Are the best padel players those who master the game before the glass?

At the microphone Padel Magazine, Julien Seurin asked a question that deserves reflection: “The best padel players today are those who master the game before the glass.” A sentence that may seem surprising to some, given that padel has historically been a sport of building and patience from the ground up. But upon closer inspection, this analysis highlights a turning point in professional padel.

Mastering the basics: a necessity

Before excelling before the glass, it is essential to learn to play padel , in all its dimensions: defending with the glass, lobbing well, controlling rebounds, mastering the chiquita, smashes, side and baseline glass… This is the foundation. If you don't know how to defend well, the opponent will see it immediately. You make a positioning error? He'll play on it. You don't like balls after the glass? He'll send you there all game.

At the amateur or intermediate level, this is often where matches are won or lost.

Among the pros, the difference is made elsewhere

Corn (Mais) among professionals , that's another story. The best all know how to defend with exceptional quality. They are so strong in the fundamentals of padel that it becomes very difficult to make points on these aspects of the game. So they look elsewhere.

The game before the glass, a key area in modern padel

And this “elsewhere” is the game before the glass , in the transition zone. This is where the Gallant , Wall , Chingotto ou Lebron excellent. They sense the right moment to get into the ball, accelerate as soon as a ball floats , anticipate the tempo, volley low, play under the net. They take the advantage even before they arrive at the volley.

Julien Seurin sums it up perfectly: the best today are those who know very well hurt from the transition , who win points through their playing intelligence, their intensity and their reading in this pivotal area.

The conclusion: dominate, not just resist

Ultimately, in very high level padel, mastering the basics may no longer be enough You have to learn to dominate before the glass. Those who succeed become the bosses of the circuit.

And do you agree with this observation?

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !