Prematch Warmup Question

[dsp9753]

When I show up for my USTA doubles matches we always spend roughly 5-10 minutes warming up our shots.

However, I am really really bad at feeding volleys for the other person to warm up on. I use a full western grip and when I take full swings at the shot, it tends to be kind of high and loopy or very fast with tons of top spin. I am basing my bad volley feeds on my opponents weak volley return. They either hit the ball out or dump it into the net. Is it ok to just block back really slow balls back to the other person to warmup on? The pace I hit my balls with is normally much much greater so I don't want to feel like im "gaming" my opponent by feeding him weak volleys to practice on only to hit stronger/faster balls in the game itself.

Or is it normal to hit "weaker" shots during the warm up only to bring out your top game during the match itself?

 

[Aretium]

I tend to hit flatter in warm up at first so i get used to hitting cleanly and obviously with a slower racket speed. Then I build it up slowly.

When feeding the net man I just hit balls with little spin almost with a conti grip on both sides (one hander). I never try to "game" opponents. I will slowly build up speed as they start hitting cleaner and crisper.

 

[heninfan99]

For most the match begins during warm-up, for others they will feed you well and hit with you to groove strokes. Some try to hit winners while others will hit garbage shots.

Anyways, if weaker shots are the best feed you can give than go with that. Don't feel bad. Feeding really well is a pretty advanced skill.

 

[dominikk1985]

I feed much flatter and easier and often hit a 1HBH when feeding. that way I'm consistent and the other guy can hit a lot of volleys in a short time. nothing is more frustrating than a guy hitting Feeds into the net all the time so that you have to warm up volleys for like 5+ minutes.

 

[dsp9753]

Also, how do you guys warm up serve returns? I have tried to warm up my serve returns on my opponents warm up serves but he told me to stop so I did. It seems like no one in USTA warms up their serve return (most important shot for me to warm up). I would rather warm up serve returns then actually hitting ground strokes.

 

[Aretium]

Also, how do you guys warm up serve returns? I have tried to warm up my serve returns on my opponents warm up serves but he told me to stop so I did. It seems like no one in USTA warms up their serve return (most important shot for me to warm up). I would rather warm up serve returns then actually hitting ground strokes.

Yeah this is hard. I have to say I don't like it when someone "warms up" their serve returns when I am serving but I won't tell them to stop. Also I find warming up serve returns for me doesn't work. I can return any serve in practice but in pressure situations it is different.

 

[mikeler]

Also, how do you guys warm up serve returns? I have tried to warm up my serve returns on my opponents warm up serves but he told me to stop so I did. It seems like no one in USTA warms up their serve return (most important shot for me to warm up). I would rather warm up serve returns then actually hitting ground strokes.

Excerpt from the The Code:

WARM-UP
3. Warm-up is not practice. A player should provide the opponent a 5-minute warm-up (ten minutes if there are no ballpersons). If a player refuses to warm up the opponent, the player forfeits the right to a warm-up. Some players confuse warm-up and practice. Each player should make a special effort to hit shots directly to the opponent. (If partners want to warm each other up while their opponents are warming up, they may do so.)

4. Warm-up serves and returns are taken before first serve of match. A player should take all warm-up serves before the first serve of a match. A player who returns serves should return them at a moderate pace in a manner that does not disrupt the server.

http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/15/2. The Code.4.pdf

 

[heninfan99]

...it's also great fun to accidentally hit a lob over his head when the guy is at net to practice volleys.

 

[JavierLW]

Also, how do you guys warm up serve returns? I have tried to warm up my serve returns on my opponents warm up serves but he told me to stop so I did. It seems like no one in USTA warms up their serve return (most important shot for me to warm up). I would rather warm up serve returns then actually hitting ground strokes.

If you only want to warm up returns, then just dont warm up your serve and say you dont want to take any serves.

I usually try to be the one who is done taking serves first so I can hit a couple returns. (hopefully on the said side that I am going to play on for the match)

Otherwise if you intend on taking serves, it's just common courtesy to catch them and then serve them back, otherwise you are disrupting your opponents rhythm.

Which leads to your opening post (I know this is old), yes, the whole point is to warm up your opponent so they can be at their best and be prepared to beat you, just like you would do anything in your power to play your best and beat them. It means more when you win that way, and there is a aspect of tennis that the quality of play is just as important as who wins and loses. (but ya, if they just completely fail, I have to admit I wont be too upset if I win..., but I wont mess up their warm up to do it)

 

[rkelley]

I always looked at the return of serve thing in warm-up as a choice. If the returner wants to practice returns that's fine, but I'm going to serve the balls back. If they want to wail on the return that's fine too. I get more serve warm-up. If they want to catch the serves then they can take some practice serves sooner. Neither is wrong. Neither is impolite. It's just a choice of what they want to warm up, serve or returns. Both are important.

 

[Topspin Shot]

When my opponent is taking volleys, I feed the first ball with a continental grip. After that, I hit my normal strokes at a medium pace but don't attempt to pass him. When my opponent is serving, I generally catch his first warmup serves because those are unrealistically slow and then try to hit a couple serves back to him at the end. Sometimes my opponent does the same; if he catches all my serves, I end up taking a couple fewer warmup serves than he does, but I feel it's worth it to get in a couple practice returns.