How To Warm Up For Pickleball

If you’re looking to get into pickleball, you’ll want to ensure you have a good warmup routine. Establishing a good warmup can help you avoid injuries and perform your best during pickleball matches.  One of the best indicators of your performance during your pickleball match is what happens before your match starts. Preparation for most players begins the night before their match. Getting a good night's rest is a must, but it’s also important to wake up in plenty of time to eat a well-rounded breakfast, including a sip or two of a caffeinated beverage, before you’re off to battle it out on the courts. Once you step onto the court, though, it’s possible that your match preparation might turn stale. 

Pickleball is one of the most social sports in the world. The second you step onto the courts, you’re met by friends, competitors, or your teammate, ready to chat about the latest happenings in life. But what starts with a long and fun conversation might result in lost time to prepare for your match! If you’re looking to be competitive, stepping on the court means it’s time for you and your partner to push each other hard to prepare for your match. Watch as Paddle Expert Ben Croft warms up with his partner before their first match of the day:

The “typical" warmup may consist of the following:

• Some casual kitchen dinking
• A handful of third shot drops,
• Maybe some drives and a serve or two.

That said, it can also be a time to take it up a notch and focus on your upcoming match! Instead of just going through the motions of a warmup, here are four things you can do in addition to the above:

1. Push your partner to prepare yourself for what you’ll see in the match to come.
2. Hit your drives a little harder.
3. If your partner floats their third shot drop, bang it back with more force.
4. Hit your dinks to make your partner move around the kitchen and get those feet ready to take on the competition.

The goal isn’t to beat your partner but to push them beyond the typical warmup. If you do this, you’ll likely come out swinging and might jump out to a nice lead to start your game.

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There you have it! We hope that this helps you get ready to play in your next match. As always, if you have any pickleball paddle questions, don't hesitate to contact our friendly Paddle Experts at 866-382-3465, email at experts@justpaddles.com, or you can click here to live chat. We're JustPaddles, and we'll be here for you from Click To Court!