If you’re someone who likes playing tennis, no matter if you’re a beginner or a professional player, and you’re looking for quick tennis warm-ups, we got you covered! When it comes to tennis, it is very important to get into shape and prepare before you start playing.
That way, you will not only make sure you perform the best, but you will also minimize the chances of getting injured while you play.
There is no shortage of exercises you can do to practice your tennis skills, including tennis wall drills, footwork drills, and more. However, getting warmed up before the match begins is equally as important, if not more.
That is why we’re here to save you from wasting time and spending an eternity trying to find valuable exercises on your own. Once you go through our list of the top 4 quick and easy tennis warm-ups for adults, you will be ready to start playing like a pro in no time!
Reasons Why Tennis Warm-Ups Are Important
Although tennis is a very popular sport, it’s no secret that it is also quite difficult and requires a lot of practice and dedication. Being a talented player is certainly helpful, but it doesn’t get the job done if you don’t put in the hard work as well.
Since playing tennis is as demanding as it is, it’s essential to pay attention to how you prepare for your matches. Aside from having a healthy diet and practicing your tennis skills, warming up is key. Take a look at the list below to find out why tennis warm-ups are important:
- They prevent the injuries you can potentially get when playing tennis, such as tennis elbow and rotator cuff tears
- Warm-ups boost your chances to beat your opponent since they give you more resilience and get you into the best shape
- They increase blood and oxygen to the muscles which boost the efficiency of movement and help you dominate the court
Top 4 Quick and Easy Tennis Warm-Ups for Adults
1. Tennis Stretches
The first and most important exercise you should do is stretching. It’s essential to target all the muscles in your body and get them ready for the match. Since the match could be very difficult and require quick reactions and movements in almost all directions, your body needs to be ready for it.
If it’s not, you can easily suffer an injury like a pulled muscle. Not only are those injuries very painful and overwhelming, but they can also prove super inconvenient in the long run since they would likely prevent you from playing tennis for a certain period of time.
That is why it’s always better to be safe than sorry and do some tennis stretches beforehand. Look at the list below to see what kind of tennis stretches you should do:
- Wrist and forearm stretch
- Chest and shoulder stretch
- Elbow stretch
- Low lunge twist stretch
- Straight leg march
2. Jumping Rope and Jumping Jack
The next exercises that are crucial to improving your coordination, balance, agility, and speed are jumping rope and jumping jacks. To perform the jumping rope, all you will need is a jump rope.
The exercise is super simple—just jump the rope for a few minutes during your warm-up routine and you will get the most out of it. Even if you don’t own a rope, you can still do this exercise by jogging in place and doing arm circles for a bit.
When it comes to jumping jacks, you can also expect quick and easy exercise. You can start off by doing two sets of 25 jumping jacks, and if you feel like you can increase the number of sets afterward, you totally can.
Just don’t go overboard and risk overwhelming your body—slow but steady wins the race! Also, jumping jacks are excellent for increasing your heart rate and boosting your endurance.
3. Knee Lifts
To increase muscular development, strength, and control in the abdominal muscles, knee lifts are a perfect exercise choice. They are also very beneficial considering that tennis requires full body movement, and the best part is that they are super easy to perform.
All you need to do is stand in place and raise your arms to your hips, then lift your knees to touch them. We suggest starting with 3 sets for about 15-30 seconds at a time.
This exercise is not only great as a warm-up but also if you’re looking for a way to lose weight. It’s known that knee lifts, in addition to other exercises, can burn calories and be your golden ticket to reaching the weight you always dreamed of.
4. Shadowing
The final warm-up we’re going to mention is shadowing. This is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for the match, both physically and mentally. It goes without saying that this is also as quick and easy as it can be.
All you should do is mimic the movements and motions you will perform on the court. This includes serve, forehand, backhand, volleys, and anything else you can think of!
Shadowing is the best way to slow things down and really get into the mindset you need before stepping onto the court. It will help you challenge yourself and your speed, as well as integrate your footwork and strokes into your muscle memory, which will prove super helpful once you start playing against your opponent.
Conclusion
No matter if you’re a beginner or a professional tennis player, warming up before a match is crucial. Not only will warm-ups boost your chances of winning, but they will also minimize the chances of getting hurt while playing.
Aside from that, doing tennis warm-ups helps you hone your tennis skills and get to the top of the game faster! Once you start doing tennis warm-ups before a match, you will see all the difference in your agility, balance, coordination, and speed in record time!
