If you want to play your best from the time you hit the courts to the time you leave, spend a few minutes getting your body and mind ready to play.
Most players underestimate the significance of a warmup. That’s your time to get your body and your mind ready to play and avoid;
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- The chance of injury to your cold muscles
- Inability to maintain focus and stay agile throughout the game
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Before you start moving around the court, elevate your heart rate or think of it like huffing and puffing. A great way to do that is walking purposefully, as as fast as you can, or perhaps a light jog, if there’s a distance from the parking lot to the court.
Don’t have that? No problem. Do it on a court or around the court, or even on the sides. Simply start by moving laterally to get your heart rate elevated.
One of my favorite drills is to pick a line and go forward and back over the line. As your body starts to warm up, increase the pace. But think huffing and puffing. Once you’re there, then you’re ready to do some dynamic stretching.
Watch the full video for the five dynamic stretches with a focus on getting your major muscle groups ready to play using the same type of motion, either a circle or a hinge.
Links Mentioned In The Video
5 Minute Warm Up and Dynamic Stretching plan
Beginner’s Guide and 21-Video course
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CJ Johnson
Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)