In padel, everyone knows it: technique and physical condition count for a lot. But what makes the difference in decisive moments isn't always the forehand or the volley... it's the header. The mental aspect is becoming the new frontier of performance. Agustín Gutiérrez puts it bluntly: “Mental strength is the most important thing.”

The focus that changes everything

Staying focused means reading lines faster, anticipating your partner's reactions, managing the sometimes unpredictable rebounds from the glass... and above all, staying calm when the tension mounts. It's not a gift reserved for a select few: like the forehand or the smash, it can be trained.

For a long time, measuring a player's attention span during a match was the stuff of science fiction. Today, tools exist. Simple and accessible, they track sleep, stress, and the ability to release pressure. This data, combined with the physiological trackers already in use, opens a new era.

Research that confirms

In Turin, a university team worked with Sporthype and Holytics to validate a model for analyzing the mental focus in padel. Objective: to better understand what allows us to enter this famous “state of flow,” when everything becomes fluid, natural, almost automatic. And good news: yes, this state is measurable. And therefore… improvable.

Figures that speak volumes

  • 96% professional athletes know at least one mental preparation technique.
  • More than 30% European athletes aged 18 to 35 believe that mental training will be even more crucial tomorrow.
  • More than half of the best players believe that there are not enough tools in this area yet.
  • In a study of 1,200 athletes, 71% of those who used mental techniques in rehabilitation reported recovering faster.

The future is already here

Holytics goes further: its system does not just measure, it provides a immediate feedbackLike a virtual coach, it indicates whether the player is approaching their ideal mental state and suggests targeted exercises. And soon, the device could also be used to prevent injuries.

The message is clear: tomorrow's padel will be played as much in the mind as on the court. The next decisive point may not depend on your smash... but on your focus.

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