Your padel match starts here: easy to get started, incredible fun

"At first glance, the padel court looks more complex than a classic tennis court. But there is a very clear system behind it, which is a lot of fun and movement," says Lana. In padel, there is more to the court than just theground. Unlike many other rebound sports, the walls are also an integral part of the game - and that's what makes padel so special. 

Lana emphasizes: "Remember: the padel court includes the floor and the walls. This keeps the ball in play for longer, making rallies more dynamic and tactical. If you understand this early on, you automatically play in a calmer and more controlled way." 

The lines on the padel court help you to find your way around - especially when serving. 
Lana explains the most important lines and what they mean: 

• Serve area: the game starts from here. "The serve is always made diagonally into the opposite court," says the expert. 
• Center line: "It divides the court and shows you which side you serve from."

In a running game, the lines are less important than when serving, but they help you to better assess your position. 

The walls are the heart of the padel game - but they work differently. 

Glass walls 
"Glass walls are completely part of the game. The ball may touch the glass wall after the bounce. After that, the ball remains playable." Lana adds important rules to this: 
"The ball may: 

• first bounce on the floor, 
• then touch the glass wall, 
• and remains playable."

Important: If the ball hits the glass directly without touching the floor first, it is out.

Grid walls 
The grid walls mark the outer boundaries of the playing field. There are also important rules here, which Lana knows only too well as a professional: 

• If the ball hits the grid directly, it's out. 
• If the ball bounces on the ground first and then hits the grid, it is playable. An exception is the serve. 
• When serving, the ball must not touch the grid

"Grid balls are often difficult to predict - that's exactly what makes them strategically interesting," says Lana. 

Even if they are not marked, there are clear playing zones in padel that you should know for the game in order to use them strategically. A distinction is made between the following playing zones: 

Rear zone (near the back wall) 
"The back zone gives you more time to make decisions for more control and a smoother game." If you move in this area, you play more defensively, which reduces pressure.

Transition zone (center of the pitch) 
Decisions are made in this zone. "If you want to take pressure off, you focus on the back zone. To build up pressure, you move further forward."

Front zone (near the net) 
"If the players move even further forward, they enter the front zone. The rally is faster here and reaction times are shorter," says Lana. "Precision is more important in the front zone than power." 
So you can remember: The further forward you go, the faster the game becomes. 

If you know where you are, which wall is playable and which zone you are in, you automatically make better decisions. "The game becomes calmer, mistakes become fewer - and suddenly padel feels clear and controlled," explains Lana. 

You don't have to memorize every rule in detail. 
"Only one thing is important," emphasizes our padel expert: "The court works for you - if you understand how lines, walls and zones work together. With this understanding, you move more confidently, play morestrategically and have much more fun on the court." That is exactly the aim of padel. 

Which lines do I need to know for padel? 
The most important lines in padel are the service area, the center line and the side lines. They help you to recognize where you are serving from and where the ball needs to go, especially when serving. During the game, the lines are more for orientation than for active control of the rules.

Are the walls part of the padel court? 
Yes. Glass walls are an integral part of the game and may be played on after contact with the ground. Grids can also be played on. However, you should familiarise yourself with rules.

Are all grid balls out? 
No. As long as the ball hits the ground first, grids are also allowed – except when serving.

Why can padel feel easier with court understanding? 
Because you play more calmly, make better decisions and react deliberately. 

The most important thing for Lana: "A good forehand doesn't come from strength - but from clean fundamentals and a calm movement." In padel, the forehand is played compactly. The movement is much shorter than in tennis and always remains controlled. It's not about big lunges, but about precision and consistency. Less lunging means more control, fewer mistakes and a shot you can rely on. 

To make it easier for you to remember, the padel expert emphasizes: "Consistency beats speed." For you, this means developing a stroke that you can play again and again. "Confidence is more important than speed. A steady ball keeps the rally alive." 

Your position in relation to the ball is the most important prerequisite for playing a good forehand. Lana explains what's important: "Make sure your upper body is positioned slightly to the side of the ball. This position givesyou more stability and you can adjust your stroke better and faster." Also keep enough distance from the ball. "You should hit the ball in front of your body."

Lana's tip: "If you hit the ball slightly in front of your hips, you automatically have more control over the direction and height - without any additional force."  

The forehand in padel comes from a calm rotation of the upper body. "The movement starts in the upper body with a slight rotation - the arm follows the movement. The stroke ends in front of the body in a controlledmanner." The arm guides the racket, but does not pull through with force. 

Important to remember: You don't need a big lunge or a quick follow-through. Practice this technique and consciously concentrate on it. This will keep your forehand stable - even under pressure. 

"In the game, the forehand is not about finishing the point immediately. It helps you to structure the rally," says Lana, an expert and padel pro who knows all too well. 

"If you return the ball safely, give your partner time and structure the rally, the game becomes calmer and more controlled." This is exactly what is crucial in padel - especially in doubles. 

If you are playing padel for the first time or have little experience, Lana has a good tip for you: "Don't think about winning points with your forehand. Think about making the ball playable. Your confidence will grow withevery safe ball - and control will automatically lead to better strokes." This is how you build up a confident game, which is essential for creating excitement and fun in a padel match. 

If your forehand feels calm and controlled, you are on the right track. This is exactly what your entire game is based on: confidence, patience and control. 

👉 Start the video now and work on a forehand you can rely on. 

Do I have to use a lot of power with the forehand?
No. Control comes from technique, not power.

Where should I hit the ball? 
Slightly in front of the body, at about hip height.

Why is a steady forehand so important? 
Because it gives you time, reduces mistakes and makes your game more structured. 

Unlike tennis, the backhand in padel is not a power shot. It is a controlled stroke that buys you time - because the movement is shorter and more compact. "When played correctly, the backhand is very effective." The aimis to return the ball in a controlled manner. 

"The backhand should bring calm into the game and buy you time. As with the forehand, you can strategically decide how to play the ball with the backhand. This also requires a short, compact movement" says Lana, a professional padel player. A confident backhand brings calmness and variety to the game. It gives you time and confidence to reorganize your game. The backhand is often the shot that allows you to switch from reacting to acting. 

Padel is played in a confined space - with lots of flat, fast balls. The reaction time is short. This makes early preparation all the more important: "In padel, you often have to react quickly to make the right decisions. That'swhy it's important to play with the right footwork and compact movement. This allows you to play in a controlled manner and decide quickly whether to play with or without a glass." 

That's what matters:

• Turn your upper body to the side early on. 
• Bring the racket in front of your body. 
• Keep your distance from the ball.

"The earlier you are prepared, the smoother and more controlled your shot will be," emphasizes Lana. "With good preparation, you have better control of the impact point and can decide whether to play with or without a glass." 

The movement of the backhand remains short and compact. This means that there is no large sweeping movement. Lana explains: "The racket stays close to the body and is guided calmly forwards - control is moreimportant here than speed." Pay particular attention to a controlled forward lead. As with the forehand, the expert also emphasizes: "Stability is more important here than speed. A calm movement gives you confidence. This is the prerequisite for a good game and strategic strokes." 

"A calm backhand takes pressure off the game. It not only takes the pressure off you, but also your partner. The ball stays in play, you gain time for better positioning - and that's exactly what strengthens your team game," says Lana. So you can remember that the backhand has a calming effect on the game. That's why it's worth working on your backhand. 

Reliability is the key to a good game. "If you play confidently, you have more time, more options - and the game automatically feels more relaxed." This is exactly what makes them so valuable. Less hectic means moretime, more options - and a much better playing experience. Incidentally, this applies not only to winning points, but to every good match. 

"When you realize that you're no longer rushing from the backhand, your whole game changes," emphasizes Lana. To put this into practice in the game, the expert recommends: "Think about the basics of your backhandduring the game. You'll notice: The better you play with your backhand, the more confidence you'll have in your game and you'll be able to be active and offensive yourself." 

👉 Start the video now and work on a backhand that gives you confidence. 

Do I have to score points with my backhand?
No. The main purpose of the backhand is to control and calm the game.

Why does the backhand often feel unsafe? 
Because there are a lot of balls in a small space and little time. Good preparation creates calm.

What is more important: speed or control? 
Control. Speed comes automatically later. 

Every rally can generally be divided into three situations:

• Under pressure
• Neutral
• With an advantage

“If you recognize which situation you’re in, your shot selection becomes logical and calm,” explains Lana. In this article, she shares a simple decision-making model to help you choose the right shot.

“You’re under pressure when you have little time, your contact point isn’t ideal and your opponent is controlling the pace at the net,” explains the padel expert. “When you’re under pressure, your goal isn’t to win the point — it’s to keep the ball in play and buy time so you can work your way out of a difficult situation.” What matters most here is staying calm and patient.

The shot you should choose is the lob:

“For the lob, slightly open the racket face and play the ball from low to high to create depth and height, pushing your opponents back. Don’t forget to use your legs to support the swing. The lob gives you those valuable extra seconds to get yourself back into position. You can also use the glass wall to slow the game down. When you’re under pressure, mistakes happen if you play too flat, too fast or without control. “The lob and the glass do the exact opposite: they take pace off the ball and help you get the rally back under control.”

This is how you slow the game down and give yourself time to reset.

Neutral situations decide many points — quietly, without much spectacle. Here, it’s not the player who goes for the boldest shot who wins, but the one who avoids mistakes. “A neutral situation is when both teams are building the point patiently, waiting for the right moment to move forward on offense.” Both teams are trying to be the first to put their opponents under pressure and play strategically with either precision or power. What you should avoid is unnecessary risk before you’re in the right position. “A common mistake in neutral situations is accelerating too early or playing in a rushed way,” Lana warns. Rushing always leads to less control. “Wait until you get an easy ball — then you can take control of the offensive play with more confidence.”

What To Do In A Neutral Situation

Choose a controlled forehand or backhand. Stay patient to minimize your risk of error. Maintain a steady rhythm in your shots and focus on placing the ball into open space. Stay precise so you don’t give your opponent time to counterattack. “Most of the time, the player who waits for the right moment wins.”

You’re at an advantage when you’re positioned at the net, the ball is coming high and slow and your opponents are out of position. “Now you’re controlling the rally and the pace,” Lana explains. “When you have the advantage, the goal is to apply pressure and control the game — not just through speed, but through placement and precision.”

Take A Risk — But Stay In Control: Choose the Volley or the Overhead

When you have the advantage, it makes sense to take a calculated risk. The shots to consider are the volley or the overhead, since both take time away from your opponents. “With both shots, you stay at the net, maintain the pressure and force your opponents into difficult returns,” says the expert. “Both shots are played out of the air — calm, compact and with clear placement.” Of course, these shots carry a higher level of risk, but it should always remain controlled. “You’re not playing harder or faster, but more precisely, since your opponents can use the glass wall to defend. If you have time, move forward. With a well-placed volley, you capitalize on your advantage and control the point.”

Many beginners don’t lose points because they play poorly — they lose them because they try to do too much too soon. “In padel, patience is rewarded,” Lana says from years of experience. The player who waits controls the rally.

Lana’s tip to remember during a rally:

“Ask yourself: Do I have time — or am I being pushed? If you have time, you can take control. If you’re under pressure, stay calm until you’re back in a better position.”

When you stop seeing shots as obligations and start seeing them as solutions to situations, your game changes. It becomes calmer, more structured — and you naturally make fewer mistakes. Lana’s tip: “The better you recognize the situation, the easier it is to choose the right shot. This takes the pressure off and brings structure to your game. The more you practice this, the more confident you’ll become in a match. Give it a try!”

👉 Start the video now and learn how to choose the right shot at the right moment.

Why do shots work in training but not in a match?
Because in a match, the shot often doesn’t fit the situation — it’s not about technique. That’s why making the right decision is so important. Assess the situation you’re in and learn which shot to use in each match situation.

When should I take a risk?
Only when you have an advantage and enough time.

What’s the most important thing to keep in mind during a match?
Patience beats rushing.

“Technique comes first,” Lana explains. “Not because it decides everything, but because it’s the foundation for everything else.” In padel, it’s all about consistency. “A great shot isn’t the one that works perfectly once — it’s the one you can repeat over and over.”

In padel:

• Consistency matters more than power
• Clean, compact movements reduce errors
• Solid technique lowers mental pressure

The cleaner your shot technique, the less you have to make adjustments. Strong technique also gives you a sense of security on the court, which makes decision-making easier and rallies feel more controlled.

What Advanced Players Focus On in Padel

If you’ve got some experience under your belt, it’s worth taking a closer look at your technique. Lana shares three technical tips to help you keep improving:

• Work on a compact, controlled swing:
  “Big backswings may look powerful, but they cost you time. Compact movements give you control instead.”
• Focus on clean, consistent ball contact:
  “When you strike the ball precisely, you can control speed, height and placement much better.”
• Train your body, not just your arm:
  “Advanced players don’t hit with the arm alone — they use their whole body as a stable base. The arm executes the shot, but stability comes from your stance and your core. Stability in your body leads to stability in your game.” 

“Once your technique and stability are solid, your decisions during the rally determine how well you play. It’s about anticipating the game, managing risk in a controlled way and staying composed,” says our padel expert Lana. Those decisions don’t have to be complicated. When in doubt, play it safe. Lana emphasizes: “Long rallies aren’t boring — they’re valuable. They help you avoid mistakes and force errors from your opponents.”

What Strong Players Do on the Padel Court

If you want to make better decisions and improve your padel game, these are the points you should focus on:

• Reading the game as early as possible:
  This brings more calm to your play and lowers the risk of unforced errors.
• Managing risk intentionally:
  You don’t need to take risks on every point to win. Sometimes it’s the deep balls that end up deciding the match.
• Playing with control:
  Over time, steady, controlled play will draw your opponent out of their comfort zone.

The result: fewer unforced errors, longer rallies and greater control over the pace of the match.

Good shots start with good positioning. “If you move too late, you’ll make poorer decisions. But if you anticipate early and move well, you automatically play in a more relaxed and less reactive way,” says Lana.

How Good Padel Players Move

If you want to improve the efficiency of your game, Lana recommends focusing on the following:

• Taking small, controlled steps:
  “You don’t need to move faster — you need to move smarter. Small, controlled steps are far more efficient than big strides.”
• Anticipating instead of chasing the ball:
  “Instead of running after the ball, learn to anticipate the game. That saves movement and allows you to stay proactive instead of reactive.”
• Preparing early for the next shot:
  “Covering less ground helps you get set for the next shot earlier. This also gives you more time to make better decisions.”

Just playing matches doesn’t automatically make you better. Training needs focus and structure. “Working with a coach leads to faster progress than just playing matches with friends, where the focus is mainly on fun,” the expert explains. “Progress comes from observation. Get feedback from a coach or a playing partner, or film yourself in specific match situations. If you notice several recurring mistakes, focus on fixing one thing first and make that the priority in your next training session.”

What to Focus On in Padel Training

It’s worth intentionally setting aside time to improve specific areas of your game. To make that happen, you should focus on the following points during training:

• Setting clear priorities for each session:
  This helps you concentrate on just a few things and improve them deliberately.
• Choosing repetition over constant variety:
  Practice makes perfect. There’s a lot of truth to that. Repeat shots and sequences until they become second nature.

Padel is a team sport. Every decision affects both players. That’s why it’s so important to train together and fine-tune your communication. “You can recognize strong doubles teams by how well they move as one and seize the right moment to play aggressively. Individual efforts rarely lead to lasting success.”

What Makes Good Doubles Play

“Teams with strong communication often beat technically better individual players,” Lana emphasizes. For her, great doubles play comes down to three key factors:

• Coordinated movement:
  “Short verbal cues, simple gestures and eye contact create security and trust.”
• Clear distribution of roles:
  “A shared strategy creates clarity. Who takes the ball in which situations? When do you apply pressure? What are your opponents’ weaknesses?  All of that needs to be aligned.”
• Calm, positive communication:
  “Positive signals build confidence and trust. Don’t forget the high fives or a quick thumbs up.” 

Improving your padel game means taking an honest look at your current level. Where are you solid? Which areas need more attention? Set clear priorities, train intentionally and talk through decisions and sequences with your partner. That kind of focused approach is what turns short-term gains into lasting progress.

👉 Start the video now and work on the factors that will truly move your game forward.

Why am I not improving in padel even though I play a lot? 
Because simply playing without a clear focus rarely improves your game. Structured training is what makes the difference.

What’s more important: technique or tactics? 
Both. Technique is the foundation, but your decisions are what separate average play from strong play.

How quickly will I see progress? 
If you train with purpose and work on multiple factors together, progress will often come faster than you expect.