A lot of padel players come from a background of playing tennis.
Many are drawn to padel as a fresh challenge, or they have perhaps hit a plateau in their tennis and want to see what all the hype is about with padel.
Whilst padel and tennis are obviously both racket sports and experienced tennis players arguably have an advantage over those who have never played a racket sport, padel does have its unique dynamics and there is definitely something new to learn for seasoned tennis players.
We wanted to share some thoughts to help those who are interested in padel and coming from a tennis background.
The basics of padel
Padel is played on a smaller, enclosed court with walls that are a fundamental part of the sport. Many think of padel as a blend of squash and tennis, due to the use of the walls.
The equipment includes a solid, perforated racket and a lower-pressure ball when compared to tennis.
You serve underhanded in padel, and you must bounce the ball before hitting it. Rallies tend to be longer in padel, and strategy / positioning is much more important than raw power.
The scoring system is identical to tennis, but the gameplay emphasizes strategy and teamwork, making it more inclusive and social.
How to adapt your tennis skills to padel
Most tennis players will find the transition straightforward, but here are some tips to help you:
1. Adjust your strokes
- Forehand / backhand: The smaller racket and walls require shorter, more compact and controlled swings. Focus on placement over power.
- Volleys: These are crucial in padel. Use soft hands and precision to dominate at the net.
- Overheads: Unlike tennis, there are a variety of different overheads in padel depending on where you are on the court, and where you opponenets are stood. Overheads often involve setting up your next shot rather than trying to win the point outright.
2. Embrace the wall
- Learning to use the walls is the biggest adjustment that is needed for tennis players. Resist the urge to volley everything. Practice letting the ball bounce off the walls to change the momentum and position yourself to return effectively. It’s a critical skill that adds depth and strategy to the game.
3. Refine your serve
- The underarm serve in padel can feel very odd at first. Practice makes perfect, and you will soon feel that it is natural. Power is less important than in tennis. Focus on placement near the side glass with some backspin to keep the ball low and create opportunities right from the start.
4. Focus on positioning and teamwork
- Successful padel is all about playing as a team. Success in padel demands excellent communication with your partner and the ability to move in synergy to maintain optimal court coverage. Tennis is typically more about individual brilliance, whereas padel is all about great teamwork.
5. Consider having lessons
- Whilst you may feel too proud to go back to tuition if you are a tennis legend, some professional help will greatly speed up your transition. You will gain valuable insights into the techniques that are specific to padel and avoid developing bad habits that stem from your tennis. Come and chat to one of our coaches to see how they can help.
What are you waiting for?
We love tennis, and there is no reason why you cannot continue to enjoy both sports. Come along to Padel39 and experience padel for yourself - you need to try it to see why it is so popular amongst tennis players.
