-Match Warm Up

tacoben

Semi-Pro
Just to impress my junior player daughter, I have finally entered an tournament later in the month, something that I have comtemplated for a long time. I have signed up for 3.5 level play. I was wondering what the 5 minute pre-match warm up is like. Should I expect to do some volleys, overheads aside from the routine rallies like the pros do? Anyway, wish me luck!
 

doubleshack

New User
Good luck in your tournament :)

First, toss for choice: serve, side, defer.

Then, typical warmup includes baseline rallys for a couple minutes. Then one person comes to the net takes some volleys. They finish by asking for a few overheads. Once they go back to the baseline, the other person comes to the net, takes some volleys then asks for some overheads.

Once both players (or all 4 if doubles) are done at the net, take some serves. After serves, begin. Enjoy.

This is just a warm-up, hit nice balls back to your opponent, don't go for winners or crush forehands at them.

Personally, the 5 minutes isn't enough for me, so I typically try to find someone to hit with before the match. Not always possible and you probably will have to hit at a different location as the tournament site will most likely have matches on all courts. But for me, it helps.

Congrats on entering a tournament and good luck, let us know how it goes!
 

Steady Eddy

Legend
Try to get some service practice in during the warmup. Once the match starts you cannot interrupt it for more practice. (In other words, if you're serving 2nd, don't say "practice" and start practicing your serve when it's your turn to serve). Also, when your opponent practices his serve, don't practice your serve return. Instead just collect the balls so that you can serve them back. There' not much time, and you both want to spend it hitting balls, not collecting balls.
 
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