Round 00Overview

Why ashotbreaks.

Every padel shot is four steps. When one step fails, the shot fails. Scroll to watch one shot happen.

Round 01See

You hitwhat yousee.

Read the ball early: how fast, how high, and where it will bounce.

DoWatch the other player's racket face as they hit. It tells you the direction before the ball does.
DoCall the bounce in your head: short, deep, or off the glass.
It broke here ifThe ball surprised you, or you moved late or the wrong way.

Round 02Decide

Pick the shot before the ball arrives. Then commit to it.

DoChoose before the bounce, not during the swing.
DoKeep a default. If you are unsure, lob.
It broke here ifYou changed your mind mid-swing, or went for the hard shot when the easy one was open.

Round 03Set

Get behind the ball with the racket ready, and be balanced before you hit.

DoTake small steps to adjust, and prepare the racket while you move.
DoLeave space. The ball should be in front of you, an arm's length away.
It broke here ifThe ball was too close or too far, or you were still moving at contact.

Round 04Hit

Contact in front, a smooth swing, and a full finish.

DoKeep the grip loose and finish the swing toward your target.
KnowIf the first three steps were right, this is the easy part. Many "bad technique" misses are a late See or a poor Set.
It broke here ifYou were in the right place with the right plan and still rushed or tightened the swing.

Round 05Body + Mind

All four steps run on your body and your mind. When the fuel is low, good technique still breaks.

BodyLegs, breath, water, sleep. Tired legs make every Set late.
MindFocus and calm. A head stuck on the last point makes every See late.
It broke here ifThe same shot worked in the first set and stopped working in the third.

Round 06The six places

After any miss, the shot broke in one of six places. Pick one.

Looks like

Try next ball

Round 07The 3-second reply

When your coach asks "what happened?", name the place and one reason. That is the whole answer.

Your reply3.0 s