Rapid Fire Cross Court Warm Ups

I'm fortunate to have a recent opportunity to train with a former Chinese National Team member. It's a bit frustrating, however, that my fitness is at an all time low so I can't get nearly the benefit that's potentially there. When we warm up, she forces me to counter with what I consider very rapid exchanges. I wonder if this is a good warm up. I wonder if she considers this normal pace. Does this seem a bit on the fast side for warm ups? 

Edited by heavyspin - 05/11/2015 at 11:13pm

As far as warm up goes, hitting harder and faster (but still at a controlled pace) would help you drive the ball into the blade's wood a bit more to get clearer feeling in your hand.  This could definitely help warm up your touch in a different way pretty quickly.  Another way to simulate what this is warming up does while alone is to smash a ball out of your hand and into the net, point blank, repeatedly.  There is a training video somewhere out there where I saw Ma Lin doing this same thing.

wow... that's damn fast... I think she is doing just a normal pace (for her). But i think you are handling it well! Hope it's good for you :)

wilkinru wrote: So let me ask - can you communicate with her?

Hey Berndt,

heavyspin wrote: wilkinru wrote: So let me ask - can you communicate with her? She does not speak English but, because of my being an experienced player, we can communicate. It's mostly done in pantomime, for example I make a backspin motion with my racket then point to a spot in the table instead of asking her to serve short underspin to the middle. I decide which drills I'd like to work on. Here's a short clip from a simple drill for me to practice my backhand flip serve return. I requested via signals to have her serve mid depth serves to the middle, and we play out the point after my return. I also pointed to her SP penhold racket for her to use. I think I impressed her a little bit with my running forehand.

Thanks for the comments. My philosophy on playing is consistency first, then speed and power second. I might feel uneasy hitting at a lower accuracy rate, but I think it's good complimentary training as long as I continue to practice my control game with others.

It's my understanding that the women at the higher levels tend to play with fast counter hits more than looping, so that's normal for her. I have hit with a female  ex provincial player and she would warm up like that. I have adopted that kind of warm up as well but can only do it with few people as it is cooperative.  I think the key is to be very controlled with regard to your placement and gradually ramp up the counter hit frequency. This pushes your ability to cycle your your stroke very quickly as well as other things like small footwork adjustments. I notice that she makes a footwork adjustment on every shot even with the fast cycle time. That's a pro level tip in and of itself because she does it even if she only has to move and inch or two. That footwork adjustment means she is less likely to compensate too much with her arm, which in turn makes her stroke extremely consistent. 

The tempo is ok as long as you can handle it , any you can handle it perfect. Fast tempo is good it keeps your reflexes sharp and your focus for the ball also. I believe you can try even faster but with a smaller motion, your technique is very good I noticed that you hit every ball to your sweet spot FH and BH (counterhits and topspins) so you dont have anything to worry about the tempo or your technique.