Padel Exercise Library
50 free padel drills organised by theme: tactical walkthroughs on positioning, net play, lobs and defense, showing you what to do and why it works on the court.
Be consistent
Don't take risks. Stick with moves you know will work, even if they're not the coolest. Avoid silly mistakes by giving yourself extra room to mess up.
Returning on the Move in Padel: Play It Parallel, Not CrosscourtWhen they push you to the fence and you are hitting on the run, the crosscourt is the risky ball. Go parallel: it is shorter, safer, and easier to cover afterwards.Take the Lob Out of the Air or Let It Bounce? Three RulesBoth opponents back means take it as a bandeja. Both at the net means let it bounce. And if the ball is already behind you, let it bounce every time.Every Point Is Worth the Same in Padel: Stop Paying Extra for ThemA spectacular winner scores exactly one point. So does their unforced error. If the reward is identical, the risk is the only thing you are choosing.Play More Neutral Balls in Padel: Make the Rally LongerNot every ball has to hurt them. Neutral balls keep the rally alive until an easy one appears, and then you lob it and take the net.Let the Wall Do the Work in Padel: Do Not Rush a Fast Deep BallA fast ball past your service line is going to reach the glass. Do not lob it early and send it out. Let it bounce, take the time the wall gives you, then lob.Stop Feeding Their Confidence in Padel: Miss on the Right SideA short lob and a high chiquita both hand your opponents a free hit. Aim long on the lob and low on the chiquita, so your misses cost you nothing but a point.
Respect the game phase
Attack when you see a clear chance and defend when you're under pressure.
How to Generate Easy Balls from Defense in PadelStop just surviving in padel defense. Aim high to the backhand, at the body, or lob. Force weak volleys and get easy balls you can attack.How to Defend the Crosscourt Ball Off the Back Wall in PadelWhere the ball meets the glass decides your footwork. Come closer for the middle glass, give yourself space next to it, and turn around in the corner.How to Answer a Lob in Padel: The 4 Zones and What to PlayYour answer to a lob depends on where you are when it goes up. Four zones, four different shots, from letting it bounce at the back to smashing it at the net.
Effective positioning
Position yourself smartly around the ball, net, partner, and opponents. Good spots block their easy shots and force mistakes.
Why You Should Play More to the Middle in Padel: 4 ReasonsThe middle is the biggest gap in their defense, it causes confusion, the ball cannot go out off the side walls, and the net is lowest there. Four reasons to aim there.The Diagonal Gap in Padel: Why One Up and One Back Loses PointsOne player up, one player back opens a diagonal lane through the middle that neither of you can reach. Why it happens, what it costs, and how to get back in line.Do Not Turn Your Back When Returning a Lob in PadelFacing the back wall and standing behind the ball leaves you with no control. Turn sideways to the side wall and stay beside the ball to play a proper lob back.
Gain and keep the net
Whoever controls the net controls the point. Hold your spot up there and use shots that keep the pressure on so opponents can't push you back. If you lose the net, look for the right moment to take it back.
Who to Play to in Padel: Pick the Opponent Further From the NetWhen one opponent is at the net and the other is behind, play at the one further back. It buys you the time you need to take the net yourself.Volley Deep, Not Short: Where to Place Your Volley in PadelA short volley lands in the transition zone and invites them forward. A deep sliced volley near the back glass pins them at the back and keeps you the net.Net Positioning in Padel: You Can Only Cover Two of Three AreasWhere to stand at the net in padel and what you can actually cover from there. Protect the middle and the parallel, give away the crosscourt on purpose.
Communication
Keep messages short and clear, with words or signals. Good communication helps you both make better decisions during points and stay on the same page during breaks.
Who Calls In or Out in Padel? Let the Receiving Pair DecideThe call belongs to the pair receiving the ball, because they have the view. Never stop the point on your own guess. Play on, and only stop if you hear them call it.Switching Sides in Padel: Shout Switch When Your Poach FailsA failed poach leaves you both on the same side with half the court empty. One word fixes it: shout switch, and your partner takes the side you left.
Time management
Changing pace, playing faster or slower at the right time. In defense, it helps you recover your position. In attack, it can confuse your opponents and make them give you an easier ball. Good tactical players know when to speed up, slow down, or change rhythm, so they become harder to predict.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Figure out what you and your partner do best and use it as much as possible. At the same time, avoid hitting to the spots or shots where your opponents are most dangerous. Win with what works for you, not what works for them.
Make them hit uncomfortably
Make your opponents hit from bad or awkward positions. When they feel rushed, blocked, or uncomfortable, they are more likely to make mistakes or give you an easy ball. You can do this by playing fast at their body or making them hit from difficult spots.
How to Attack a Weak Backhand in Padel: Open It FirstHitting straight at their weak backhand rarely works, because they already cover it. Play the middle first, pull them across, then attack the side that opens.The Bajada in Padel: What It Is and Where to Play ItThe bajada is the attacking shot off your own back glass, played as the ball drops. What it is, when it is on, and where to aim it depending on where they stand.How to Block a Bajada in Padel: Move Closer to the Net
Anticipation
Guessing what your opponents will do next. You watch their patterns, read the game, and prepare early. This helps you move to the right place faster, make better decisions, and win more important points.
The Split Step in Padel: Why You Are Always Late to the BallThe split step is a small hop timed to your opponent's contact. In padel it stays low and quick, and it is the reason good players reach balls you cannot.The Anti-Lob Cheat Code in Padel: Prepare Early, Let It BounceRead the lob before it is hit, turn side-on instead of backpedalling, and choose between bandeja and letting it bounce. How to answer a lob without losing the net.At the Net in Padel, Prepare for the Worst Ball, Not the BestSet up expecting the fast uncomfortable ball. You will still have time to attack an easy one, but preparing to attack leaves no time to block the hard one.
Hide your intentions
Make opponents unsure what you will do next.
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