Match tactics: positioning and shot selection
Key takeaway from our Guru
How can I improve my tactical decision-making during a padel match?
Stop copying the speed of the incoming ball. Move quickly to your position and then slow down to have a coffee break before you hit your shot.
What this lesson covers
Effective court positioning requires players to anticipate the opponent's movement and adjust their own location accordingly. When serving, depth is more important than power. A short serve allows the receiver to put immediate pressure on the server. Players should aim to serve toward the glass or the middle to limit the receiver's options. When playing a lob, if the ball is quick, hit it flat to keep it deep. If the lob is high, use a rulo to brush the ball. Avoid playing shots into the middle of the court where the opponent does not have to turn to hit the ball. Instead, target the corners to force the opponent to move.
During rallies, avoid copying the speed of the incoming ball. Move quickly to the target area and then slow down to set up the shot. A common mistake is continuing to run while attempting to hit, which makes direction changes difficult. When receiving, take the ball earlier to reduce the opponent's reaction time. If the ball comes from the forehand corner, play it back to the same corner or to the middle. Never play from corner to corner. The best results come from playing softer shots that die behind the opponent, forcing them to use the glass.
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Original video
Added on Sep 24, 2026
I Played With Random Padel Players… And Coached Them Mid-Match
Description
Please subscribe and hit the notification bell, let's get 100K subscribers this year! In this video, I head to Destination Padel in Cheadle, near Manchester, for a very different kind of padel match. I played with three random padel players who knew they were going to be filmed, but had no idea what the video was actually going to be about. During the match, I started coaching them in real time — looking at their positioning, shot selection, tactics and decision-making on court. This video gives you a real look at the things I notice as a padel coach during an actual match: what I would change, what I would leave alone, and which small adjustments can make the biggest difference. If you want to improve your padel tactics, positioning and match play, hopefully you can take some of these tips into your own games. Filmed at Destination Padel, Cheadle, Manchester, UK. ~ Use code " otronivel5 " on justpadel.com to get 5% discount! ~ Would you like to learn more? Become a Otro Nivel channel member or special member, support us and become better! 👊🏼 Click & join ➠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMuJTshdLiaUmbYJy8lSkA/join ~ Also find us on: Our Facebook group ➠https://www.facebook.com/groups/padeltips Our Facebook page ➠https://www.facebook.com/otronivelpadel 👊🏼 Become a supporter ➠https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/0tronivel ~ Our instagram page ➠https://www.instagram.com/0tronivel/ Sven's instagram page ➠https://www.instagram.com/svenboele/ Sven's tiktok➠ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZScj6vNr/
Good for
Skill level
Court position
Both sides, Net, Service line, Backcourt, Corner
Play style
Tactical
Secondary shot
Return
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