Tennis Tips: Recommended Warm Up Routines : Part 2 – Basic Warm-Up Shots
Now you are ready to start hitting some tennis balls! One of the best tennis tips I know is to start just hitting ‘short’ balls with a partner using the service court (the boxes closest to the net).
1) Short-Ball Practice
Use short back swings and concentrate on a smooth shot so that the ball lands in your opponent’s service box. It’s very important to develop control over your ‘short’ game before you move onto longer shots from the baseline. Think smoothness and control and make sure you watch the ball completely to the contact point with the racket, rather than where you want the ball to go (easy to say, but much harder to remember in competitive matches). Repeat this cross court on the forehand side (using diagonal service boxes) and then on the back-hand side. This is a great exercise for developing a short angled shot, which is especially effective in doubles.
After doing this for several minutes, try doing volleys with your opponent using the ‘short court’ to develop control over your volleys. After several minutes, you are ready to move back to the baseline.
2) Baseline strokes and volley practice
Rather than just hitting the ball randomly with your partner, use this time to study their game and look for their strengths and weaknesses. Try and hit the ball deep (close to the baseline) on the forehand and backhand side and see how your opponent deals with these shots. Usually, they will be weaker on the back-hand side, especially with the deep ball so make a mental note of this for your game. Next, have one player approach the net while the other player stays on the baseline so that the net player can practice volleys. If you are volleying, try to practice both deep, short and angled volleys and don’t just hit it back to your opponent otherwise you will find yourself doing this in the game. As the baseline player, play shots to the ‘volleyer’ on both the right and left and study how they cope with these shots. Vary the pace and height of the shots and also try a few “dippers” (a shot that keeps low over the net and drops quickly at your opponents feet).
3) Overhead Shots
Next, practice some over head shots. Have your opponent play the ball high into the air (lob) and then practice your overhead return before the ball bounces. Don’t try and over-hit. Use the same action as your service and keep as relaxed as possible. Practice a few angled overheads during this time.
4) Serves
Now it’s time to practice your serve. Don’t go for your big one straight away! Just serve at about 60% speed and concentrate on smoothness and accuracy. Try and aim serves at all locations in your opponents service box (deeper usually better). One you have warmed your serve up a little, vary the pace and direction so that your opponent is always kept “guessing”. When your opponent is practicing their serve, practice your return of serve so that you have a feel for their serve before the game starts. Having practiced your serve, it’s time to start the game. Make sure you top up on ’Sports’ drink (helps replenish electrolyes lost due to sweating) and water before you start so that you are fully hydrated.
I hope you found these tennis tips on ‘Recommended Warm-Up Routines’ helpful.
