Padel Practice Plan for Beginners
Quick answer
A good padel practice plan prioritizes holding the net and playing the walls: drill the bandeja to keep net position, reading balls off the back glass, lob defense, and connected positioning with your partner before chasing winners. Padel rewards patience and court position — controlling the net and using the walls wins far more points than power.
What is happening
Padel is a game of position and patience played with the walls. The team at the net controls the point, so the key skills are holding net position (the bandeja), defending the lob, and turning balls off the glass into offense.
Just playing matches makes it hard to isolate why points are lost. A plan that drills the bandeja, wall reads, lob defense, and positioning builds those skills faster and clarifies what is breaking down.
Diagnose it yourself
- Do you lose the net after a lob, or hold it with a controlled bandeja?
- Off the back glass, do you give the ball space and stay balanced, or get jammed?
- Are you and your partner moving as a connected pair, or leaving gaps through the middle?
- Do you go for winners from defensive positions instead of resetting the point?
What SwingVantage looks for
- Side-on, controlled bandeja technique
- Spacing and footwork off the glass
- Balance and contact point on wall balls
- Court positioning and partner spacing
Example SwingVantage diagnosis
Example: "You lose the net because your overheads sit up. Turning side-on and brushing a controlled bandeja deep — instead of flattening it — let you hold the net."
Beginner-safe drills
1. Bandeja control and depth (most reps)
A partner lobs; hit controlled, sliced bandejas deep cross-court while holding net position, rather than going for power. 3 sets of 10 — the foundation.
2. Back-glass spacing
Feed balls into the back wall; let the rebound come out, give it space, and drive it from out of the corner. 2 sets of 10 each side.
3. Lob defense and recover
Defend a lob with a bandeja, then recover net position with your partner. Repeat to build the hold-the-net habit. 2 sets of 8.
4. Connected-pair positioning
With a partner, move up and back together through live points, never leaving the middle open. 5 minutes focused only on spacing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going for power overheads (smashes) when a bandeja would hold the net.
- Crowding balls against the back glass instead of giving them space.
- Drifting out of position and opening the middle.
- Practicing only by playing, never isolating the bandeja or wall reads.
When to work with a coach
If you keep losing the net or getting jammed off the glass after a couple of sessions, a coach (or your swing analysis) can pinpoint whether it is technique, spacing, or positioning.
Your swing, decoded — coaching in your pocket. SwingVantage reads your data and hands you the one fix that matters most, with confident, data-backed guidance you can use today. Findings are heuristic estimates — smart reads that sharpen with every swing you add — and they pair perfectly with a coach for injury concerns or advanced technique work, so you show up to those sessions already ahead.
Warm up before full-speed play, wear court shoes for lateral support, and use a paddle that fits your hand and strength. Stop if anything hurts.
FAQ
What should a beginner practice first in padel?
Holding the net with a controlled bandeja, and reading balls off the back glass. Court position and the walls decide more points than power.
How is padel practice different from tennis?
The walls and net positioning are central. You practice using the glass on defense and patient, controlled overheads (the bandeja) to hold the net, not big groundstroke winners.
Why do I keep losing the net in padel?
Usually flat, sitting overheads. A controlled, sliced bandeja hit deep keeps opponents back and lets you and your partner hold the net.
Is this your problem?
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