How can you improve at padel and take your game to the next level? ·

Improving at padel comes down to six areas, in this order: mastering the three fundamentals (serving, movement and basic shots), learning the sport’s distinctive shots, developing a strategy as a pair, establishing a regular training schedule, playing with different partners and testing yourself in competition. Technique alone is not enough: in padel, positioning and reading the game win more points than power. That is why players whose progress stalls almost always have a tactical problem, not a problem with their strokes.

Key takeaways

• Fundamentals first: an underarm serve played diagonally, movement to cover your side, the forehand, backhand and volée. Without this foundation, the padel-specific shots are of little use.

• The bandeja, vibora and chiquita are the three shots unique to padel. They are what separate recreational players from competitive players.

• Padel is a team sport: communication and coordination with your partner matter just as much as individual technique.

• Recommended schedule: one or two sessions a week for a beginner, more for an intermediate player. Quality is prime; volume comes second.

• A racket that does not suit your level holds back your progress either way: too stif

If you are ready to dive into the exciting world of padel, you are in the right place. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the stages of your development, from mastering the basics to learning more technical shots, and from building a game strategy to structuring your training.

3 fundamentals to master before anything else

To become a competent padel player, it is essential to start by understanding the rules of padel. They govern how a match is played, from serving and rallies to scoring points. A solid understanding of these rules is essential to avoiding common mistakes.

To start improving, it is of course essential to master the basics of the game. Here are some fundamental skills you need to master before focusing on specific techniques:

• The serve: one of the key elements of padel. Learn to serve diagonally, aiming for the opposite service box. You can then vary your serves by adding spin.
• mastering movement. Work on your positioning on court and learn to move quickly to cover your side of the court effectively.
• the basic padel shots: the forehand, backhand and volée. Anticipate the trajectory of the ball and learn to hit it to return it accurately into the opponent's court. 

A useful way to gauge where you stand: our article on padel levels explains the scale used by French clubs, from level 4 to level 9. The three fundamentals above take you from level 4 to level 6.

Developing your technical skills

Once you have acquired these basics, you can gradually focus on various more complex techniques. The serve, which starts each point, can be played in several ways (sliced, flat, against the glass, without the glass…)

Volleys, struck before the ball bounces, are generally played near the net. They help control play and keep pressure on your opponent. There are attacking and defensive volleys for different situations. The powerful smash is used to drive the ball down into your opponent’s side of the court, ideally near the net.

Padel-specific shots: bandeja, vibora and chiquita

You may already have heard the terms bandeja, vibora and chiquita: they are shots used for more complex strategies. 

The bandeja is padel’s signature shot, and one you must master before calling yourself a padel player! The bandeja (Spanish for ‘tray’) is a sliced smash designed to shut down your opponent’s chance to counterattack. You play it when your opponent hits a good lob that rules out an aggressive smash (out by 3 or out by 4), but you do not want to give up the net. Instead, you play a bandeja: a long smash played to the side of your head, slicing through the ball. If the ball hits the glass, the spin will make it stay low, forcing your opponent into a difficult defensive shot. If all goes to plan, your next shot could be decisive. It is typically a shot that buys you time! 

The vibora is another padel-specific shot. It is also a smash played beside the head, but instead of slicing the ball, you brush it to produce a faster, more aggressive shot. The speed of the shot and its rebound off the glass — ideally the side wall followed by the back wall — make it very difficult to anticipate and defend. We have devoted an entire article to the difference between the bandeja and the vibora, because this is central to playing high balls in padel.

Finally, the chiquita is a shot designed to put an opponent at the net under pressure. Played from the back of the court, it forces your opponent to deal with a low, difficult ball. The aim is to play a slow ball that lands just behind the net. If timed and executed well, it forces your opponent to play an upward volée. Anticipate that shot and move forward to finish the point. Ideally, your partner, who knows your game well, will have anticipated it too, leaving your opponents with no options. Add the lob and net play to your repertoire, and you have covered the essentials of a level 7 player’s game.

The importance of equipment

Alongside mastering technical skills, equipment plays an essential role in your progress. The padel racket is the key piece of your kit. Discover the best padel rackets on the market for your playing level and style. The right racket can make a huge difference to your game.

This matters more than you might think. A racket that is too stiff — typically a high-density carbon diamond-shaped racket in the hands of a player who still hits off-centre — punishes every mishit and increases the risk of tendinitis. Conversely, a beginner’s fibreglass racket will eventually hold you back as your swing speed increases: the ball comes off the racket without much pace, and your attacking game suffers. That is the sign that it is time to change your racket. Our guide to choosing your padel racket explains what to look for.

You will also find the essential accessories for improving at padel on our site. From grips and shoes to dedicated sportswear, these items can improve your performance on court.

Developing a game strategy

In padel, success also relies on smart strategy and the ability to adapt to the opposing team. Several strategic approaches can be implemented to optimise your chances of winning points.

The most common strategies

The serve is a key phase for starting the point. It can be used tactically by serving diagonally to create angles, aiming at the glass to make the return more difficult, or playing a sliced serve to prevent the opponent from attacking. Varying your serves is essential to unsettle the opposing team.

The classic strategy is to move quickly towards the net. By positioning yourself near the net, you can dominate by blocking balls and smashing, thereby putting pressure on your opponent. If your opponent is positioned near the net, it may be wise to play lobs to force them to move and make mistakes.

Against an aggressive pair, solid defence can be an effective strategy. Use control volleys and place the ball accurately. Wait for your opponent to make a mistake, then seize the opportunity.

The key: knowing how to adapt

Communication and coordination with your partner are essential to an effective team strategy. Work together to cover the court, coordinate your movements and decide on your tactics. A good understanding with your partner is a major asset. Pay attention to the opposing pair’s strengths and weaknesses, too. Identify and target their weak spots while avoiding the areas where they excel.

As you can see, no single strategy works in every situation. The key is to adapt to the opposing pair, exploit their weaknesses and play intelligently. The more you play and gain experience, the better you will become at developing effective strategies to win points in padel. Two resources can help you structure this work: our guide to doubles strategies and our guide to communication in padel, which explains the signals used by established pairs.

Committing to a training routine

Steady progress in padel requires a regular training routine. To get the most out of your training, it is important to structure your sessions and draw on the right resources. Here are some tips to help you build an effective padel training routine.

Joining a padel club

Joining a padel club is one of the best decisions you can make. Clubs provide an environment that encourages regular play. You will have access to quality courts, training partners, and events and tournaments organised by the club. All this helps you train consistently.

Working with a coach

Joining a club can also give you the chance to work with an experienced padel coach. They can analyse your game and identify your weaknesses. A coach can also teach you advanced techniques and tactics, advise you on strategies for different opponents, and help you choose the padel racket that suits you best. If you are unsure which format to choose, our article on when to take lessons at a padel school compares individual and group lessons.

Drawing inspiration from professional players' routines

Professional padel players have well-established training routines. You can draw on their approach to structure your own training. Watch how they prepare physically and mentally, manage their training time and focus on specific aspects of the game. Amateurs consistently neglect two areas: physical preparation and mental preparation. In a tournament with five matches in one day, endurance, not technique, separates pairs of equal ability.

Choosing the right training pace

But do not overdo it. The right schedule depends on your playing level, goals and availability. Beginners are advised to train at least once or twice a week to develop basic skills. Intermediate players can aim to train more often, while highly competitive players aspiring to a professional level may train daily.

It is important to strike a balance between the quantity and quality of your training. There is no point training excessively at the expense of recovery. Focus on specific, realistic goals, whether that means improving your serves and volleys or building your fitness. Our selection of targeted padel drills offers practical exercises to add to your sessions, while a structured warm-up sets you up for a better first twenty minutes.

Playing with different partners

Playing padel with different partners has several benefits. It exposes you to a range of playing styles, improving your ability to adapt to different situations. Playing with different partners is also likely to teach you new things, tips and tactics.

Communication is essential in padel, and playing with different partners helps you develop signals that work with each of them. Expanding your network can also create opportunities to play at a more competitive level. You will become a more versatile and adaptable player on court. There is one important caveat: if your goal is competition, constantly changing partners is counterproductive. Developing an understanding as a pair, covering for each other and using signals on serve take dozens of hours together. The best compromise is to vary your partners in training and settle on one for tournaments.

Taking part in competitions and tournaments

Finally, competing helps you strengthen your concentration and ability to manage stress, both essential skills for performing under pressure. Facing opponents of different levels exposes you to a range of playing styles and broadens your experience.

Competitions also make you put the strategies and techniques you have practised in training to use, encouraging you to keep improving. Feedback and advice from opponents and coaches can help you identify areas for improvement. Ultimately, competition drives progress by presenting challenges and strengthening your game. To take the plunge, you need an FFT padel licence and a suitable first tournament: the P25 has a group stage and guarantees several matches even if you lose, making it an ideal format for beginners.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to improve at padel?

With one or two sessions a week, most players reach a comfortable level in rallies within three to six months. Moving from recreational to competitive play, however, takes one or two seasons: it is the padel-specific shots and tactical awareness that take time to develop, not the basic shots.

Why has my padel progress stalled?

In the vast majority of cases, the obstacle is tactical rather than technical. Players who plateau can hit the ball well, but position themselves poorly, move to the net at the wrong time or fail to communicate with their partner. Two other common causes are always playing against the same opponents and using a racket that does not suit their current level.

Which shot should you work on first to improve?

The bandeja. It is the shot that lets you hold your position at the net against an opponent’s lob — in other words, keep the initiative. A player who cannot hit a bandeja retreats to the back of the court whenever the ball goes over their head, leaving them stuck in defence and limiting their progress.

Do you need lessons to improve at padel?

Lessons are not essential for learning the fundamentals, which you can pick up through playing. They become valuable for padel-specific shots such as the bandeja and vibora: the movements are counterintuitive and difficult to correct on your own. A few focused individual sessions will generally save you more time than several months of matches with friends.

Summary 

Progress in padel is cumulative: first come the three fundamentals, then the padel-specific shots, followed by pair strategy, consistent training, a variety of partners and, finally, competition. If your progress has stalled, look first at your tactics, positioning and communication with your partner before blaming your shot technique. Make sure your equipment suits your current level, too: a mismatch is the most common obstacle and the easiest to fix.

To take things further, our 7 padel techniques to help you improve complement this article with advice on execution. You will also find all our rackets organised by level in our shop, with padel experts available to speak to directly if you need help choosing.