Last updated: May 2026 | Reading time: ~12 minutes
So you’ve picked up a padel racket and played your first few matches. Fun, right? But there are a bunch of things that beginners do wrong — habits that slow down your progress and, worse, can lead to injuries.
We’ve put together 15 tips and tricks that most beginners wish someone had told them from day one. Some of these will surprise even intermediate players.
If you’re completely new to padel, start with our Simple Answers to the Most Confusing Padel Rules first.
🎯 Racket & Gear Tips
1. Your Racket Matters More Than You Think — But Not How
Beginners always ask: „Which racket should I buy?“ The answer isn’t the most expensive one. In fact, beginners should avoid stiff, power-oriented rackets. They need a forgiving sweet spot and enough weight to stabilize your swing.
Look for:
- Round or teardrop shape (larger sweet spot)
- Fiberglass frame (more forgiving on off-center hits)
- Light to medium weight (335–355g)
👉 Use our free Padel Racket Finder tool to compare rackets side by side and find one that matches your level.
2. Change Your Overgrip Every 10–15 Hours of Play
Nobody talks about grips. But a worn-out overgrip is the #1 reason beginners lose control of their racket. The grip gets slippery, you squeeze tighter, your arm gets tired, and your shots get worse.
Tip: Buy a pack of 3–4 overgrips. Swap them out every few weeks if you play regularly. It costs almost nothing and transforms your game.
3. Padel Shoes Are NOT Tennis Shoes
This matters more than any gear advice on this list. Padel involves a lot of lateral movement, sudden stops, and dragging your feet on sand or artificial grass. Tennis shoes aren’t designed for this.
You need:
- Herringbone or mixed sole (grip on sandy courts)
- Reinforced toe and side panels (padel is rough on shoes)
- Good lateral support (your ankles will thank you)
Need help choosing? The Padel Shoe Finder compares 34 top-rated shoes with side-by-side radar charts.
🎾 Technique Tips
4. Stop Trying to Hit Hard
This sounds counterintuitive, but the hardest hitters aren’t the best players. Padel is won with placement, consistency, and patience.
Focus on:
- Controlled swings over power swings
- Placing the ball where your opponents aren’t
- Building the point rather than ending it in one shot
Once you can consistently place the ball, power will come naturally.
5. Your Ready Position Is Wrong
Most beginners stand flat-footed with their racket down. That’s a huge mistake.
Your ready position should be:
- Knees slightly bent
- Weight on the balls of your feet
- Racket up and in front of your chest
- Eyes on the ball at all times
This lets you move quickly in any direction. Standing still is the fastest way to lose a point.
6. Use the Walls — They’re Your Best Friend
Unlike tennis, the glass walls and wire fences are part of the game. The best players use them strategically:
- Defensive: Let the ball bounce off the wall to reset the point
- Offensive: Angle shots off the side walls to create difficult returns
Beginners tend to ignore the walls entirely. Start practicing rebounding drills and you’ll immediately level up.
7. Don’t Stand Too Close to the Net
Beginners crowd the net because they want to volley. But standing too close means any lob goes over your head and you can’t recover.
The sweet spot: About 1–1.5 steps back from the net. Close enough to attack lobs but far enough to cover defensive lobs.
8. The Bandeja Is Your Best Shot (Learn It Early)
The bandeja (a spinning overhead shot) is THE fundamental padel shot. It’s not about power — it’s about control and getting the ball deep into your opponents‘ court.
Practice this shot until it’s automatic. Most points at beginner level are won and lost on bandeja quality.
🧠 Strategy Tips
9. Communication With Your Partner Is Everything
Padel is doubles. Doubles means communication. Call the ball („mine!“ or „yours!“) on every single shot, especially:
- Balls down the middle
- Balls near the wall
- Lobs that could go either way
Silent partners lose. Talk and win.
10. Lob More Than You Think You Should
A well-placed lob does two things:
- Pushes your opponents back to the baseline
- Buys you time to get into position at the net
Most beginners lob too little. If your opponents are crowding the net, throw a lob over their heads. It’s not defensive — it’s tactical.
11. Don’t Always Go for the Winning Shot
This is the hardest lesson. Beginners see an opening and try to smash the ball for a winner. But aggressive shots miss more often than controlled ones.
The mantra: „Make your opponent miss.“ Hit deep, hit to their weaker side, hit with spin. Let them make the errors.
💪 Fitness & Injury Prevention
12. Warm Up for 5 Minutes — No Excuse
Padel demands sudden direction changes, sprints, and lunges. Going in cold is asking for pulled muscles.
A quick warm-up:
- 2 min jogging or jumping jacks
- Arm circles and shoulder stretches
- Side shuffles (mimic on-court movement)
- A few gentle practice swings
13. Strengthen Your ankles
Ankle sprains are extremely common in padel. The lateral movements and court surface make ankles vulnerable.
Simple exercises:
- Calf raises (3 sets of 15)
- Single-leg balance (30 seconds each leg)
- Resistance band ankle rotations
Do these 2–3 times per week and you’ll dramatically reduce your injury risk.
📋 Quick Reference: Common Beginner Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It Hurts You | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Standing flat-footed | Slow reactions | Stay on your toes, knees bent |
| Hitting everything hard | Unforced errors | Focus on placement |
| Ignoring the walls | Missing strategic tools | Practice wall rebounds |
| No communication with partner | Confusion, missed balls | Call every ball |
| Wrong shoes | Slipping, ankle injuries | Get proper padel shoes |
| No warm-up | Muscle strains | 5 min warm-up minimum |
| Crowding the net | Vulnerable to lobs | Stay 1–1.5 steps back |
💰 How Much Does Padel Cost to Play?
If you’re just getting started, you might be wondering about costs. We’ve broken it all down in our guide: How Much Does Padel Cost? — covering court rental, equipment, and membership fees.
🔗 More Padel Resources
- 📖 Padel Rules Explained — FAQ format, covers all the confusing rules
- 👟 Padel Shoe Finder — Compare 34 shoes with radar charts
- 🎾 Padel Racket Finder — Side-by-side comparison tool
- 🇩🇪 Padel in Deutschland — The German padel scene
Found this helpful? Share it with a friend who’s getting into padel. And if you have a tip we missed, drop us a message — we’d love to hear from you.
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