10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Playing Padel
Last updated: May 2026 | Reading time: 7 minutes
Everyone’s first padel session follows roughly the same pattern. You show up thinking it’ll be like tennis. You spend the first ten minutes hitting balls into the net or off the back wall at weird angles. Then something clicks, the rallies start flowing, and you’re completely hooked.
There are a few things that would have made that first session — and the sessions after it — a lot easier. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I started.
1. The Walls Are Your Friend, Not Your Enemy
This is the one that catches almost every beginner off guard. When a ball heads toward the back glass, the instinct is to panic. Don’t. Let it bounce off the wall and come back to you — you have more time than you think.
The back wall is one of the most useful tools in padel. It turns what looks like a lost point into a live ball. Learning to read the rebound off the glass takes a few sessions but once it clicks, your whole game opens up. Stop fighting the walls and start using them.
2. Use the Service Line to Decide When to Play the Ball
This is one of the most practical tips for beginners and most people never get told it.
Watch where the ball bounces in relation to the service line:
If the ball bounces before the service line — it’s coming to you with pace and angle. Play it early, before it reaches the wall.
If the ball bounces after the service line — it’s heading deeper toward the back glass. Let it hit the wall and play it off the rebound. You’ll have more time and a much better position.
It’s not a rigid rule but it’s a brilliant starting point when you’re not sure whether to attack the ball early or let the wall do the work.
3. Get to the Net — That’s Where Points Are Won
In padel, the team at the net wins most points. This is different to tennis where baseline rallies are common. The net position gives you angles, puts pressure on your opponents, and forces errors.
As a beginner it feels unnatural to rush forward — you’ll worry about what happens if the ball goes over your head. That’s fine. Learn to move toward the net after a strong return. You don’t need to be perfect at it straight away, just start thinking about it.
4. The Serve Is Just a Formality
Coming from tennis, you might expect the serve to be a weapon. In padel it isn’t. The underarm serve is designed to start the point, not win it outright. Nobody is hitting aces in padel.
The sooner you accept this the better. Don’t try to smash your serve. Focus on getting it in consistently — diagonal, bouncing first, below waist height. A reliable serve that goes in every time is worth far more than an aggressive one that keeps faulting.
5. You Will Hit the Net a Lot at First — That’s Normal
The court is smaller than you expect and the angles are different to any other racket sport. Beginners consistently misjudge their shots early on and clip the net more than they’d like — it’s completely normal and sorts itself out within a few sessions.
The simple fix is to aim higher than feels necessary until you get used to the distances. Your depth control will naturally adjust as you play more.
6. Communication With Your Partner Is Half the Game
Padel is doubles. Always. That means you and your partner need to be talking constantly — calling for balls, deciding who takes the middle, letting each other know when to switch positions.
The most common beginner mistake is both players going for the same ball, or both leaving it for the other. A simple “mine” or “yours” call prevents this. Get in the habit from your very first session. Good communication makes even beginner rallies feel much more controlled.
7. Hire a Racket for Your First Few Sessions
Don’t buy a racket before you’ve played. Hire from the club for your first three to five sessions. You’ll learn what weight feels comfortable, whether you prefer a lighter or heavier feel, and whether you even enjoy the sport enough to invest in your own equipment.
Most clubs offer hire for free or £3–5. It’s one of the best decisions you can make as a beginner. When you are ready to buy, check our best beginner racket guide before spending anything.
8. The Lob Is One of the Most Useful Shots in Padel
The lob — hitting the ball high over your opponents’ heads to push them back from the net — is not a defensive afterthought in padel. It’s a core tactical shot.
When your opponents are at the net and you’re under pressure at the back, a good lob wins you the point or at least resets the situation. Beginners often try to drive the ball hard when lobbing would be smarter. Practice it. A well-placed lob is one of the most satisfying shots in the game.
9. Don’t Try to Hit the Ball Hard
Power is overrated in padel. The court is small, the walls slow everything down, and hard shots often just come back at you off the glass. What actually wins points is placement, consistency, and good positioning.
Beginners who try to blast every shot struggle for much longer than those who focus on keeping the ball in play and moving into good positions. Hit with control first. Power comes naturally as your technique develops.
10. You’ll Be Addicted After Your First Session
This one isn’t a warning — it’s just honest. Padel has a way of getting under your skin very quickly. The combination of the social doubles format, the accessible learning curve, and the unique wall game creates something genuinely fun from the very first session.
Clear your diary for the weekend after your first game. You’ll want to book again immediately.
Bonus Tip: Find a Regular Group Early
The single biggest factor in how quickly you improve at padel is how often you play. And how often you play depends almost entirely on having a regular group of four to book with.
Try to lock in a regular game with the same people as early as possible — even if it’s just once a week. Consistent play accelerates improvement, and a regular group means you’re never scrambling to find players last minute.
Ready to get started? Read our guides on best padel rackets for beginners UK 2026, padel rules explained, and how to find a padel court near you.