Pickleball singles is a whole different beast compared to doubles, and that means warming up differently too. If you’re prepping for a singles match with a doubles-style warm-up, you’re missing out on key moves that’ll set you up for success. Today, I’m sharing my singles warm-up routine—do this, and you’ll be better prepared to dominate your next singles day. Let’s get moving!

Before we start, a quick thanks to Super Coffee for sponsoring this post. I kick off every morning with their healthy brew—that’s why I’m so wired and ready to roll!

Step 1: Kitchen Line Warm-Up

Unlike doubles, where I might start off to one side, in singles, my partner and I begin straight ahead at the kitchen line. This gets us dialed into each other’s pace and feel. We keep it light at first—just warming up the body for the start-and-stop chaos singles demands. Gradually, we push each other wider, covering nearly the whole kitchen. It’s all about loosening up and getting those quick-twitch muscles firing.

Step 2: Transition Zone Work

Once I’ve “won” the warm-up (kidding—but I do like to think I edge it out!), I ease back through the transition zone. Singles still involves plenty of shots from this tricky mid-court area, so I don’t skip it. I hit a few balls here to get comfortable moving through this space—key for staying sharp when the real points start.

Step 3: Baseline Drives and Drops

From the baseline, I shift gears. Singles is drive-heavy for me, so I focus more on drives than drops. I’ll mix in a few drops to keep my touch sharp, but it’s mostly about powering those groundstrokes. Here’s where singles warm-ups diverge from doubles—we’re about to add angles.

• Forehand Cross-Court Passing Shots: My partner shifts over, and I work on ripping forehand passing shots cross-court. I’ll sprinkle in some drops here too, keeping it versatile.
• Down-the-Line Forehand: Next, my partner slides in front of me, and I hammer down-the-line passing shots. Precision matters here.
• Backhand Cross-Court: I switch to my backhand side, hitting cross-court. Personally, I lean more on drops from this angle—it’s just how I play.
• Down-the-Line Backhand: Finally, my partner shifts again, and I nail those down-the-line backhands. Too good? Maybe!

Step 4: Baseline-to-Baseline Groundstrokes

After working net-to-baseline shots, we switch it up: both of us at the baseline, trading straight-ahead groundstrokes. Why? Singles rallies often feature both players stuck at the back, and those shots—spin, speed, trajectory—feel different. A handful of these rounds out the shot prep and builds stamina.

Step 5: Three-Shot Drill (Serve, Return, Third)

To cap it off, we run a three-shot drill. It’s simple:

1. I serve.
2. My partner (shoutout to Sam!) returns.
3. I hit my third shot, and Sam catches it—no rally, just the sequence.

We cycle through a few reps, locking in the serve-return-third rhythm. It’s the singles dance: serve to pin them back, return to rush the kitchen, third to seal the deal. A missed shot or two? No biggie—it’s warm-up, not game point.

Why This Works for Singles

This routine’s tailored for singles’ unique demands—more court coverage, heavier drives, and constant movement. It’s not the doubles dink-fest warm-up; it’s a full-body, shot-specific prep. By the end, I’m loose, dialed in, and ready to race to the kitchen or slug it out from the baseline.

Your Turn

That’s my singles warm-up! Curious—what do you include in yours? Drop your steps in the comments—I’d love to hear. If this helped, share it with a friend. Now, go warm up right and crush your next singles match!

Watch on YouTube: Zane Navratil's Singles Prep! How to Drill and Warmup if You're a Singles Player in Pickleball!