Preparation before a league match

Hi Alois and Jeff

Thanks as always for all the hard and interesting work that you produce.

About my question. I am 68 and mainly play in a local league. I have a robot at home. What would be the best preparation for my weekly league match? For your information matches are played on week days starting at 7.30 p.m.. By the way the weather is not like in Australia. We generally play in community halls where the temperature in winter can be quite low.

First point: How do I warm up? You go straight at the table so any warming up must be done when you knock out or during the first set.

Second point: On the day of the match should I have a session on the robot of say half an hour (or longer) at around 5.00 p.m. or is it better to get on the robot the day before and rest on the day of the match?

Please help me! It is a very important point to me.

Kind regards

Filippo

Hi Filippo,

Nice to hear from you.

Preparation is something that you need to tailor to your own needs but I think hitting on the robot on the day of the match is a good idea especially since you don’t get a chance to hit before the match.

The things I would focus on are topspin against backspin and pushing or return of serve if you can set it up on the robot.

You could also do some service practice so that you get the feel for the serve before you start.

As for the time, 5pm sounds good so that you have the feel of the ball when you start.

I would also try to do a good physical warm up just before the match so that your body is ready to go.  That will depend on your own physical abilities but it is important to feel warm and even sweating when you go into the match, especially since the halls may be cold.

In Australia in winter we often play in very cold halls during our main season as well.

Good luck with it.