Padel is too fast to think mid-point. So don't. Say a word instead — you get seven. One before the point, and that word is the only thing in your head.
Your brain holds about four things at once. Give it one, and it's yours. Not an IQ test — a margin game, won one word at a time.
The seven words
Word 1
“Cross”
Aim cross, aim deep.
- Why
- The diagonal is the longest line, and the net sags lowest in the middle. The most room to miss and still land in.
- How
- A foot over the centre of the net, landing deep. Never at the sideline.
Word 2
“Weak”
Hit the weaker one, never the strong one.
- Why
- Most points are the other team's mistakes. Send them to whoever is likeliest to miss.
- How
- First two games, find the shaky side — weak backhand, hates high balls. Then hunt it. Tell your partner: "we play the left one."
Word 3
“Lob”
When you're rushed, lift it.
- Why
- The safest ball in padel. It buys you time and steals the net.
- How
- High and deep to the back third — then both of you walk up together.
Word 4
“One more”
Just get one more ball back than them.
- Why
- Even Federer won only ~54% of his points — and 80% of his matches. The safe ball back isn't scared; it's the win.
- How
- Unsure? Just return it — cross, middle, or lob. Make them beat you.
Word 5
“Middle”
In doubt, down the middle.
- Why
- It kills their angle, starts a "who's got it?" between them, and there's no sideline to miss.
- How
- Low and flat, straight between the two of them.
Word 6
“Rope”
Move with your partner.
- Why
- You two are tied by a four-metre rope. The gap is what they attack.
- How
- Both up, or both back — never one-up-one-back. She goes back, you go back.
Word 7
“Breathe”
Reset before you serve.
- Why
- Pressure makes you freeze or panic. A routine runs when your head is too loud.
- How
- Breathe out → set your grip → say your word → play. The same four, every point.
The arm — play around it
Control, not power. The smart game and the safe-arm game are the same game.
- Why
- Hard hits, mishits and a tight grip flare it. "Lob", "Middle" and clean centred contact load the tendon far less — every word here already protects the arm.
- How
- Loosen your grip between points. Take the control overhead, not the smash. Get set early so contact is clean.
- Coach
- Your conditioning coach steers the arm, not this page. Follow their prehab — trust it. Sharp or rising pain is a stop, not a thing to push through.
Before you walk on
Pick one word. Hit twenty balls, saying it out loud each time.
That's your one-on-one — the loud single cue and the reps you learn best from, built by you. If the elbow's sore, keep it light: quality, not volume, and clear the number with your coach.
Watch
Channels — start here
- The Padel School — Best all-round English channel — technique + tactics
- Hello Padel Academy — Drills + on-court decision-making with pros
Or search by exactly what you need
- Tactics for beginners
- Court positioning & movement
- The lob (globo)
- The bandeja
- Cutting unforced errors
- Which player to hit to
These open a fresh search each time, so the videos stay current — nothing here can go stale on you.
Seven words. One per point. Lose to the better pair — fine; just make them earn it. Then come back for the next word.