Prefer to watch the video on this topic instead of reading it? Here’s the link to the YouTube video version.

What’s up! Glad you're here.

Today, you'll learn a quick and effective pickleball warm-up! Our time to get game-ready is limited, so grab your paddles, put on your game face, and let's go!

Introduction: 

Most know the feeling!

You get to the park to play and it’s packed. When it’s your turn to get on court, you want to hit a few balls to warm up but don’t want to hog the court and make people mad. So, what should your warm up look like?

Or… …you just won your first round match at a tournament. 20 minutes later, you get a text message that tells you what court you're on next. You arrive at the court and the ref says you have five minutes to warm up. What do you do with those five minutes? Now, both scenarios are not ideal, but you can still get a good warmup in that time, if you know what to do.

In this blog post, you’ll learn just that.

Before we get into it, it’s crucial to ask the question: What’s the point of the warm-up?

And the answer is: To get touches on the same shots you’ll get most often in the game. 

Always keep that in mind when warming up.

Step 1: Quick Hands Activation 

As soon as you’re on court, start your warm-up with a round of quick hands. Rally with your partner for about 30 seconds to activate your brain and body. After sitting and waiting for a while, this will get you locked-in, right away. This not only warms you up physically but also forces you to get mentally prepared for the match ahead. 

Now, we can’t forget about the intimidation factor. If you and your partner practice quick hands, right away, your opponents will both hear and see that. Your immediate intensity will intimidate them. 

Step 2: Down the Line Dinking 

Now it's time to work on your touch. Start dinking down-the-line. 

An important note: If it’s only you and your partner on the court, take advantage of that. Practice cross-court dinking because as soon as your opponents arrive, they’ll most likely want to hit down the line.

Focus on hitting controlled shots, but don’t be afraid to mix in a speed-up or two. Remember, this is a warm-up, not a competition. So, don't worry about winners – focus on precision.

Step 3: Mid-Court Transition Practice 

Transition to the mid-court area and practice your transition shots. 

Feed your partner some higher balls and work on your touch. This exercise helps you get comfortable with those in-between shots that happen so often in matches.

Step 4: 3rd Shot Drops and Drives from the Baseline 

Move back to near the baseline and alternate between practicing drop shots and drives. 

Remember, if you're working on your third shot drop, ask your partner to give you balls that simulate real game scenarios. Ask for flat and cut balls because that’s most likely what you're going to receive during matches on your third shot drop.

Step 5: Get to the Kitchen 

The goal of this is to work on some reps of getting to the kitchen. 

Your partner can return your serve with whatever kind of shot they want to and you focus on returning balls until you get to the kitchen line.

Time Check and Adaptation: 

Keep track of time during your warm-up. Talk to the ref. If you have more or less than five minutes, you can condense or expand each step accordingly. The goal is to get touches on various shots while respecting the time constraints.

Partner Involvement: 

Remember, your partner is your ally in this warm-up routine. Alternate the focus between you and your partner for each step to ensure both of you get adequate practice.

Finishing Touches: 

As the referee calls out that it's time to take your positions, remember to practice a few serves and returns. You don't want to waste your first serve of the game on a net or long shot.

Conclusion: 

And there you have it – a simple, effective five-minute warm-up routine so you can start when you don't have much time! 

By practicing quick hands, dinking, mid-court transitions, baseline shots, and getting to the kitchen, you'll be well-prepared to dominate on the court. Remember to involve your teammate and adapt this routine based on your available warm-up time.

Best of luck on the court and may this warmup bring you many victories!