For this new column, a theme that is particularly close to my heart: thewarming up au padel.

What is the warm-up for? How to do a good warm-up? What mistakes to avoid? So many questions that I will try to answer.

Very often, too often, practically all the time (!), I see players getting out of their cars and arriving on the pitch directly, without warming up first. Very often, too often, these same players wear bandages, compression socks, ankle supports, etc. Very often, too often, these players hit hard on the first pitch. Very often, all the time (?), the warm-up balls do not exceed 4 exchanges…

You will understand, all this will not help the body, the brain, the muscles to put themselves in the best conditions to approach and start a match or a training session, then.

What to do before entering the field?

First of all, you must try to arrive at least fifteen minutes before the start of your scheduled game. This allows you to jog for a few minutes and work the joints in all directions. That is, making circular movements with the head, shoulders, arms, wrists, hips, ankles, etc.

Active stretching is also a good solution to get the body going.

Another way ? Jump rope of course! There are hundreds of ways to jump rope. This object makes it possible to vary the steps, the rhythms, the intensity. Above all, it makes it possible to raise the body's temperature and to prepare quickly and correctly to play a game or to train. Personally, it's the most fun warm-up I've found (for the moment)… when there's little time or when our coach hasn't prepared a “Rodgeuuuur-style circuit training” for us!

2nd stage, warming up on the pitch

That's it, you start to sweat thanks to a good physical warm-up. Now for the warm up padelistic!

Think that the warm-up has several purposes.

Firstly that of putting you in confidence in your shots! The first rule is to start by engaging in the terrain. Sounds silly, said like that. I know. Very often, too often (definitely), I see players committing either a foul ball or an unplayable ball.

Then, focus on playing in the square, as many shots as possible, varying between forehand and backhand. Remember to move well between shots and do everything to be balanced on the strikes. This will help your body register the right information, and exercise your muscle memory properly.

It will also help you, consciously or unconsciously, to build your confidence!

Second, start passing the ball and playing after the glass. This will heat up your eye in the very first place. In addition, this will allow you to repeat moves that you will find often during your game. Leave one or two panes; play downstairs; play upstairs; play long; play chiquitas; etc

How many of us start a game without having made a single lob during the warm-up? Incredible, I often say to myself! While we will, from the first game, have – and take – the opportunity to make a lob.

Third, warm up at the net. Start by performing centered, long volleys, balanced on your supports. Put the ball in, if possible with a bounce towards your opponent's square line. As you go, try to play fair areas (we will see the tactics of the net game in a future column, we promise!).

Once you are confident in your volleys, ask to warm up on the high balls: bandeja, vibora, smashes.

When you think you're ready, finish your warm-up by serving a few balls in both diagonals (and if possible hitting a few returns). This will allow you, as always, to prepare for the first move you are going to play a few seconds later.

Another goal of the warm-up is to try to see where your opponents' strengths and weaknesses are. To do this, you have to offer them different balls and trajectories. Play long balls, short balls, high balls, low balls, float balls, etc.

This will allow you to highlight the potential strengths and weaknesses of your opponents and to be able to start the match by setting up a tactic/strategy for the upcoming match...

 

¡Que disfruten!

Line Meites

Line Meites is one of the best French players in padel. It's the voice of your live on Padel Magazine. But not only, she also hosts the column “Investigations of the Swiss Army Knife”. Every month, she will come back to a controversy or a theme that is close to her heart.