At beginner level, points are lost far more often than they are won. The ball goes into the net, into the fence, or both players watch it go through the middle. These twelve habits fix the mistakes that cost new players the most points, and none of them needs a better racket.
During the rally
- 1. Let the ball come off the back glass
- When a ball bounces deep, step back, turn sideways and wait for it to come off the wall. You get an extra half second and an easier ball. Rushing to hit it before the glass is the most common beginner error.
- 2. Play cross-court
- The net is 88 cm high in the middle and 92 cm at the sides, and the diagonal is the longest distance on court. A cross-court ball has more room for error than one down the line.
- 3. Lob when they are at the net
- If both opponents are close to the net, a high lob over them is almost always the right shot. It sends them back and lets your team take the net.
- 4. Aim at the feet, not for winners
- A low ball at the feet of a player at the net forces them to hit up. That is how points are built. Trying to hit through two volleying players usually ends in the fence.
- 5. Call every middle ball
- Say "mine" or "yours" early. When nobody calls, the usual rule is that the player with the forehand in the middle takes it.
Where to stand
- 6. Move as a pair
- Imagine a rope of about three metres between you and your partner. When one goes forward, both go forward. A gap between a player at the net and one at the back is where most points are lost.
- 7. Know your two positions
- Defending: around the service line or a step behind it, giving the back glass room. Attacking: two to three metres from the net, both players level.
- 8. Don't hug the glass
- Standing right against the back wall leaves you no space to let the ball come back. Keep a good racket length or more between you and the glass.
Your game
- 9. Learn one grip
- The continental grip works for almost every shot, so you never have to change grips at the net. Our grip guide shows how to find it.
- 10. Serve for position, not aces
- A steady serve deep into the box, towards the side glass, is worth more than a fast one. The point of serving is to give your team time to take the net.
- 11. Play slightly better players, and book one lesson
- Games against players a level above you teach positioning faster than anything. One lesson with a coach in your first month saves weeks of bad habits, especially with the grip and the back glass.
- 12. Spend on shoes before the racket
- A round racket with a soft core is enough for your first year. Shoes with a padel sole matter more early on, because running shoes slip on the sand.