Although Padel dates back to the 1960s, its popularity has exploded in recent years, and there are a lot of newcomers to the sport having fun on the court. 

Although it is easy to get started with the basics of padel, there are several common pitfalls that we see beginners making, which will slow down your progression to becoming a great padel player. 

In this blog, we wanted to share some of the more common mistakes beginners make in padel and provide practical tips on how to avoid them.

Ignoring The Walls

Many padel players in the US have previously played tennis or pickleball. We have written before about the transition from tennis to padel, but a unique feature of padel is learning to use the walls as a part of your game. 

Conquering the walls is especially alien to experienced tennis and pickleball players. Most beginners overlook the strategic benefits of harnessing the use of the walls on a padel court.

Padel39 team tips:

• Watch experienced players to learn how and when they use the walls defensively and offensively.
• Spend time practicing handling wall back and side rebounds to understand how the ball behaves. Given the variables of direction, height, speed, and spin on the incoming ball, It is a case of ‘practice makes perfect.’
• Experiment with a coach, partner, or ball machine to handle shots with different angles and speeds to improve your confidence with wall shots. Work to bring the racket back early and low, to consistently deep lobs off the back wall.

Overhitting The Ball

Another common problem amongst newcomers, especially those from other racket sports, is the desire to hit the ball as hard as possible. 

Padel is not definitely about sheer power. Beginners who try to knock the felt off the ball will tend to make more errors and miss out on the strategic opportunities that the sport offers.

Padel39 team tips:

• Focus on placement and control rather than raw power. Padel is a game of errors, not winners.
• Practice delivering controlled tactical shots to move the opponents and keep the ball in play.
• Understand the importance of finesse; a well-placed shot often trumps a powerful one.

Lack Of Communication 

One of padel’s greatest strengths is the inherently social nature of the sport and the fun you will have on the court. 

It is almost exclusively played as a doubles game, so you have a ready-made friend on your side of the net. Communication with your partner is, however, something that you will not necessarily master as a beginner, and this can lead to a degree of confusion. 

If you watch experienced players, you will see or hear a constant stream of communication, and each pair will act in unison. This is not always the case with those who are new to padel.

Padel39 team tips:

• Communicate clearly with your partner about what your opponents are doing (ie. “both up,” “both back”), and if the ball is down the middle, who will take the shot (often the person with the forehand).
• Develop an initial strategy together and develop it during the game.
• Use simple phrases like “Mine” or “Yours” to avoid ambiguity during fast-paced rallies.
• Unlike tennis, where you can only talk when the ball is coming towards you, in padel, you can talk throughout (provided you are not creating a hindrance).

Standing Too Close To The Net

Another common mistake with inexperienced padel players is too quickly moving to the net and/or positioning yourself too close to the net. 

Not only does this reduce the reaction time you have to hit the perfect volley, but you are also more vulnerable to lobs, which are key to advanced padel. 

With more time on court, you will find the optimum balance, but avoid the temptation to rush to the net in your early padel playing career.

Padel39 team tips:

• Maintain a balanced position, approximately 6-8ft back behind the net - or just behind the service line.
• Stay alert and active. Adjust your position based on your opponent’s play and/or where your partner is.
• Practice moving forward and backward dynamically to find the optimal positioning during rallies.

Rushing Points

Experienced players will appear as if they have all the time in the world and will be able to execute *their* strategy. 

Conversely, beginners will often feel like they are always out of control and reacting late to their opponent’s shots, leading to a sense of panic and numerous errors. 

This will come naturally over time, and there is simply no substitute for time on the court, but you should always try to reflect on gameplay and learn more about match craft to avoid rushing points.

Padel39 team tips:

• Breathe. Take your time in and between points. You have more time than you think with the back wall, especially.
• Pay close attention to your opponent’s positioning and racket movement. Practice reading the game to anticipate where the ball will go.
• Be patient and wait for the right opportunity to attack. Focus on building a point, rather than rushing it, and force your opponents to make the mistakes.
• Understand that consistency so often beats aggression in padel.

Physical Conditioning

Padel is typically a sport that is gentle on your body, and injuries are (thankfully) very rare. 

As with any physical activity, you should consider your physical preparation, and neglecting to warm up / cool down after stepping on the court will increase the potential risk and impact your physical performance. 

Padel39 team tips:

• Spend 5-10 minutes warming up with light exercises and stretches before playing.
• Cool down with stretches to improve recovery and maintain flexibility.
• Include dynamic stretches before playing and static stretches after to target key muscle groups.

Conclusion

It is always fun to learn something new, and you will have an amazing time playing padel. 

We hope that sharing some of the common mistakes we see will help you avoid potential pitfalls and accelerate your improvement and enjoyment of padel. 

Focus on mastering the basics, practice regularly, and don’t be afraid to seek advice from more experienced players or any of the Padel39 coaching team - we are here to help you. Most importantly, remember to have fun on the court!

By avoiding these mistakes and adopting the right techniques, you’ll be on your way to becoming a confident and skilled padel player. Whether you’re playing casually or aiming to compete, the journey of learning and improving is what makes padel such an enjoyable sport.