Padel
3 tips to get you playing your best padel this summer
Looking to improve your padel skills? We've got you covered with this trio of tips that will help you elevate your game to the next level.
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With the summer in full swing, playing padel is one of the best options to stay active, enjoy the weather and have fun practising one of the most social and fastest-growing sports in the world.
There are certain aspects that aren't to be overlooked when it comes to playing padel in the heat of the summer however. Higher temperatures increase ball speed, making rebounds off the wall stronger and faster than in the winter. This change in the conditions of play considerably affects how you should adapt you style of play to succeed when playing summer padel.
Check out these three tips to make the most of summer conditions, use the heat to your advantage and improve your overall game.
01
Be assertive with smash shots
Summer temperatures benefit aggressive players who excel at finishing points at the net with high-power shots. With the ball flying across the court at a higher pace, precision and power in those aerial shots will make the difference between winning and losing.
Summer is the time to be decisive with smash shots, whether bringing the ball back to your court, making a 'x3' (sending the ball out of the court above the side fence after a rebound off the back wall) or just surprising your opponent with a quick smash that gives them no time to react. Punishing your opponents after a short, deficient lob becomes easier thanks to the additional speed that padel balls enjoy in the summer.
The smash is as aggressive shot as you can get on a padel court
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
02
Be more selective with lobs
That same offensive advantage of higher ball speed and stronger bounce off the walls, turns into a drawback on defence. When it’s your turn to defend with your opponents at the net, make sure you raise your standards when opting for lob shots.
Make firm, low-flying forehands and backhands the main ingredients of your defensive game and be patient, waiting for an easy ball that allows you to play a deep, precise, high-quality lob that will prevent your rivals from playing those smash shots.
The lob is often a defensive shot
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
When it comes to transition aerial shots like bandejas and viboras, adjusting the power used becomes paramount. The key is to avoid strong and straight rebounds off the opponent's back wall to prevent them from going forward and reaching the net. Instead, play softer transition shots that 'die' at the wall, keeping your rivals at the back of the court.
At more advanced levels, shots aimed at the side walls or – even better – the fence, are the perfect solution to keep your attacking position at the net and make your opponents work on defence. If you reach the ball at its optimal spot, you can also use more spin on those transition shots by using your wrist. Spin will make your shots more unpredictable and your adversaries’ efforts to recover more difficult.
03
Use the rules to your advantage
Few people know about the amount of time that the rules grant players to take in-game breaks – and even fewer people make use of them. The rules allow players to take 20 seconds between each point and these can be extremely productive when used coherently and consistently, especially in the summer when factors like sweat, thirst and fatigue tend to play a bigger role than they do in the winter.
While these 20 seconds usually won't be enough for you to get out of the court and use a towel after every single point, make sure you utilise this time to breathe, wipe sweat off your face and hands with your wristband or sleeve, and briefly discuss the tactics you will use on the next point with your team-mate.
Take a little bit of a time out
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
Discuss tactics or reset for what's to come
© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool
Rules also allow for longer, 90-second breaks when it's time to change court sides (after every odd game). These breaks are ideal for briefly sitting down, using a towel, grabbing a drink and even changing your t-shirt if sweat is making you uncomfortable. Take this time to talk with your partner and figure out the best way to improve your plays at that exact moment.
The largest breaks happen between sets. Players are allowed 120 seconds from the moment a set ends until the start of the next one. During this break, you should check all of the above, as well as potentially extras like quickly changing your racket's overgrip if the sweat on it is making your hand slip. These long breaks are also ideal to analyse and discuss with your partner how the match is playing out and what strategy to follow during the remainder of it.
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