Padel Tips for Beginners to Win More Points
Shorter swings and waiting for the glass fix most beginner mistakes.
To win more points as a beginner, prioritize control over power, shorten your backswing, and let the ball rebound off the back glass instead of rushing it. At Wildcard Sport, we research padel techniques from governing body guidelines published by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the International Padel Federation (FIP). Once you keep the ball in play, moving to the net with your partner and using the lob will help you win points.
Before stepping onto the court, start with a targeted warm-up routine. The LTA describes a proper warm-up as one of the most important padel tips for beginners to help prevent injury and improve performance. Start with general movement, then warm up your arms, shoulders, thighs and calves.
Three Changes That Fix Most Beginner Games
Beginners improve fastest by keeping the ball in play rather than trying to hit clean winners. The LTA states that padel is more about accuracy and ball placement than it is about power.
The three changes are:
- Shorten your swing. The LTA says a short backswing on the forehand and backhand gives faster reactions and more control.
- Let deep balls pass you. The LTA says letting the ball come off the back glass buys you time.
- Move with your partner. Moving as a pair leaves fewer openings, according to the LTA.
Swing Shorter, Aim for Control
A compact stroke gives you better control and faster reaction times on every shot. The LTA advises using a short backswing on forehand and backhand strokes. This shorter motion creates faster reactions, more control, and higher accuracy.
The LTA emphasizes that padel relies on control and precision through shorter, sharper racket movements.
Footwork directly supports this controlled swing technique. The LTA recommends taking many short side steps to adjust your distance from the ball. Stay on the balls of your feet so you can push off in either direction.
Equipment choice also influences your ability to maintain control. The LTA says round rackets give beginners the most control. Read our beginner racket guide to see which models prioritize handling over raw hitting power.
Defending Off the Glass
Defending off the back glass requires patience so the ball can bounce, hit the wall, and travel forward into your strike zone. When defending, play the ball after it rebounds off the back wall so it lands on the opponents' side after one bounce.
The LTA advises keeping the ball low when it comes off the glass so opponents struggle to return it. To play the back glass, track the ball as it travels past you instead of striking it early.
Defending balls that strike the side glass requires specific tactical adjustments. The LTA recommends keeping your ready position far enough back so you can change direction easily. Prepare the racket early as the ball approaches the side wall.
When a shot moves slower, move closer to the glass to meet the rebound. The LTA suggests reducing your pace on these harder shots.
Net Position and Moving as a Pair
The net is the primary attacking position in padel, while the back court is for defense. At the net, you attack with volleys and smashes. At the back of the court, you defend with forehands and backhands, using or bypassing the back glass.
Winning points consistently requires claiming and holding the net with your partner. The LTA emphasizes moving as a pair with your partner to cover space and leave fewer openings. When one player advances toward the net, the other player should move up alongside them.
Communication between partners keeps court coverage organized throughout fast rallies. The LTA advises communicating with your partner so both players know who takes each ball.
Under FIP rules, only one member of a pair may play each ball. Both hitting it loses the point. Check our guide on how to play padel to study court rotations and partnership positioning.
The Lob and the Bandeja
The lob pushes opponents away from the net so you can regain it (LTA). When your opponents hold the net, a high lob over their heads forces them to retreat toward the back glass. As they run backward to defend the rebound, you and your partner can sprint forward to take over the net.
Under the rules, the lob must bounce in their court before it touches their back glass.
The LTA defines the bandeja as a high volley hit like a smash with underspin, which reduces the ball's bounce.
Rule Mistakes That Cost Points
Beginners often lose points to rule mistakes rather than to good shots. Under padel rules, your shot must bounce in the opponents' court before touching their walls or fence. If your shot hits their back wall, side wall, or metal mesh directly without bouncing first, you lose the point.
You can, however, use your own walls to return difficult defensive balls. Under FIP rules, you may play the ball off your own glass wall into the opponents' court as a legal return.
Equipment handling rules can also end a rally unexpectedly. Dropping your racket or breaking the wrist cord loses the point immediately under the FIP rules. Always secure the safety lanyard around your wrist before serving or starting a point.
On the serve, contact must be at or below waist height with at least one foot on the ground. A serve that bounces in the service box and then hits the metal fence is a fault under FIP regulations. Our padel scoring guide covers how those points are counted.
Drills for Weekly Practice
Drills that penalize unforced errors build the consistency needed to win competitive rallies. The LTA designs specific practice routines that teach players to value steady placement over aggressive winners.
The ladder rally drill trains concentration and shot tolerance. Two players engage in a half-court rally aiming for 2, then 3, then 4 shots in a row. Any miss sends both players back to the start, while a harder version places one player at the net to practice volley control.
The back glass drill develops comfort with wall rebounds. A partner bounces the ball just in front of the back wall, allowing you to let it rebound and softly return it to the feeder. A harder version uses the court corner so the ball hits two walls before you strike it.
The yellow card and red card match drill enforces discipline during competitive play. Players compete in a practice match where an unforced mistake earns a yellow card, and a second mistake in the same game earns a red card that concedes the game. The LTA builds these drills around misses because, in its words, "padel is a game of consistency".
You can also complete home practice routines without access to a court. The LTA suggests tapping the ball in the air with your racket for control, switching hands to make the task harder. You can also volley against an outside wall.
Tips for Tennis Players
Tennis players transitioning to padel face specific mechanical habits that work against them on court. The LTA notes that padel emphasizes control and precision with shorter, sharper racket movements, while tennis emphasizes power and bigger swings.
The LTA says the biggest challenge for tennis players is using the back glass. Tennis players instinctively play every ball in front of them, but in padel, letting balls rebound off the back glass buys time.
Hitting softer shots with controlled placement keeps the ball lower after contacting the glass. Read our comparison of padel vs tennis to examine how equipment, scoring, and court dimensions diverge between both sports.
Padel vs Tennis Technique
Each row pairs a tennis habit with the padel habit the LTA recommends instead.
| Tactical Area | Tennis Technique | Padel Technique | Practical Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swing Length | Big backswing for power generation | Short backswing for accuracy and reactions | Shorten forehand and backhand preparation |
| Deep Balls | Struck in front of the body before the baseline | Allowed to rebound off the back glass | Let the ball pass you to buy time |
| Shot Pace | Bigger swings for power | Keep the ball low off the glass | Hit softer off the glass |
Who These Tips Are For
This advice is designed for new padel players who want to eliminate unforced errors and establish reliable fundamentals. It is also for tennis players who keep playing every ball in front of them.
These tips are not aimed at advanced tournament players who already execute consistent placement under pressure. If that is you, work on advanced shots with a coach instead.
Our advice changes once you win most rallies on consistency. At that point, spend more practice time on the bandeja and the lob.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I improve my padel fast?
Focus on keeping the ball in play with a short backswing and learn to wait for the back glass. Practicing half-court ladder rallies and warm-up footwork drills will accelerate your progress on court. The LTA scores its own drills on misses, because it calls padel a game of consistency.
What are the most common padel beginner mistakes?
Common errors include taking oversized backswings, rushing balls before they hit the glass, and hitting the ball directly into the opponent's wall without a bounce. Not talking to your partner and not moving as a pair also cost points. Dropping your racket loses the point outright, so wear the wrist cord.
How do you play off the back glass in padel?
Let the ball pass you, bounce off the back wall, and then strike it on its forward rebound. The LTA advises keeping your return low so opponents at the net struggle to volley it. Waiting for the glass buys you time to set your feet and control the shot.
Should I go to the net in padel?
Yes, when your lob has pushed your opponents back. The net is the primary attacking position in padel, allowing you to finish points with volleys and smashes. Move up alongside your partner so you do not leave open gaps between you.
What padel drills can I do as a beginner?
Start with the LTA's ladder rally. Partner drills where a feeder bounces the ball into the back glass help build defensive timing. At home, tapping the ball into the air or volleying against an exterior wall improves hand control.
How do tennis players adapt to padel?
Tennis players adapt by shortening their backswings and letting deep balls rebound off the back glass. The LTA notes that tennis players instinctively hit every ball in front of them, which makes back wall defense their biggest adjustment. Hitting softer shots with control helps them transition away from the power demands of tennis.
Is power important in padel?
Less than control. The LTA says padel is more about accuracy and ball placement than it is about power. The LTA emphasizes that padel relies on shorter, sharper movements rather than big swings.
Run the ladder rally drill at your next court session, and use the padel basics guides to find the rules and scoring guides.
