10 Common Padel Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Fix Them)
10 Common Padel Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Fix Them)
Every padel player makes mistakes when starting out, but knowing the most common pitfalls can accelerate your improvement dramatically.
1. Hitting Too Hard
The mistake: Trying to hit winners with every shot at full power.
The fix: Padel rewards placement over power. The enclosed court means hard shots often bounce off the back glass and set up easy returns. Focus on consistency at 60-70% power.
2. Not Using the Walls
The mistake: Treating glass walls as boundaries instead of playing surfaces.
The fix: Practice letting balls hit the back glass and timing your swing as the ball comes off the wall.
3. Standing Too Far Back
The mistake: Staying at the back of the court like a baseline tennis player.
The fix: The net position is dominant in padel. Every point should be a battle to move forward.
4. Ignoring Your Partner
The mistake: Playing as an individual instead of as a team.
The fix: Move forward and backward together. Call balls in the middle. A coordinated average pair will beat two talented individuals who do not communicate.
5. Poor Serve Technique
The fix: Develop a consistent, well-placed serve with spin. The serve should set up your approach to the net.
6. Taking Eyes Off the Ball
The fix: Watch the ball all the way to contact. Decide where to aim before you swing.
7. Wrong Grip
The fix: The continental grip is the foundation for padel. It allows forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves without changing grip.
8. Lobbing Too Much
The fix: Mix in low shots, angled volleys, and drop shots. Use the lob tactically, not as a default.
9. Tense Grip and Body
The fix: Hold the racket with relaxed fingers, tightening only at contact. Keep knees bent and shoulders relaxed.
10. Not Moving After the Shot
The fix: After every shot, immediately recover to your optimal position. Padel is constant movement between shots.
Fixing even a few of these mistakes will noticeably improve your game. Find a court near you and put these tips into practice.