How I went from intermediate to high advanced in less than 6 months (ex tennis coach)
First time paying padel I instantly became hooked like most of us and put down my tennis racket ever since
I have free access daily to my community courts so I can play as much as my body can reasonably handle
My routine:
-Play 2-3/week 2hr matches, constantly rotating players/partners
-Train 2-3/week with my wife specific padel shots like most important shots bandeja/vibora/bajada
-Weight training 2-3x/week on off days and walk 1hr on non padel days (I was doing this before anyway)
-Watch YouTube tutorials videos every day and pro matches like while I work
-Joined every local club, played in higher tiers and watched movement and shots of better players
-Got all advanced guys numbers and created a 50+ padel group where I fill my own matches weekly
-Record yourself and compare technique against videos
From int to advance:
Aside from technique- Biggest difference in advanced is consistency, placement, positioning and tactics. Most non advanced do not understand how the game tactically should be played.
Using glass in defense to slow and save every ball as well. The glass is your friend. Your not advanced unless you can use the glass and retrieve near winners like smashes
Smashes only work if they can't be retrieved so don't even attempt unless your going to tap out or bring it high over.
Focus on hitting more precise then harder. My biggest difference from tennis I have to remind myself "TRANQUILO". The better I've gotten the more precise I play and set up the next shot then try to hit winners like tennis
Slower precise serve is better than fast error prone one
"PADEL IS A GAME OF WHO MAKES MORE ERRORS NOT WINNERS" someone told me and it's so true
Racket:
Recently, I switched from a head heavy soft core carbon wilson blade pro v2 had too much trampoline to a 355g headlight control racket firm core wilson ultra pro v2 with 0 trampolime
When I switched rackets at first was difficult with 0 rebound and mishits but now I've adjusted and my game has taken off considerably more as i can exactly control the ball with the pace I add to it like perfect lobs, chiqiuitas etc
My bag
- 2 sets of towel/clothing/arm/head bands, rotating every set while.the other dries with a fan. -Gallon of ice water with teaspoon of salt. -Banana on set changeover. No cramping since... -Tourna grip or felt style (recently changed to felt and 0 slipping when soaked)
Live in a hot country so a must. My body physically was giving out on some matches before this.
No I never got coaching and I even played against and beat some actual coaches recently which suprised me how quickly I've advanced
AMA