1. Warm Up Your Body and Your Brain
Warming up on mini courts (smaller sections of a tennis court) is a great way to prepare for an intense practice or a game. Some people call this mini tennis. Practicing your moves on a smaller section of the tennis court helps warm up your wrists and other joints, your muscles and your mind. You track the ball, coordinate your body, keep your balance and calculate the timing of your shot all very quickly when you play mini tennis.
2. Set Your Serve
Mini courts is a great option to warm up your serve. Stand behind the line closest to the net and serve underhanded to the person across the net, also standing behind the line closest to the net. Lightly volley the ball back and forth without hitting the ball hard. Play to 7, then let the other person serve. This helps you practice your approach at the net, control your play of overheads and volleys and it helps you develop a feel for passing shots and lobs.
3. Two Bounces Mandatory
A great way to practice your footwork and your top spins is using the two bounce warm up with mini courts. Each player stands behind the line closest to the net. Instead of a typical serve, you bounce the ball on your side of the net, and it bounces on the other side of the net in front of the other player. That player then bounces the ball on his side of the net, and it bounces on your side before you hit it back. Keep in mind that you're playing on a smaller court, so you don't need to hit the ball hard. This type of warm up is very similar to the game of ping pong. Play to 7, then allow your opponent to serve.
4. Forward and Backward
Master your footwork, ball control and coordination with the diagonal cross and alternate on mini courts. Each opponent stands behind the line closest to the net, and play begins as normal. However, you both must alternate strokes. Begin with one forehand, the continue with one backhand, then go back to the forehand, and so on. If you play two of the same shot in a row, you lose a point. Play to 7 in one direction, then switch sides and play to 7 again.
5. Nothing But Net
Playing towards the net is key in any tennis game, and you can warm up your technique on mini courts. Stand behind the line closest to the net and let your opponent serve first. She should hit the ball so it bounces on her side, and you should hit the ball before it bounces on your side. However, when you return the ball, it must bounce on your side, and she must hit it before it bounces on her side. Play to 7, then switch and let the other person serve. This is an excellent mini courts warm up to improve your reaction and anticipation when you must play up at the net.
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