Six Mistakes Almost Every New Padel Player Makes

If you have played fewer than twenty sessions, at least four of these apply to you.

Hitting Too Hard

Padel rewards placement. Take twenty per cent off every shot and watch your error count fall.

Standing Too Close to the Back Wall

Give yourself a metre and a half. The glass is your friend only if you leave room for it.

Never Lobbing

The lob is the single most effective club-level shot. Use it far more than feels natural.

Facing the Net While Retreating

Turn sideways and cross-step. Backpedalling ends in bad overheads or worse falls.

Leaving the Middle Open

Most points are lost through the gap between partners. Move together.

Smashing Everything

The bandeja keeps you at the net. The smash usually hands it back.

Fixing Them

Choose one per session. Six sessions, six habits, a genuinely different player.