Padel tips for beginners: master the basics to elevate your game.

You freshly started padel, and you want to improve your game? Don’t move, you are at the right place. In this article, we will share 8 essential padel tips for beginners to help you to progress and enjoy the game better.

Table of contents

1.      Gear up: use the right equipment

2.      Warm up: prepare your body and your mind

3.      Master positioning: the right place at the right time

4.      Dance with the walls: your new best friend

5.      Double trouble: team play and communication

6.      Less is more: finesse over power

7.      Watch padel games: study and analyse the pros

8.      Book lessons: learn from the coaches

Like a surgeon using the right instruments, using the right equipment can make a big difference in your padel experience. Three key things to consider:

• Select a good padel racket that suits your level and playing style. I invite you to read this article for more information about how to choose the best padel racket for beginners.

• Wear specific padel shoes that provide good grip and lateral support.

• Choose some comfortable, light, and breathable sport clothing.

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Would you bake a cake without preheating the oven? No! Just as you wouldn’t put a cake in a cold oven, you shouldn’t start a padel game without a good warm-up. Warming up your body gets your muscles and mind ready for physical activity, preventing injuries (click here to discover the most common padel injuries and how to prevent them) and improving performance. Here is an example of a quick warm-up routine:

• Start with 5-10 minutes of cardio and dynamic stretching.

• Practice some easy shots; forehands, backhands, volleys, and smashes.

• Gradually increase the intensity of your shots.

Not knowing how to position yourself on a padel court is like being at a busy cocktail party where you don’t know anyone. You feel unsure where to stand, and you are often in the way (of your partner). Good positioning on the padel court is key, and it is probably the most common mistake for beginners. Two important notions to avoid this awkward feeling:

• Backcourt position: your base court position, located one big step back from the service line and two big steps from the side glass (see green circle in the picture below).

  From this position, you will have to defend all the grey area on the picture; any ball in there will be yours. The goal when you are in the backcourt position is to take the net, but be patient and wait for the right ball to do it. One mistake to avoid is to move step by step to the net position. You have to do it in one go, avoiding the red zone, where it’s difficult to defend.

• Net position: located at the second post or one step in front of it (see green circle). The goal here is to either finish the point or to keep the net. If you want to finish the point, you can move a little bit forward. If you see that your opponent will try to lob you, you can take a step back. It really depends on the game situation. Same for your side-to-side movements, you might need to step to the right or to the left to reduce the angles.

One of the unique features of padel are the walls. Even if it looks almost impossible at the beginning, don’t make them enemies but learn how to play with them. They will make you win a lot of points. Here are some tips to get more comfortable with them:

• Practice alone hitting the ball against the wall with different power and angles.

• Prepare yourself early enough and try to anticipate the rebounds on the wall.

Padel is played in teams of two, making communication and team spirit crucial. Learning to know your partner’s weaknesses and strengths will help you play more efficiently. Encouragements and positive behaviour are also important.

Another important point is communication; it will be useful to determine who will take which shots or to avoid any confusions. Some simple words like “mine”, “net”, or “backwards” are enough. A good padel pair is synchronised, almost looking like ballet dancers.

Have you ever watched someone playing piano? Padel and piano are similar in a way that you don’t have to hit with power to play a good melody. Both require much more finesse than power. It’s a common beginners’ mistake to use too much power. You are tempted to hit the ball as hard as you can, but control and finesse will be more useful, and here is why:

• Softer shots are easier to control and less likely to result in errors.

• A well-placed shot is often more effective than a powerful one.

• Varying the pace of your shots will disturb your opponent.

Imagine that you have a flat tyre but don’t know how to change it. Like many people, you will watch a YouTube tutorial to learn how to change a tyre. The same will apply if you watch a professional padel game. By observing experienced padel players, you will not only understand their techniques and learn new skills but also appreciate the community aspect of the sport.. Observational learning is a powerful tool that we naturally do since our youngest age. Here's how to make the most of your viewing:

• Focus on players positioning and how they move around the court.

• Watch how and when pros use different shots and strategies in various situations.

While self-learning is valuable, investing in lessons with a qualified padel coach will be very beneficial. The sooner the better, as the coach will teach you how to play padel with its various different padel shots, correcting your technique and preventing bad habits to develop. He will also give advice about tactics, positioning, and strategies. Even a few lessons can improve considerably your game.

Conclusion.

By following these padel tips for beginners, you will improve your game significantly and embrace your padel journey better. But remember, everyone starts as a beginner; it will not be easy at first, but don’t be discouraged. Practice and persistence are your best allies.

Enjoy the game.