You practice regularly. You've invested in decent gear. You understand the basic rules. Yet somehow, you keep losing matches you should win. The problem isn't your fitness or your natural ability. It's the small tactical errors that add up over the course of a game. These nine mistakes appear in club matches across the UK every single day.
1. Standing Too Far Back From the Net
Most amateur players spend too much time near the baseline. They hit a good shot, then retreat. This defensive position hands control to your opponents.
The net is where you win points in padel. When you control the net, you force your opponents to attempt difficult passing shots or lobs. They make errors. You capitalise.
After hitting a deep shot, move forward. Take two or three quick steps towards the net. Your opponents now face pressure. They must execute a perfect shot to regain position.
Watch any professional match. Players fight for net position on every point. They understand that the team at the net wins 70% of rallies. Apply this principle to your game and your win rate will climb.
2. Hitting Everything Hard
Power feels good. Smashing the ball gives you a rush. But pace without placement loses matches.
Padel rewards placement over power. The enclosed court means hard shots often rebound off the back wall, giving your opponents an easy return. A well-placed shot to the side wall or a soft drop shot causes far more problems.
Try this experiment. In your next match, reduce your swing speed by 20%. Focus on hitting the ball to uncomfortable positions. Aim for your opponent's feet, the side walls, or the corners. You'll win more points with less effort.
Save your power for the right moments. When your opponents are deep and you're at the net, then smash. The rest of the time, play smart.
3. Ignoring the Walls
The walls define padel. They're not obstacles. They're tools.
Many players treat wall shots as defensive emergencies. They panic when the ball hits the glass. This mindset costs them points.
Good players use walls to create angles that don't exist in tennis. They bounce balls off the side wall to wrong-foot opponents. They play shots off the back wall to buy time and reset the point.
Spend 20 minutes before your next match just hitting balls against the walls. Learn how different spins and speeds affect the rebound. This knowledge transforms your game. You'll start seeing opportunities where you once saw problems.
4. Poor Communication With Your Partner
Padel is a doubles game. You and your partner must function as one unit. Silence on court creates confusion, and confusion creates errors.
Call "mine" or "yours" on every ball that comes down the middle. Decide before the match who takes high balls and who covers low ones. Discuss tactics between points. Your opponents can't hear you. Use this advantage.
At clubs like The Padel Club in London or Padel Manchester, you'll notice the best pairs talk constantly. They encourage each other after mistakes. They celebrate good shots. This communication builds trust and improves performance.
Make a pact with your partner. Talk on every single point. You'll be surprised how much your game improves.
5. Weak Returns of Serve
The return of serve is the second most important shot in padel. Only the serve matters more. Yet most players treat it casually.
A weak return allows the serving team to take the net immediately. You're now defending for the entire point. That's a losing position.
Your return has one job: keep the serving team back. Hit deep to the corners or aim for their feet. Make them hit up. This gives you and your partner time to move forward and claim the net.
Practice your returns for 15 minutes before every session. Have someone serve to you repeatedly. Focus on depth and accuracy, not speed. A consistent, deep return wins more matches than an occasional brilliant winner.
6. Playing Too Close to Your Partner
New players often cluster together on court. They stand shoulder to shoulder, leaving huge gaps on either side.
Proper court coverage requires space between partners. Stand roughly two metres apart when at the net, slightly more when defending. This formation covers the width of the court and prevents easy passing shots.
Move as a unit. When your partner shifts left, you shift left. When they move forward, you move forward. Maintain that two-metre gap at all times.
Think of yourselves as connected by an invisible rope. This rope can stretch and contract, but it never breaks. This mental image helps many players at Stratford Padel Club maintain proper spacing throughout their matches.
7. Neglecting Your Backhand Wall
Most players have a weaker backhand. Smart opponents know this and exploit it relentlessly.
The backhand wall (the wall on your backhand side) becomes a target for good players. They hit shots that force you to play awkward backhand volleys off the glass.
You must practice these shots. Spend time hitting backhand volleys after the ball bounces off the side wall. Learn to read the angle and adjust your position. This shot appears multiple times in every match.
If you can handle backhand wall shots comfortably, opponents lose a major weapon. They must find other ways to attack. This limits their options and gives you more control.
8. Wrong Racket Choice
Your racket affects every shot you hit. Using the wrong one handicaps your game before you even step on court.
Three racket shapes exist: round, teardrop, and diamond. Round rackets offer control and forgiveness. Diamond rackets provide power but require precise timing. Teardrop shapes sit in the middle.
Most intermediate players should use round or teardrop rackets. These shapes help you develop consistent technique. Save diamond rackets for when your skills match their demands.
Visit a pro shop and try different rackets. Many clubs in Dublin and Edinburgh offer demo programmes. Spend money on the right racket. It's the most cost-effective way to improve your game.
9. Predictable Shot Selection
Your opponents watch you. They learn your patterns. If you always lob when pushed wide, they'll anticipate it. If you never vary your serve, they'll position perfectly for the return.
Variety keeps opponents guessing. Mix hard shots with soft shots. Alternate between down-the-line drives and cross-court angles. Change your serve placement every few points.
This doesn't mean hitting random shots. Build patterns, then break them. Serve to the forehand twice, then hit the backhand. Drive three times, then drop. Your opponents can't settle into a rhythm.
The best players at Canary Wharf Padel Club make this look easy. They're not more talented than you. They simply understand that predictability equals vulnerability. Keep your opponents guessing and you'll win more points with the same shots you already have.
Fix these nine mistakes and your results will improve. You don't need new skills or better fitness. You need to eliminate the errors that cost you three or four points per set. Those points decide matches. Start with one mistake. Master it. Then move to the next. Your opponents won't know what changed. They'll just know they're losing to you now.
