5 Tips to Quickly Improve Your Padel Skills

Transitioning from tennis to padel feels natural — after all, tennis players already have strong technique, footwork, and attacking instincts. But padel has its own rhythm and unique rules, and adapting your tennis skills is the key to becoming effective on a padel court.

Here are 5 essential tips to improve your padel quickly, especially if you’re moving over from tennis.

1. Don’t Smash Every Ball

In tennis, a smash often means the end of the point. In padel, it’s a different story. If your smash doesn’t go for a clear winner, the glass gives your opponents a chance to recover and counterattack.

Instead of trying to finish the point every time:

• Use slower smashes toward the middle of the court.

• Try the double glass smash, where the ball bounces off two walls, making it very difficult to return.

• Keep the net position and wait for the right moment to attack.

Patience is power in padel — set up the point, then strike when it’s truly an easy ball.

2. Learn to Use the Glass

At first, the glass feels confusing, even intimidating. Many tennis players instinctively block every shot before it reaches the wall, but that puts them under constant pressure.

When you let the ball hit the glass:

• The ball slows down and comes toward you with more control.

• You have extra time to prepare your shot.

• You can even use the rebound’s natural direction to add control or power.

Mastering the glass will transform your defense. Instead of panicking, you’ll start turning defensive shots into offensive opportunities.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Lob

In tennis, a lob has to be perfect or your opponent will crush it with an overhead. In padel, the lob is one of the most important shots in the game.

Here’s why:

• It pushes your opponents back, giving you time to take the net.

• It creates variation and breaks their rhythm.

• Even a “good enough” lob (not perfect) can put you in control of the point.

Work on consistent, safe lobs. They don’t need to be spectacular — just effective enough to force your opponent away from the net.

4. Add Backspin to Your Volleys

Tennis players often hit volleys flat and hard. But in padel, flat volleys bounce too high after hitting the glass, giving your opponent a chance to counter.

Instead, try this:

• Add backspin to your volleys.

• Play them slower, so they drop after hitting the glass.

• Direct them toward the middle or to your opponent’s body.

This small adjustment will make your volleys much more dangerous. Opponents will struggle to attack low, spinning balls, giving you more chances to finish the point.

5. Don’t Try to Finish Points from the Back of the Court

Passing shots down the line look amazing, but in padel, they’re risky. With the help of the glass, defenders can recover many shots that would be winners in tennis.

Instead of forcing impossible winners from the back:

• Play safer flat shots toward the middle or at your opponents’ feet.

• Use lobs to regain the net.

• Be patient; set up the rally until you can move forward and win from the net.

Remember: most points are won at the net in padel, not at the back.

Tennis players bring powerful weapons to the padel court: attacking mindset, strong volleys and great smashes. But padel is a different game. Patience, control, and using the walls will turn you from a frustrated tennis hitter into a smart padel player.

Apply these 5 tips consistently, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly your game improves.

With these adjustments, your tennis background becomes a huge advantage. Now it’s about adapting to padel’s unique tactics and rhythm.

Ready to put these tips into practice?

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