Your pre-match serve warm-up routine?

[counterfeit25]

What is your pre-match serve warm-up routine?

For my serve warm-up before a match, generally I to take 6 serves from the deuce side, then 6 serves from the ad side. Then the match begins.

The first 3 serves on the deuce side I am just hitting a basic flat serve slowly, to make sure my shoulder gets loose and I don't hurt myself. Then I hit 3 more flat serves on the deuce side, 3 flat serves on the ad side, and finally 3 second/kick serves on the ad side.

The problem I have is that if I miss any of those 3 warm-up second serves, I don't feel confident with my second serve, and I will start my first service game basically serving my second serve as my first serve, until I feel more confident.

What is your pre-match serve warm-up routine, and how do you think it helps you build your serve confidence through the match?

 

[LeeD]

Hitting the 3 flat warmup serves is a good idea.
Then proceed to hitting controlled second serves till you're ready.
No need to warmup your ready first flat serves.

 

[Edburger]

I think, do not worry about getting in. If anything, try to hit long. Only purpose is warm up motion - so exaggerated serving often better.

Me, I hit couple of slowish flat serves and add more topspin slowly. By end of warmup, hitting even more topspin than 'normal' serve - just getting motion grooved. But still hitting about half serves past service line. Hitting serve long, much better warmup than shallow/net.

If warm up serve motion correctly, accuracy will be fine once match starts.

 

[movdqa]

I start with a left-arm stretch. Then a left-arm stretch with knees bent and body rotation. Then a right-arm stretch in backscratch position first and then extended to the imaginary contact point. And then a few shadow swings. I need to loosen things up at my age.

Then I take practice serves.

 

[Edburger]

Sex before match also helps. Maybe little drink or toke if that your thing.

Getting relaxed, very important to good serving.

 

[The Isomotion31]

a team mate and I do the old sharapova thing before our matches where we throw a football across court to each other. then start serving.

Then when it comes time to "warm up" with an opponent it really is just going through the motions and staying loose.

 

[ProgressoR]

Sex before match also helps. Maybe little drink or toke if that your thing.

Getting relaxed, very important to good serving.

Do you do the sex thing on the side lines whilst your opponent is stretching and warming up?

S

 

[Connors Fan]

Typical 6 serves from both sides. I tend to hit three flat serves on the Ad court to finish. I only do it to warm up the shoulder really.

My Top Spin serve is likely my most reliable shot I have, so I never worry about warming up to get the "fee". We play a lot of first one in, when we play non league doubles, and I just serve the first one in and walk to the other side.

Now, if I didn't warm up for groundstrokes, who knows where those first ones will go!

 

[cjs]

For me, its all about getting the shoulder and body loose and warm. Starting soft, gradually increasing the power. If its a tournament match I'll be stretching and air swinging before the warm up. I also take pride in the warm up in not missing a single practice serve. It gives me a lot of confidence when I go to serve my first game. I focus on timing. Never dump a practice serve into the net, I'd rather hit long.

Most of my tennis injuries have been service related. Usually abdominal muscle strains from going too hard too early.

 

[Silent]

For me it's all about confidence, so I will simply try to get them in. If all goes well, I'll try a little harder on my last one, knowing if I miss, it's just because I was trying for more.

If I'm to miss, I'd rather miss long as well, as usually, missing short means I'm tight or lack confidence.

Do you do the sex thing on the side lines whilst your opponent is stretching and warming up?

S

I believe the sex is with the opponent. Unless it's doubles (mixed or not), then who knows what happens next !

 

[spacediver]

progressive arm circles, then I throw a tennis ball against a wall at higher and higher speeds, then practice some flat serves followed by kickers.

 

[sjoerdklarenbeek]

Everyone has a different body. My shoulder and wrist both need to warm up and I have to get rid of some stiffness before I can serve 100%. Ideally I should do general warming up exercises for 10 minutes without a racket or a ball, such as arm and wrist rotations and gentle stretching. Then first warm up all other shots for about 15 minutes, and then warm up the serve starting with focus on flow of motion, not pace or placement. Then I add focus on ball contact and feel, then placement, then spin and power.

In truth, my serve is often only fully operational after 30-45 minutes (counting from the moment I start warming up). On my amateur level that means it's not fully functioning in the first half set. If I were more serious I'd put in a 1-hour practice session before every match.

 

[TennisCJC]

Sex before match also helps. Maybe little drink or toke if that your thing.

Getting relaxed, very important to good serving.

Is this mixed doubles, men's doubles, women's doubles or all of the above?