How long does it take to get good at padel?

Most players can rally comfortably and hold their own in social games within 10–15 sessions. Reaching an intermediate level — where you control the net, use lobs and wall play tactically, and have a reliable serve — typically takes 6–12 months of regular play (2–3 times per week). Improvement is faster with focused practice and coaching than with only playing matches.

What is the fastest way to improve at padel?

The fastest way to improve is to combine regular match play with targeted drills. Focus on positioning (staying at the net and learning when to move back), wall play fundamentals, and shot consistency rather than power. Playing with better players accelerates learning because it forces you to raise your level. A few coaching sessions early on also prevent bad habits from forming.

What are the most common mistakes beginners make in padel?

The most common mistakes are standing too far back (instead of controlling the net), hitting the ball too hard (padel rewards placement over power), poor split-step timing, not using lobs enough, and trying to win points outright instead of building them through patience and positioning.

Should I take padel lessons or just play matches?

Both. Matches build decision-making and competitive experience, but without drills and coaching you will repeat the same mistakes. A good balance is 2–3 matches per week plus one focused practice or drill session. Even a handful of coaching sessions can correct fundamental positioning and technique issues that self-taught players commonly develop.

How to Improve at Padel — Practice Tips, Drills, and Mental Game

Padel is easy to start but takes deliberate effort to improve past the beginner stage. The enclosed court, wall play, and doubles format create a game where positioning, patience, and shot selection matter more than raw power — and these skills only develop when you practise them intentionally.

This guide covers the areas where focused work produces the biggest improvements for beginner and intermediate players.

1. Master Positioning Before Shots

The single biggest difference between beginner and intermediate padel players is where they stand on court, not how hard they hit the ball.

Net position wins points

In padel, the team that controls the net wins the majority of points. Your default position when you have the advantage should be approximately 1–2 metres from the net, side by side with your partner.

From the net, you can:

Hit volleys down into the court, giving opponents less time to react
Cut off angles, reducing the court your opponents can use
Force opponents into defensive lobs, which you can handle with the bandeja or smash

Drill: Play a set where you count how many points you win from the net versus from the back of the court. Most players are surprised by the difference.

When to move back

Move to the back of the court only when forced — typically by a deep lob or a shot you cannot volley. Once you are at the back, your goal is to return to the net as quickly as possible, usually by playing a lob over your opponents.

See Doubles Tactics for a detailed breakdown of how to coordinate net positioning with your partner.

2. Improve Your Wall Play

Wall play is what makes padel unique. Learning to read and play balls off the back glass and side walls opens up shots that new players think are impossible.

Back wall fundamentals

Wait for the ball — the most common mistake is hitting the ball before it reaches the back wall. Let it bounce on the floor and come off the glass, then play it as it travels back toward the net
Face the back wall — turn your body toward the glass as the ball approaches. This gives you more time and better vision of the ball’s trajectory after the rebound
Use the lob — most balls that come off the back wall should be lobbed back over your opponents, buying time to move forward

For full rules and technique on wall play, see Wall Play.

Side wall practice drill

Stand in the back corner of the court
Have a partner feed balls that hit the side wall before reaching you
Practise letting the ball come off the wall and playing it with a controlled forehand or backhand
Focus on sending the ball back cross-court — this is the highest-percentage shot from this position
20 balls per side, then switch corners

3. Develop Shot Consistency Over Power

Padel rewards accuracy and consistency. A ball placed deep into the corner at moderate pace is far more effective than a hard-hit ball that gives your opponent an easy rebound off the glass.

The 70% rule

Hit most shots at about 70% of your maximum power. This gives you:

Better control and placement
More time to recover position
Fewer unforced errors
Softer balls that die in the corners rather than rebounding off the glass for easy returns

Save full-power shots for clear opportunities — typically when you have a short ball at the net and can angle it away from both opponents.

Placement targets

When practising or playing, aim for these targets:

At the net: hit volleys at the feet of the opponent closest to the net, or into the gap between the two opponents
From the back: lob deep over the opponent’s backhand side, or play low balls toward the centre of the court
Service: aim for the side wall junction (where the glass meets the fence) in the service box — this creates an awkward bounce

4. Build a Reliable Serve

The serve in padel is underarm and must be hit at or below waist height — but that does not make it unimportant. A well-placed serve gives your team the initiative.

Serve priorities

Get it in — an unforced double fault gives away a free point. Consistency comes first
Target the body or the side wall — serves aimed at the receiver’s body are hard to return aggressively; serves into the side wall create awkward bounces
Follow the serve to the net — the server and partner should move forward together after the serve to establish the net position

Serve practice routine

Place a target (cone, towel, or bag) in the service box — first near the side wall, then near the centre T
Serve 20 balls, counting how many hit or come close to the target
Move the target to the other service box and repeat
Aim for 70%+ accuracy before increasing pace

5. Train the Mental Game

Padel points are often won by the team that makes fewer mistakes, not the team that hits more winners. Mental discipline is a direct performance advantage.

Patience during rallies

The enclosed court and wall play mean that many rallies last 10–20 shots. Resist the urge to end the point early with a risky shot. Instead:

Keep the ball in play
Move your opponents around the court
Wait for them to give you a short or high ball
Only attack when you have a clear opening

Managing frustration

Bad points happen to every player. What matters is the next point:

Between points: take a breath, shake off the last point, and focus on your serve or return position
Between games: use the changeover to reset mentally. Discuss tactics with your partner rather than dwelling on errors
When losing: in padel, momentum shifts frequently. Stay in the match — a team that is down 1–5 can still win the set

Communication with your partner

Padel is a doubles sport. Good communication improves positioning, reduces confusion, and builds confidence:

Call “mine” or “yours” early for balls down the middle
Signal your intended serve direction to your partner before serving
Encourage your partner after their errors — a confident partner plays better

6. Play With Better Players

The most effective way to raise your level is to regularly play with and against players who are better than you. This forces you to:

React faster
Read the game earlier
Find solutions under pressure
Observe better positioning and shot selection in real time

Many padel clubs organise mixed-level sessions, americanos, or round-robin events where you can play with a range of players. Take these opportunities.

7. Common Mistakes to Fix

Mistake	Why it hurts	Fix
Standing at the back of the court	Gives up the net and lets opponents control the point	Move forward every time you play a lob or a shot that pushes opponents back
Hitting too hard	Balls rebound off glass, giving opponents easy returns	Use the 70% rule — control and placement beat power
No split-step	You are always moving a step late, arriving unbalanced	Small hop onto the balls of your feet as your opponent hits — every single shot
Not lobbing enough	You stay pinned at the back with no way to advance	The lob is your primary tool for getting back to the net
Ignoring warm-up	Cold muscles and tendons increase injury risk and reduce early-match performance	Arrive 10 minutes early and follow a warm-up routine

Practice Drill Summary

Drill	Focus	Time
Positioning game (count net vs back wins)	Net awareness	During any match
Back wall lob practice	Wall play	15 min
Side wall corner drill	Side wall reading	15 min
Serve accuracy (targets in service box)	Serve consistency	15 min
70% rally (controlled pace, placement only)	Shot control	20 min

Key Takeaways

Position yourself at the net as your default — this is where points are won in padel
Learn to read and play wall rebounds before trying to add power
Consistency and placement beat power at every level
Practise your serve until it is reliable, then work on placement
The mental game — patience, communication, resilience — separates good players from average ones
Play with better players as often as you can

For the fundamentals of how padel works, see How to Play Padel. To build the physical fitness that supports your game, see Padel Fitness Training.