Can you become a renowned coach without having been a top-level player? That's the challenge taken up by Thibault Lalouette, founder of Elite. Padel Academy. After five years spent with the best Spanish and Argentinian coaches, he developed a training method based on statistics, biomechanics and neuroscience, with one objective: to offer a scientific approach to padel, still rare in France. 

 An atypical journey in French padel 

In France, most of the major academies are run by former professional or international players.  Benjamin Tison ,  Loïc The Panse ,  Jean-Thomas Peyrou  or,  Johan Bergeron  embody this tradition.

Conversely,  Thibault Lalouette  claims a completely different background.

Born from the  ice Hockey  then from  golf He never competed at the highest level as a padel player. His choice was to go directly to the source of knowledge by training with the best Spanish and Argentinian coaches.

In five years, he has thus achieved more than  20 trips , visit  15 cities , followed  330 hours of training  and exchanged with  more than 45 international coaches , including several circuit references  Premier Padel .

These include, in particular:

  •  Angel González , voted best coach of the year 2023 and coach of Ari Sánchez  et  Andrea Ustero  ;
  •  Ramiro Choya , former Spanish national team coach who accompanied  Paquito Navarro ,  Juan Lebrón ,  Sanyo Gutiérrez  or,  Álex Ruiz  ;
  •  Paula Eyheraguibel , eight-time world champion;
  •  Jorge Bellmont , former coach of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, now sporting director of  Hexagon Series .

"When you encounter 45 different perspectives on the game, you stop believing and you start to understand."

Elite Padel The Academy is setting up shop in the North, bringing with it the secrets of 45 Spanish coaches, and a unique statistical and biomechanical approach to your game!

 The player's first adversary: ​​a lack of clear thinking 

For  Elite Padel Academy Progress does not begin with technique or power.

It begins with a simple observation: most players misjudge their own level of play.

According to  Thibault Lalouette Many now know that it's necessary to build up points rather than systematically seeking the winning shot. Yet, in the majority of amateur competitions, up until...  P1000 Statistics show that players produce more unforced errors than winning shots.

The coach's objective is therefore first to confront the player with the reality of his performances before engaging in technical work.

Elite Padel Academy: the approach that aims to revolutionize training through statistics, biomechanics, and neuroscience

 A method based on data rather than feelings. 

In contrast to a more intuitive approach,  Elite Padel Academy  bases its work on objective data.

Each shot is analyzed in order to measure its real impact on the progress of the point.

This philosophy notably originates from  CoachMyPadel.com , a platform created in 2025 with several coaches from the circuit  Premier Padel , allowingtactical analysis video matches.

 “Momentum,” a statistic absent from television broadcasts 

The academy has developed its own statistical analysis around one indicator: the  momentum , in other words, control of the exchange.

Each ball is classified into one of the following three categories:

  •  momentum gain  ;
  •  loss of momentum  ;
  •  neutral blow .

The analysis is therefore no longer limited to winning shots or unforced errors alone.

Thanks to a tool based on the artificial intelligence Each strike is also broken down according to:

  • the area of ​​the field;
  • the type of blow;
  • the forehand or backhand side;
  • the different phases of the game (defense, transition, volley, smash…).

Ultimately, the player obtains a very accurate snapshot of their actual influence on the exchanges and can identify the areas where they are losing control of the game.

 When golf inspires padel 

The other pillar of the method rests on the  biomechanics  and the  motor preferences .

Concepts widely developed in disciplines such as  golf  or  tennis , but still very little used in padel.

For  Thibault Lalouette There is no single perfect move that works for all players.

Each athlete has a natural way of using their body according to their motor history, posture, and coordination abilities.

The goal is therefore to adapt the technique to the player, rather than asking the player to reproduce a single model.

 Read part 2: Motor preferences: a still little-known approach in padel 

First private academy present in several clubs in the region, Elite Padel Academy is involved today in the brand new club Padelshot Lille (Hellemmes), at TC Mérignies, and at Padel Campus Arena (Billy-Berclau). Also, at Padel Family Club (Brebières), a group of top 200 players, has been forming with the academy for three months.

Note that there was an internship with Thibault and Angel Gonzalez (coach) Premier Padel by Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero) will take place at Padel(shot Lille on September 26th/27th): contact@elite-padel.fr to participate.  

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