noun
preliminary test; trial run; warm-up
Used for a small-scale test or practice before the real thing, often in sports, games, or work. Implies checking one's condition or the situation.
試合の前に小手調べをしてみた。
I did a little warm-up before the match.
新しいソフトの小手調べに、簡単なデータを入力して
As a trial run for the new software, I entered some simple data.
予行演習 is a formal rehearsal or dress rehearsal, whereas 小手調べ is an informal preliminary check.
Compound of 小手 (kote, 'forearm; small hand') and 調べ (shirabe, 'investigation; test'). Originally referred to testing one's skill or condition in a small way, like a preliminary bout in martial arts.