You can't use twenty tips in your second game of padel. You can use one or two. So here are ten, sorted by how fast they pay off, each tagged with the session I'd try it in.
I started playing about two and a half years ago. Looking back, the tips that helped first were the boring ones. The fancy shots can wait.
Where a tip comes from the LTA's coaching pages, I've said so. The session numbers are my own suggestion, so move faster if something clicks. If you haven't played at all yet, start with my guide to your first padel session, which covers what to bring and what to expect.
The plan at a glance
| # | Tip | Try it in | Pays off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shorten your swing | Session 1 | Straight away |
| 2 | Racket up, small steps | Session 1 | Straight away |
| 3 | Call every ball | Session 1 | Straight away |
| 4 | Use the service line to decide | Session 2 | Within a game or two |
| 5 | Serve deep, not hard | Session 2 | Within a game or two |
| 6 | Touch it back off the glass | Session 3 | Over a few sessions |
| 7 | Move as a pair | Session 3 | Over a few sessions |
| 8 | Lob when you're stuck at the back | Sessions 4 and 5 | Changes how you play |
| 9 | Volley short and in front | Sessions 4 and 5 | Changes how you play |
| 10 | Leave the bandeja for later | Session 6 and on | Long term |
Session 1: three tips that work straight away
1. Shorten your swing
Big swings feel natural, especially if you've played tennis. The LTA's beginner advice is a short backswing on both sides, because padel is more about accuracy and placement than power. A shorter swing means you react quicker to the next ball and keep more control of this one. Think push, not whack.
Coming from tennis? My padel vs tennis guide covers what carries over and what to drop.
2. Racket up, small steps
Between shots, hold the racket up in front of you, not dangling by your knee. The LTA suggests lots of short side steps and staying on your toes so you can push off either way. Padel happens fast and close to the net. A racket that's already up is half the shot done.
3. Call every ball
One ball down the middle, both of you leave it. Say "mine" or "yours" every time, early and out loud. Communicating with your partner is on the LTA's short list of tips to remember. It costs nothing and wins you points from your very first game.
Session 2: tips that pay off within a game or two
4. Use the service line to decide
This is the most useful idea I've found on the LTA's pages. Watch where the ball bounces on your side. If it lands before the service line, play it without the glass. If it lands past the service line, let it hit the back glass and play it as it comes off. The LTA calls the service line a decision line. A slow ball gives you time to hit off the bounce. A fast one, you wait for the wall.
The LTA even has a drill for it. You get a yellow card the first time you play a deep ball before it reaches the glass, and a red card, which loses you the point, if you do it again in the same rally. Try it with your four. It's harsh and it works.
5. Serve deep, not hard
The padel serve is hit underarm, so new players either pat it in or try to belt it. The LTA's serving guide says go for placement over power and land it as deep in the service box as you can. It also calls a serve into the side glass effective at every level. Serve, then move up towards the net.
Session 3: tips that take a few sessions to land
6. Touch it back off the glass
Your first balls off the back glass will feel strange. The LTA breaks it down: turn side on, get the racket back early, get low and swing from low to high. Don't add pace. After the rebound the ball is already heading towards the net, so you only need to touch it over. Give yourself space, so your ready position lets you change direction, and move much closer to the glass for slower balls.
The LTA's advice for beginners is to use the glass as much as possible. I'd add one thing. Expect to look daft for a few weeks. Everyone does.
7. Move as a pair
The LTA says the best teams move around the court together to cover the space. If your partner goes up to the net, go with them. If they get pushed back, drop back too. One up and one back leaves a big hole down the middle, and decent opponents will find it.
Sessions 4 and 5: the shots that change your game
8. Lob when you're stuck at the back
Beginners hardly ever lob. They should. The LTA calls the lob one of the most effective ways to counter opponents who are volleying at the net, and the shot to play when you're under pressure at the back.
How to hit it, from the LTA's lob guide:
- Get sideways early with the racket back.
- Open the racket face so it points more towards the sky.
- Swing from low to high and push up through the ball with your legs.
- Aim for a bounce just beyond the service line and short of the back glass.
- Go cross court where you can. It gives you more room for error.
A good lob pushes them off the net and buys you time to take it over.
9. Volley short and in front
Once you're at the net, keep the racket at the height you'll hit the ball. Short backswing. Meet the ball out in front of your body and step in with your opposite foot. The LTA describes three volleys by feel: a block for fast balls, a push to send it deep when you get an easier ball, and a "fizz" with spin, like slice, for slower ones. Most of yours will be blocks and pushes for a while. Control first.
Session 6 and beyond: what to leave for later
10. Leave the bandeja for later
You'll see better players hit an overhead that seems to float and die. That's the bandeja, which the LTA describes as a smash with underspin to reduce the bounce. It's worth learning, ideally with a coach. But it does little for you until tips 1 to 9 are habits. Get your lob working first. The overheads will come.
Two drills for between sessions
Both are from the LTA's beginner page, and neither needs a coach.
- At home: tap a ball up in the air on your racket. Once that's easy, switch sides of the racket on every tap. If you have an outside wall, volley against it.
- On court with one mate: rally on half a court, one of you at the net and one at the back. Count how long the rally lasts, then beat it. To make it harder, let every ball that bounces on or past the service line hit the back glass first.
The one bit of kit that helps from session one
A slippy handle undoes everything above. When your grip feels damp and you catch yourself squeezing harder to hold on, wrap a fresh overgrip over it (here's how to fit one). Our overgrips are sweat-absorbing and easy to put on. They're £7 for a 3-pack or £12 for six. Keep a pack in your bag.
For what to actually play in, see my guide to what to wear for padel.
Then there's the bit after. You'll be warm, sweaty and replaying that one lob for the rest of the evening. That's where our heavyweight tees come in: 305 g/m2 cotton with an oversized fit, made for off court rather than the match itself. Size down if you want a regular fit. Any two £48 tees are £90 at checkout.
See you on court.
FAQ
What's the biggest mistake beginners make in padel? Hitting too hard. Padel rewards control. The LTA's beginner advice puts accuracy and placement ahead of power, with a short backswing on both sides. Slow down and more balls go in.
Should I let the ball hit the back glass or play it before? Use the service line. If the ball bounces before it, play it. If it bounces past it, let it come off the glass first. The LTA calls this the decision line, and it settles most of the early confusion.
When should a beginner lob? When you're stuck at the back and your opponents are at the net. Aim cross court, with a bounce just past the service line and short of the back glass. Then move forward with your partner.
Can I practise padel at home? A little, yes. Tap a ball up on your racket and alternate the sides. If you have an outside wall, the LTA suggests volleying against it.
