Padel warm-up: how to properly activate your legs, by Marta Ortega
PADDLE WARM-UP: LEG ACTIVATION
Many factors can influence winning a match. One of them is the warm-up. Warming up before stepping onto the court can be decisive in gaining early advantages and dominating the match. It doesn't matter if you're a professional or playing a casual game with friends. A paddle warm-up, as in most sports, is fundamental and consists of several phases.
'Leg activation' is a key exercise within the warm-up. The lower limbs are the ones that work the most in this sport, and they are also the most prone to injury. Accelerations, changes of pace, jumps, turns... these are movements that involve the legs and require them to be in perfect condition to avoid unnecessary setbacks.
Marta Ortega is one of the players who works on her activation the most due to her explosive game. She acknowledges this in this video, where she shows how to properly activate her legs before her paddle matches.
The Adidas Padel player performs a series of movements without rackets or balls, primarily aiming to mechanize strokes and work her legs. It's a kind of simulated match, alternating runs towards the net and towards the glass. This allows her to warm up and improve her concentration moments before the match.
WHY IS IT KEY?
But why is it essential to perform leg activation during the warm-up? Mainly, this type of exercise prepares us physically for the subsequent activity, and also mentally. Thanks to warming up, we can increase our attention span and motivation.
There are many ways to warm up, and all are valid. The ideal is to alternate exercises, and the warm-up should last approximately 20-25 minutes. However, as you know, leg activation should never be missing.
Don't miss out on these types of warm-up exercises for paddle tennis either.
