It is essential to warm up the body before performing any physical activities. It is even more crucial when you plan on playing a lengthy tennis match that can last several hours. Warming up the right way will allow you to cover more ground on the court and hit the ball harder. It will also drastically reduce your risk of injury while playing. These are the four best ways to warm up before your next tennis match.
TStretching the entire body is the first thing you need to do before stepping on the court. The goal is to get all of the muscles warmed up before they are used in the match. It is up to you to find the perfect stretching routine. Just make sure to incorporate multiple stretches focusing on the legs, back and upper body. Lunges and hand walks are always a great place to start.
Jumping Exercises
Jumping rope and jumping jacks are perfect exercises for tennis players because they increase your cardio performance while also providing other benefits. Jumping rope is an excellent way to increase speed, agility and balance. The circle motions will also help loosen up the shoulders. You can get similar benefits by doing jumping jacks. Jumping rope for five minutes and a set of 25 jumping jacks will be enough to warm up the body.
Shadow Swings
Shadow swinging is a warm-up drill that has you mimic the actions of a tennis match without using a ball. This allows you to slow everything down to perfect the proper technique on every swing. Practice your serve, forehand, backhand and volley swings for about five minutes. Visualizing potential shots during your shadow swings will also help you mentally prepare for the upcoming match.
Play Mini-Tennis
Mini-tennis started to introduce small children to the sport, but adults can also use them to warm up the body. The mini-tennis drill has two players stand at the edge of the service box on both sides of the court. You will then rally the ball back and forth. This is a perfect way to work on your play at the net without having to use up too much energy.
