When you put the feet on the track padel, anything can happen and above all, not go as planned. Let's discover together the 3 stroke to manage during a match.

If you are a fan of games of padel professional, you have certainly realized that the matches evolve, and can even change leader at any time, even only after a point.

So after analyzing hundreds of matches, discussions with the most professional and experienced among us, we can say that a match of padel, except in the case where the difference in level is too great, separates into three stages.

The first step: the arm

This means that when you enter the track, you do not know your opponents, nor the tactics they will implement, nor if they are good defenders or attackers. So before jumping to conclusions too quickly, you'll have to apply your game. And it starts with your arm: your habits, what you and your partner like to do, the areas you usually look for, without really thinking about whether it's worth it or not. 

After a few games you will see if you are ahead in the score and if it is interesting to continue in the same way, or if on the contrary, it does not work, and if it is better to go to time 2.

The second time: the head

This time will appear if you are behind on the score and your first time does not work, or if you are ahead and find that the opponents are coming back on the score.

In this time, it is the tactic that takes over the arm. You begin to discuss with your partner to find solutions which will upset, will disturb the game of the adversaries, who played with so much tranquility until now. The solutions are innumerable; from very slow to very violent play, to repetitive lobs, to putting in the fridge... Ideas must flourish at this time and so should your attempts, because you will find yourself in the locker room sooner than expected if you delay too long.

So calm down, think, share your emotions and tactics with your partner and coach if you are lucky enough to have someone by your side, listen to them because they too may have interesting ideas that will get you into the fight... and in the third time.

Mapi Majo Alayeto Madrid P1 2023

Third phase: the heart

Playing with your heart, what does that mean? This means that the dice are rolled and you go all out every moment, every point.

Either you were in front at the start of the game and you were caught, or you were behind and found the formula to reverse the trend.

What's happening is you're all on the home stretch. All points are important. An unforced error will influence the mentality of the team, a ball offered to the adversaries which will “assassinate” your partner can frustrate him for the next point. On the other hand, if you prepare the point well by finishing with a nice smash par 4, it will re-motivate the team. 

So clearly, all the points of this third time will influence your arm and your head, this is why the professionals know how to manage this third time of the match by playing each exchange at 100%, with the heart, and once the point is finished, won or lost, it will be forgotten to refocus on the next one, which will also be played to the maximum.

If we want to be inspired by the best, this is how we must act during a game of padel. Fine-tune the technique, apply game tactics then fight on all points until the handshake. This is the spirit of our magnificent sport. 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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