Brian Dimsho is a USTA certified official and the resident official of the Orange County Grand Prix.

by MaryAnn

Q: We were allowed only the One can (3 balls) of Game balls to warm up for 5 min for a Double's match lat year when we were playing in a top-gun match. Even pros use 6 balls and they have ball girls/boys to pick up balls for them. What's the real rule and how can we deal with it if an offical gives us different instructions?

A: Warm-up is not practice this time, and is not ment to work on your whole game. It's enough time to get in to your pre match routine. You should have arrived ready to play (stopped off at your club or some other local courts to get your pre match pratice in) We officials are trained to keep things moving during events we enforce the warm-up time set by the Tournament Directors. Brian