Improving at padel is not about playing more matches — it is about practising with intention. These 10 training tips come from coaches and experienced club players who have seen what actually works for improving padel players at every level.
1. Fix Your Grip Before Everything Else
The continental grip (the same as used for a hammer) is the foundation of all padel shots. If your grip is wrong, every shot built on top of it will be limited.
How to check: Hold your racket like a hammer. The knuckle of your index finger should sit on the top bevel of the handle. This single grip should work for all shots — forehand, backhand, volley and overhead.
Drill: Hit 50 wall shots focusing only on grip position, not power or direction.
2. Master Wall Rebounds First
New padel players panic at wall shots. Advanced players love them. The difference is familiarity.
Solo Wall Drill
- Stand 3 metres from the back glass wall
- Hit the ball gently into the wall at medium height
- Let it bounce once, then hit it back again
- Build a rhythm — aim for 20 consecutive hits without missing
Once you can do 20 easily, increase pace and vary your height. This drill alone will transform your confidence in matches.
3. Improve Footwork With the Side-Step Drill
Good footwork means arriving at the ball early — never late and stretching. Use this drill to build padel-specific footwork:
Side-Step Drill
- Stand in the centre of your half of the court
- Side-step quickly to the right corner — touch the wall
- Side-step back to centre
- Side-step to the left corner — touch the wall
- Repeat for 60 seconds
Do this 3 sets before every session. It trains the lateral movement pattern used constantly in padel.
4. Practise Your Serve Until It Is Automatic
The padel serve is simple but must be reliable. A fault gives the opponent a free point.
Serve Consistency Drill
- Serve 20 balls from the right side, targeting the T (centre of service box)
- Serve 20 balls targeting the wide corner
- Serve 20 balls from the left side with same targets
- Goal: 85%+ accuracy before you consider it match-ready
Key tips:
- Bounce the ball the same way every time
- Keep your toss arm relaxed
- Hit firmly but not at full power — control beats pace every time
5. Net Volley Drills — Your Best Weapon
Since the net position wins points in padel, your net volley must be sharp.
Partner Volley Drill
- Both players stand 1m from the net (one each side)
- Feed the ball softly and volley back and forth
- Keep the ball below net height — flat, controlled punches
- Count consecutive volleys — aim for 30 then 50
Progression: Move to 1.5m back and volley cross-court, then down the line.
6. Lob Accuracy Drill
A good lob is a tactical weapon. A bad lob is a free smash for your opponent.
Target Lob Drill
- Place a marker (cone or racket cover) 1m inside the back glass wall
- From the T-line, lob the ball aiming to land on the marker
- Alternate left and right sides
- Target: 7 out of 10 within 1m of the marker
The goal is depth — a lob that lands short is smashed. A lob that lands deep forces the opponent back and gives you the net.
7. Practise the Bandeja Shot
The bandeja is your answer to being lobbed. Without it, you will lose the net position every time opponents lob you.
Bandeja Drill (With Partner)
- Start at the net
- Partner lobs you over your backhand shoulder
- Turn sideways, move back, prepare the bandeja
- Hit a controlled slice overhead aimed cross-court, low and deep
- Immediately move back to the net
Focus on control not power — the bandeja keeps you in the rally. A failed smash ends it.
8. Cross-Court Consistency Drill
Most errors in padel happen from trying to hit winners when a consistent cross-court ball would win the point anyway.
Cross-Court Drill (With Partner)
- Both players rally cross-court only — forehands to forehands
- Count consecutive successful cross-courts
- Aim for 40 in a row before stopping
- Switch to backhand cross-court and repeat
This drill builds patience, consistency and natural court positioning.
9. Play Points — Not Just Rallies
Many players spend all their practice time rallying casually. But match play demands decision-making under pressure.
Set aside 20 minutes of every practice session to play competitive points from serve — not just rallying. The pressure of a real point forces you to apply your technique when it matters.
Even if you train with a friend casually, play to score on half the balls you hit together.
10. Film Yourself Playing
This is the single fastest way to identify what is actually wrong with your game — rather than what you think is wrong.
Ask a friend to film 15 minutes of your match play. Watch it back and look for:
- Are you at the net enough?
- Is your grip changing on different shots?
- Are you arriving at the ball late (footwork issue)?
- Where are your errors coming from — net or long?
Most players are surprised by what they see. Fix the biggest issue first, then film again in 4 weeks.
Training Schedule for Improvement
| Session | Focus |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | Match play — apply tactics |
| Session 2 | Drills — walls, footwork, volleys |
| Session 3 | Serve + lob accuracy practice |
Three sessions per week with this structure will produce visible improvement within 3–4 weeks. Stay consistent, be patient, and enjoy the process. 🏓
