Watch the Pros Warm-up

[Steady Eddy]

The Women's Wimbledon final is just starting. They are showing the players warming up. Please notice some things. Like when they want to practice overheads, the other player makes an effort to hit to the other. They don't try to hit uber deep lobs that go into the backcourt! Then they keep the ball in play for several more shots.

When they warm-up their serves. The other doesn't try to practice their serve return. This results in time being wasted trying to retrieve balls.

Maybe you don't have the strokes of a champion. That's ok. But there's no excuse for warming up like an idiot, especially if you've played for years.

 

[Topspin Shot]

This is misleading. At Wimbledon both players have already warmed up on the practice courts. If I just got to the courts because I'm not a touring pro, I'll take a couple returns.

 

[johnnyb]

I hate when I'm warming up overheads and volleys and the other guy tries to lob.

 

[Fedinkum]

I hate when I'm warming up overheads and volleys and the other guy tries to lob.

I hate when we do warm up rallies for fun, and the other kills the ball when I keep feeding him nice balls

 

[tennis tom]

But there's no excuse for warming up like an idiot, especially if you've played for years.

True, and I wish that were so, but most rec players have no clue how to warm-up--nor are they interested in learning how to, or learning anything new about tennis. I was watching a dubs team in a tournament warm-up, they were in their 80's. They were clueless, hitting winners off their opponent's slow paced feeds to them--I was embarrassed for them. Most rec players just want to go out there and have "fun". 99% resent any advice, even if they asked for it. I know players who've been playing for 50 or more years and haven't learned a new stroke since gestation.

 

[norcal]

I hate when I'm warming up overheads and volleys and the other guy tries to lob.

How do you warm up an overhead without the guy lobbing? Maybe you mean he hits topspin lobs - that would suck.

 

[Steady Eddy]

How do you warm up an overhead without the guy lobbing? Maybe you mean he hits topspin lobs - that would suck.

Even though it wasn't addresed to me, I'll answer. For overhead practice, it is more of a short high ball, not like a lob you'd want in a match. Some guys don't want you to crush an overhead on them, so they hit them real deep. Sometimes over the baseline!

At the same time, if I'm warming up my overhead, I should make sure to place it back to the feeder, and not hit it as hard as I can. You want to get warmed up, not to try to "win" the warm up.

 

[Steady Eddy]

True, and I wish that were true, but most rec players have no clue how to warm-up--nor are they interested in learning how to properly warm-up, or anything new about tennis. I was watching a dubs team in a tournament, warm-up, one in his 80's and the other 90, and they were clueless, hitting winners off their opponent's slow paced feeds to them--I was embarrassed for them. Most rec players just want to go out there and have "fun". 99% resent any advice, even if they asked for it. I know players who've been playing for 50 to 80 years and haven't learned a new stroke since gestation.

Where I play, when the set begins, the server asks for practice serves. After this delay, the serve eventually goes to someone else, who says "practice", and continues doing practice serves like the first. This happens for the 3rd and 4th servers too. Why not warm up serves in the warm up? It's like they're surprised that they have to serve, and never considered warming it up during the warm up.

I'd like to see the 4th server in Wimbledon doubles say "practice" and start practicing his/her serve before a confused audience.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Where I play, when the set begins, the server asks for practice serves. After this delay, the serve eventually goes to someone else, who says "practice", and continues doing practice serves like the first. This happens for the 3rd and 4th servers too. Why not warm up serves in the warm up? It's like they're surprised that they have to serve, and never considered warming it up during the warm up.

I'd like to see the 4th server in Wimbledon doubles say "practice" and start practicing his/her serve before a confused audience.

Umm... having every player take warm up serves before the match starts has been part of every single USTA match I've ever played. Why are you not doing this?

 

[Steady Eddy]

Umm... having every player take warm up serves before the match starts has been part of every single USTA match I've ever played. Why are you not doing this?

This is where I play. On Saturdays you look for 3 players and join to complete a foursome. It's not USTA, but I'm sure some of the players have been in USTA. They think this is more appropriate for casual play somehow.

 

[tennis tom]

in rec pick/up matches no one practices serves, it's always FBI--and in the desert the ladies are taking FBI on both sides, which makes some sense when you think about it

 

[Carefree]

I hate FBI. If I get my first one in, that's the end of the warm up. The worst is when you warm up serves and they still want to play FBI. WTF?!

I can handle it when guys can't feed very well or rally co-op for warm ups. It's annoying, but I can live with it. As long as the intention is correct. If the intention isn't there, it's the last time I play with them. Same with people who hook line calls.

 

[tennis tom]

I hate FBI.

The worst for me is when they do FBI and after you've played three games the last guy then takes practice serves--then wants FBI too--with no clue or compunctions that he has screwed the other three players who didn't take any practice serves--a TRUE NARCISSIST.

 

[Carefree]

The worst for me is when you do fbi and after you've played three games the last guy then takes practice serves--then fbi--with no clue or compunctions that he has screwed the rest of the dubs who didn't take practice serves--a TRUE NARCISSIST, by the book of Freud.

I've never had to deal with practice serves, then FBI, though people use it like that. I'd rather just warm up, then go for it. We're keeping score starting at the first point, right?

 

[johnnyb]

How do you warm up an overhead without the guy lobbing? Maybe you mean he hits topspin lobs - that would suck.

Yes,that's what I meant. For one to warm up the other has to (try to) hit a ball the one can reach.

I hate when we do warm up rallies for fun, and the other kills the ball when I keep feeding him nice balls

That too!

 

[Angle Queen]

in rec pick/up matches no one practices serves, it's always FBI--and in the desert the ladies are taking FBI on both sides, which makes some sense when you think about it

Just on both sides? LOL. We will sometimes even play it for the entire first game. And...it's rarely an issue since none of us are trying to crush it in practice or a match. It's more about loosening up the shoulder, finding the range for placement and actually playing (rather than accepting a DF). Our favorite though, is what we call a 3-serve start. You have three chances which means you can go for it on your first two (to encourage it) but you'd better get the third one in (to encourage play!).

On the flip side, we've also (purely for fun), played First Return...as that also isn't an element typically practiced in warmups.

While I detest those who try to "win" the warm up, I rarely worry about them. It's the opponent who can (and will) feed me appropriate balls and keep a mini-rally going. They're they ones to watch, as they can put the ball...where I ain't come match time.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I hate FBI. If I get my first one in, that's the end of the warm up. The worst is when you warm up serves and they still want to play FBI. WTF?!

I don't like FBI but for a different reason: I want ample time to warm up my shoulder. Taking one serve and having it go in is not ample. So I'd rather have a definite # of warmup serves rather than relying on FBI. If someone insists on FBI, I'll just miss my definite # of serves on purpose. I'm not risking a shoulder injury to satisfy someone else's timetable.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

While I detest those who try to "win" the warm up, I rarely worry about them. It's the opponent who can (and will) feed me appropriate balls and keep a mini-rally going. They're they ones to watch, as they can put the ball...where I ain't come match time.

Agreed. The ones who show the most control during warmup are typically the most-skilled opponents.

 

[eelhc]

The Women's Wimbledon final is just starting. They are showing the players warming up. Please notice some things. Like when they want to practice overheads, the other player makes an effort to hit to the other. They don't try to hit uber deep lobs that go into the backcourt! Then they keep the ball in play for several more shots.

When they warm-up their serves. The other doesn't try to practice their serve return. This results in time being wasted trying to retrieve balls.

Maybe you don't have the strokes of a champion. That's ok. But there's no excuse for warming up like an idiot, especially if you've played for years.

Nothing worse than guys who try to hit winners during warm-ups and expect you to fetch your errant balls.

I know I'm in for a long day of unsportsmanlike behavior.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[Steady Eddy]

Nothing worse than guys who try to hit winners during warm-ups and expect you to fetch your errant balls.

I know I'm in for a long day of unsportsmanlike behavior.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Or guys (I pretty much only play against men), who return out serves, even if it's 5 feet deep! (I know, that's a pretty bad serve, so I'm already pisted about the serve, now I'm going to have to clear the court of his unnecessary return!)

They always yell, "out". Thanks, I couldn't tell that the serve was out by 5 feet.

 

[heninfan99]

Most can't feed overheads...

 

[Booger]

Do you not realize that the objective of the warm up is to try to WIN the warmup?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Most can't feed overheads...

I can feed an OH if I'm holding the ball. I have a harder time trying to feed when returning an OH. Then again, how often do people practice that shot?

 

[Fxanimator1]

Do you not realize that the objective of the warm up is to try to WIN the warmup?

YES! Now we're cooking, run those ego-maniacs! Lol

 

[Dartagnan64]

The reason I don't warm up like the pros, is I'm an incoordinated hack. I can't hit weak lob after weak lob into the overhead smash zone (except during a real match where I'm suddenly an adept at weak lobs into smash OH zones). Similarly I can't feed to a guy's volley routinely well. It's all I can do to spin a soft FH into the service box on mini tennis.

 

[eelhc]

Or guys (I pretty much only play against men), who return out serves, even if it's 5 feet deep! (I know, that's a pretty bad serve, so I'm already pisted about the serve, now I'm going to have to clear the court of his unnecessary return!)

They always yell, "out". Thanks, I couldn't tell that the serve was out by 5 feet.

Guilty... Even on those long serves, my reflexes act before my brain...

 

[Steady Eddy]

Guilty... Even on those long serves, my reflexes act before my brain...

That is okay. I doubt your reflexes would have done that with my 50 mph serves.

 

[Nostradamus]

I hate FBI. If I get my first one in, that's the end of the warm up. The worst is when you warm up serves and they still want to play FBI. WTF?!

I can handle it when guys can't feed very well or rally co-op for warm ups. It's annoying, but I can live with it. As long as the intention is correct. If the intention isn't there, it's the last time I play with them. Same with people who hook line calls.

Agree, this is typically Lower level guys warmup because they don't want to warm up their serves correctly because they suck and they body hurts......... What they don't realize is that by doing so, their body is really not warmed up and they have higher chance of getting injured

 

[lostinamerica]

I never see the pros warm up with mini tennis. At sectionals, I told an opponent we get 5 minutes and I'm not wasting it on mini tennis. He blew a gasket. The roving up walks up and says 2 minutes as he was yelling about it. I said, we better start serves and then the roving ump says 1 minute. I think we each got about 3 practice serves as he was complaining about not getting his mini-tennis.

If you want to warm up with mini tennis, do it before the actual match.

 

[Nostradamus]

I never see the pros warm up with mini tennis. At sectionals, I told an opponent we get 5 minutes and I'm not wasting it on mini tennis. He blew a gasket. The roving up walks up and says 2 minutes as he was yelling about it. I said, we better start serves and then the roving ump says 1 minute. I think we each got about 3 practice serves as he was complaining about not getting his mini-tennis.

If you want to warm up with mini tennis, do it before the actual match.

there are always dummies that complain about dumb things. don't let dummies bother you. Life is too short............lol

 

[Rjtennis]

I never see the pros warm up with mini tennis. At sectionals, I told an opponent we get 5 minutes and I'm not wasting it on mini tennis. He blew a gasket. The roving up walks up and says 2 minutes as he was yelling about it. I said, we better start serves and then the roving ump says 1 minute. I think we each got about 3 practice serves as he was complaining about not getting his mini-tennis.

If you want to warm up with mini tennis, do it before the actual match.

The pros warm up on the practice court before they get to the match court so that's a bad example. They have already hit balls and are loose by the time u see them on TV. I have seen pros play mini-tennis.

 

[Nostradamus]

The pros warm up on the practice court before they get to the match court so that's a bad example. They have already hit balls and are loose by the time u see them on TV. I have seen pros play mini-tennis.

Why is Mini tennis so necessary ??

 

[eelhc]

Why is Mini tennis so necessary ??

As warm ups I don't think it's necessary but I love playing mini tennis for points as part of practice/drilling.

 

[Rjtennis]

Why is Mini tennis so necessary ??

Not saying it is. It's just not a fair comparison to make with the pros.

 

[lostinamerica]

It is a very fair comparison. We should be warmed up before our actual matches too. Unless there is no court availability, I will be very warm before the match.

Usually, mini tennis was played by the women in the club so they can chit chat. It has found its way into the men's game. I will do it if I am specifically working on short balls and short angles but I get no benefit out of it in a 5 minute warmup. I get no sense for my opponents ball. Your mileage may vary but in my world, a 5 minute should never be wasted on an aspect of the game I will rarely need in a match.

 

[chatt_town]

The Women's Wimbledon final is just starting. They are showing the players warming up. Please notice some things. Like when they want to practice overheads, the other player makes an effort to hit to the other. They don't try to hit uber deep lobs that go into the backcourt! Then they keep the ball in play for several more shots.

When they warm-up their serves. The other doesn't try to practice their serve return. This results in time being wasted trying to retrieve balls.

Maybe you don't have the strokes of a champion. That's ok. But there's no excuse for warming up like an idiot, especially if you've played for years.

and there are some out there brother.

 

[Bluefan75]

I don't like FBI but for a different reason: I want ample time to warm up my shoulder. Taking one serve and having it go in is not ample. So I'd rather have a definite # of warmup serves rather than relying on FBI. If someone insists on FBI, I'll just miss my definite # of serves on purpose. I'm not risking a shoulder injury to satisfy someone else's timetable.

If It's FBI, I will purposely miss my first few long. not killing it, but just the motion. If we're going to do FBI, I'm making sure I get my shoulder loose.

Last time I played doubles, after practicing serves, an old guy wanted FBI as well. "Um, no, we already practiced serves." But he also thinks there is no changeover at the end of a set that is en even total of games. Only so many battles in life worth fighting....

 

[Dartagnan64]

But he also thinks there is no changeover at the end of a set that is en even total of games.

Umm but you don't change sides on a set that ends in even games. Or did you mean no break after a set ends?

 

[kylebarendrick]

When my opponent makes it clear he's trying to win the warm up, I say "I'm good" and go sit down. He can do whatever he wants at that point.

 

[sureshs]

The Women's Wimbledon final is just starting. They are showing the players warming up. Please notice some things. Like when they want to practice overheads, the other player makes an effort to hit to the other. They don't try to hit uber deep lobs that go into the backcourt! Then they keep the ball in play for several more shots.

When they warm-up their serves. The other doesn't try to practice their serve return. This results in time being wasted trying to retrieve balls.

Maybe you don't have the strokes of a champion. That's ok. But there's no excuse for warming up like an idiot, especially if you've played for years.

The ability to hit desired shots is also a skill, not completely present in rec players. It is not easy to feed useful lobs time and again and keep the ball in play. Playing for years does not necessarily help if the contrl is lacking.

 

[Bluefan75]

Umm but you don't change sides on a set that ends in even games. Or did you mean no break after a set ends?

My bad, remembered the post wrong.

 

[kevrol]

I hate when I'm warming up overheads and volleys and the other guy tries to lob.

Sorry man, I'm not trying to lob you in warmups. Just wait til the match starts and I'll feed you plenty of overheads at the net.

 

[WYK]

The Women's Wimbledon final is just starting. They are showing the players warming up. Please notice some things. Like when they want to practice overheads, the other player makes an effort to hit to the other. They don't try to hit uber deep lobs that go into the backcourt! Then they keep the ball in play for several more shots.

When they warm-up their serves. The other doesn't try to practice their serve return. This results in time being wasted trying to retrieve balls.

Maybe you don't have the strokes of a champion. That's ok. But there's no excuse for warming up like an idiot, especially if you've played for years.

I also noticed the lack of grunting...