In this column, we are going to give you some simple, but very effective advice: to play padel without risk, playing with more security. The padel is a sport that resembles a game of chess. To succeed quickly in the padel, you have to know not to make mistakes, not to give easy points to the opponent. Let's see how:

Mistakes

We will always distinguish between "direct faults" and "induced faults", although much is said about this, the important thing is to define each of them.

Many times we are faced with a "hard ball", and we can only hand an easy ball to our opponent who will be able to attack. So we have to understand this difference, because if this player, who has a difficult ball, makes a fault, we will call that, of course, a "provoked fault". To distinguish them well, it is a ball which is either too complicated for our current level of play, or which does not allow to make a stroke which could endanger the opponent or at least quite neutral.

Errors where the ball is simple, and we make a fault, then it will be a “direct fault”. Therefore, our goal in the game is:

  • Try to avoid these mistakes, by having safe play zones, especially when we are in defense.
  • Wait for the opportunity of an easier answer, to attempt a strike with greater security.

Have lucidity

It doesn't actually focus on a point won, but that is not part of the logic of the game. That is, when you gain a point by risking too much, which you should not do. A point that you will score once in ten attempts. Indeed, when you get a point, you have to ask yourself the question of the ratio of points gained compared to the number of points lost. Because the purpose of padel is to make fewer faults than the opponent. By reducing your number of faults, you will still have the same technical level, but you will be better.

For this we need to have “leeway”. We have to imagine a zone 9 meters long and 8 meters wide, so this “corridor” between the limits and this zone will be our leeway to play. See image below.

Ditto, to have margin over the net, take a margin from the net, to avoid giving free points to your opponents.

After a nice point, a big mistake

This happens very often during matches of padel. We make the best “shot of our life” and then we foul on an easy ball.

Sometimes, the player after this beautiful point is undoubtedly emotionally different, more optimistic (it ignites in jargon), it is therefore, less focused. And at the same time, the opponent obviously tries to win the next point, often with more intensity. Therefore, it is common that after a very good point, it is possible to have one (or more errors), sometimes even (and worse) a direct return to the net.

Therefore, as you now know, after you or your partner earns a “very nice point”, quickly return to the game, celebrate like a normal point, do not get more euphoric than usual.

Alexis Dutour

Alexis Dutour is passionate about padel. With his training in communication and marketing, he puts his skills at the service of padel to offer us articles that are always very interesting.

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