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"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.