Le padel today is spectacular, Fast, powerful. Among the ladies also this rhythm is accelerating with smashs ever more efficient and track exits. But at a lower level, even though the potency can take its toll, the slow game often poses much more problems for opponents.

The idea is not to return to padel years 90-2000, but rather to realize that playing at high speed does not always allow you to get by. Very aggressive players don't necessarily let the ball pass and tend to foul as quickly as they earn the points. Clearly, they make the points and the faults. And if you insert the slow game in your arsenal?

At the bottom of the track

This is the basis. If you play at padel and understand how rebounds work, know which directions to play, where the opposing players are, how to negotiate an easy ball or a difficult ball, you will simply become better. But this learning happens at slow speed. Our brain needs to learn to play at slow speed to better assimilate: a child does not start by running but rather by walking, right?

So slow down and learn. In this way you will discover new moves and above all, you will have several defensive tactics to apply depending on the opponents you will face.
Playing slow from the back of the lane will give you time to get back into place and therefore prevent you from creating gaps for volleyball players to slip into. This will allow you to take the time to play those players who may not have an effective volley below net level or a bandeja can hurt you. Finally, this slow game could allow you to go on the attack. Ball in the feet, offset in the center or close to the grid, you can play cat and mouse before dislodging this team and taking their place in the net.

Net

Unlike tennis where when you reach the net you have to win the point or you will be passed, in padel you will first have to try to dislodge the opponents from their comfort zone before delivering the fatal blow. And this can be done quickly of course, but also and above all slowly. If you play slowly, you will have time to place the ball in the best place, to make the best decision, to adjust your shot according to the placement of your opponents and therefore, you will keep this precious position which gives you a considerable advantage over the point in progress.

For higher balls it's the same thing. If you play all your smashes and bandejas at the same speed, some will be decisive but others (most) will give opponents the opportunity to dislodge you to take your place because often the rebound will be either too short or too high on the glass. And in the worst case, you will realize the fault…
So vary, but start with slow play that will allow you to play angles, find depth, and test this game tactic that will not send you back to the bottom in defense.

flight padel zidane

The slow game, the base

Eh yes. the padel “Old” was much slower than today. Certainly the equipment has evolved, the athletes are more professional, but don't forget that all these players started one day, and learned the slow game to then be able to evolve at high speed by adapting to the conditions.
Don't skip the steps. Play slowly, place, hinder, control, vary, accompany your teammate to then act and make this player shine padel which is in you. Let's go!

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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