WPT Analysis -The Par 3: rare, but profitable

We analyzed several matches of the World Padel Tour and noticed that the Par 3 is little used but that it remains very profitable.

Par 3 in disuse on the WPT?

There was a time when Par 3 was one of the flagship hits on the World Padel Tour. But over the years, players have become experts in runway excursions, which makes this blow risky if used a lot, because the defenders anticipate and have a chance to win the point directly on a block.

We are obviously talking about WPT Main Draw matches. In fact, until the previa finals, with some exceptions (the 3 resumption tournaments played at the Madrid Arena this year), it is forbidden to go out, because matches are played in clubs where there is often not enough space to allow outings.

In previa and preprevia, the Par 3 is therefore a formidable weapon since it “suffices” to take out the ball to take stock. Players who have facilities in this area, like Jérémy Scatena, can let go of their arm without risking the counter.

An analysis of 689 points of the World Padel Tour

To see how often pro players use par 3 when exit is allowed, we analysed 4 games of the main draw of the WPT. To make the statistics as revealing as possible, 2 games were played during the Barcelona Master, in rather slow conditions, and two in Madrid, where the heat and the altitude made the game faster.

We have voluntarily followed matches in which there were Par 3 specialists, as well as smash specialists in general. The meetings analyzed were therefore:

Galan / Lebron vs Belasteguin / Tapia during the Barcelona Master: 7/6 7/6 (151 points played)
Paquito Navarro / Pablo Lima vs Juan Martin Diaz / Lucas Campagnolo during the Adeslas Open in Madrid: 6/2 6/7 6/2 (154 points played)
Federico Chingotto / Juan Tello vs Maxi Sanchez / Mati Diaz at the Madrid Estrella Damm Open: 7/6 2/6 7/6 (209 points played)
Sanyo Gutierrez / Franco Stupaczuk vs Paquito Navarro / Pablo Lima during the Barcelona Master 2/6 7/6 6/2 (175 points played)

Less than one Par 3 every 15 points

In other words, 6,4% of points result in a Par 3. It is very little, out of the 4 matches that we analyzed, Par 3 represents only 14% of smashes ! The visual impression is well confirmed, the Par 3 is used much less than at one time on the World Padel Tour.

specify that the stats are substantially the same between the tournaments played in Barcelona and those played in Madrid, since 6,1% of the points resulted in a Par 3 in the two matches in the Catalan capital, and 6,6 for those in the Spanish capital.

Par 3 has therefore become very infrequent. This is of course explained by the fact that defenders are getting stronger when they come off the track, but also by the fact that the players are more and more comfortable to return the ball to their courteven from far away.

The Par 3: formidable efficiency

Of the 44 Par 3s made during these 4 matches, only 13 were defended, which gives us a direct efficiency of Par 3 over 70% ! What's left superior to the smash in general which scores 64%. Above all, over these 4 matches, only 2 Par 3 caused a counter winner, whereas the smash in the face, when it is defended, very often results in a par 4 ...

And on the 11 other forbidden “Por tres”, only one saw the defending team win the point. This means that in the end, of the 44 Par 3 released, 41 allowed the attack to win the point, i.e. a formidable efficiency of 93% ! It's vastly superior to all other types of smashes.

Why this efficiency? Firstly because Par 3 has become rare and defenders expect much less. Players like Paquito Navarro or Pablo Lima, who was the most prolific with 13 Par 3 in two games, hide their gesture until the last moment, which delays the exit of the adversaries. In addition, today Par 3 is hit as hard as possible, in order toprevent the ball from coming out near the door.

In this way, even when the defense has the possibility of going out to play the ball they are most of the time obliged to replay from above, the pair find themselves destabilized, with a player who must momentarily cover the whole field, and the attack has always a significant advantage to win the point during the next two racket strokes.

Par 3: sparingly when outings are possible?

This is certainly the advice we could give to players of good level, who have a technique allowing them to take out the ball Par 3 with a high percentage. When the level goes up, players specialize in going off the track, which makes Par 3 riskier. It is therefore necessary to use it wisely, by masking it as best as possible so that it surprises the opponents.

On the other hand, when conditions permit and going out is prohibited, don't hesitate to let go of your arm!

Xan Tafernaberry

Xan is a fan of padel. But also rugby! And his posts are just as punchy. Physical trainer of several padel, he unearths atypical posts or deals with topical subjects. It also gives you some tips to develop your physique for the padel. Clearly, he imposes his offensive style as on the field of padel !