Former professional player of tennis (world top 180 and French top 25), passionate about paddle and classified No. 11 in France in 2022, Jean-Michel Péquery today supports players of all levels in their mental preparationConvinced that psychological training is as essential as technical or physical work, he shares a series of mental coaching themes. This time, he focuses on an often misunderstood subject: concentration.

What is concentration in padel?

Many players blame themselves for lacking alertness, "dropping out" during matches, or not being "focused enough." But before judging themselves, we must first define what concentration is. For Péquery, concentration is quite simply focus on what interests us.

The problem at paddle, is that many factors come to disturb attention: the score, the playing conditions (wind, sun, floodlights), the behavior of the partner, the public or even the attitude of the opponents. If attention is fixed on a wrong target, concentration quickly becomes an internal enemy.

Two types of concentration: short or long

Contrary to popular belief, there is no single form of concentration. Péquery distinguishes two profiles:

  • La short concentration, that of the sprinter: the player is at 100% on a limited sequence (one point, one volley, one exit from the window), then relaxes for a few seconds before starting again.
  • La long concentration, that of the marathon runner: the player remains continuously focused on his game plan and his overall tactics, without interruption.

The danger arises when the player imposes a type of concentration on himself that is not his own.

Concrete example: fighting against oneself

Jean-Michel Péquery recounts the case of a player who complained of losing concentration as the match progressed. In training, he allowed himself to think about something else between points, without it affecting his game. But in competition, he tried to stay focused from the first point to the last. As a result, he became mentally exhausted after three games.

This player actually had a "sprinter" profile: he had to play each point like a sprint, then take a breather before continuing. By going against his natural style, he was fighting against himself.

Accept and use your concentration style

Some players are more effective with long-term focus, others with short-term focus. The trap is believing there is only one right way to focus.

The key is to to know itself and to accept its own functioning:

  • If you are a sprinter, allow yourself real moments of recovery between points before refocusing.
  • If you are a “marathon runner,” maintain mental continuity by staying anchored in your game plan.

Practical exercise: observe your daily life

To identify your natural style, Péquery advises observing yourself off the field:

  • At school, could you stay focused on an entire subject or did you need to switch from one topic to another?
  • In a discussion, do you always finish a topic or do you often change the subject with "oh, by the way..."?

These clues reveal your concentration style. The important thing isn't to change it, but to embrace it and use it in matches.

Conclusion: directing your attention

La concentration is not about "gritting your teeth" to avoid giving up. It is about focusing your attention on what is useful to your game. The question is therefore not "am I focused enough?" but "do I know what to focus my attention on to perform well?"

To deepen and access practical mental coaching tools, Jean-Michel Péquery offers exclusive content and free webinars via its website: Pequery Coaching – Your mental coach (Home tab).

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Passionate about Padel since 2018 with numerous experiences in communication and content creation, I want to share my passion with you through my writings.

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