Tactics

Make them hit uncomfortably

A player hitting from a bad position gives you the ball you want. These drills cover the targets that take away a swing, playing at the body, high to the backhand and into the feet, plus where to place the bajada and how to block one, so the reply that comes back is one you can attack.

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Walkthroughs on make them hit uncomfortably, showing what to play and why it works.

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.
Where to Play the Bajada in Padel: Parallel, Crosscourt or at the Deep OneYour bajada target depends on their position. Easy ball with both back, go parallel. Difficult ball, go crosscourt for margin. One up and one back, hit at the deep one.
How to Block a Bajada in Padel: Move Closer to the NetStanding three metres back makes their court huge and your block impossible. Step in to about two metres, shrink their angles and you will reach far more of them.
How to Return a Big Smash in Padel: Run Forward, Not BackA hard smash off the back glass bounces away faster than you can retreat. Run forward along the side fence instead and meet the ball where it is still reachable.
Do Not Set Your Partner Up to Lose the Point in PadelA soft ball from the back while your partner is at the net gets played straight at their feet. Hit fast at the body instead and the block comes back as an easy ball.
Where to Play the Flat Smash in Padel: Parallel, Not CrosscourtThe flat smash wins on speed, and speed comes from distance. Play it parallel down the short side so the ball arrives before they can cover it.
Make Them Move: Why Movement Beats Power in PadelCount the metres you make your opponents run, not the winners you attempt. A tired, moving opponent makes the mistake for you without you risking anything.
How to Create Open Space in Padel: Lob, Middle Volley, Drop ShotYou cannot hit into space that is not there. Three shots that manufacture it: the lob opens the front, the middle volley opens the corners, the drop shot opens the back.