By Chris SimnettOne easy way to tell if someone is a "player" is by how they warm up.
A lot of people who don't understand the game very well smash the ball as hard as they can in the warm up.
Save your winners for the match!!
There is an etiquette for warming up, just as there is for many other parts of this great game (see next post for more on etiquette).
The first rule of the warm up is it should last between five and 10 minutes (five minutes is strictly enforced in tournament play, that's why most tournament players hit for 20 mins to an hour at least an hour before their match). If you're playing a casual match with a friend, or a ladder match where there's no one with a stopwatch timing your warm up, you can warm up for as long as you want. Warming up for more than 20 minutes or so gets boring, however.
Hitting for longer than 20 mintues isn't warming up, it's practicing. You should do some drills and forget the match.
When you're warming up, DON'T hit the ball as hard as you can. Hit it nicely right to your opponent. The idea is to warm up your groudstrokes and let your opponent warm up his at the same time.
After two minutes or so of groundies, one player will come to the net. Hit the ball to the person, let him hit some forehand volleys and backhand volleys. The accepted practice is for the net person to point upwards with his non-racquet hand finger to signal that he wants you to hit him some lobs so he can practice his overhead smash. ALWAYS take some overheads in the warm up! It's the toughest shot in tennis and you'll thank yourself for it in the match the first time you get lobbed!
When hitting lobs in the warm-up, don't hit topspin lobs; hit easy lobs that your opponent can smash.
When hitting overheads, don't smash them for winners, spraying balls all over the court. Hit them so the lobber can get them back and keep hitting you lobs.
After both players have spent a minute or so at the net it's time to serve.
If you return your opponent's serve in the warm-up, don't be surprised if he keeps serving and doesn't let you have a chance. Catch the balls he serves to you. Serve them back when he's finished. Hit 6-9 serves to each service box. Practice some first serves and second serves. After you're finished warming up your serve, you can hit some returns. That lets your opponent know you are ready.
When the warm-up is over, walk to the net and spin a racquet to see who serves first and then get to the match!
WARMING UP FOR DOUBLES
Four people: two balls.
Hit with the player across from you keeping to your side of the court. Warm up the same was in singles, except only use half the court (centre line to doubles line). Please don't have one ball for four players; there's too much standing around that way and not enough warming up.
