From Baseline to Back‑Glass: How to Transition from Tennis to Padel
Padel has exploded across Britain with more than 400,000 people played at least once in 2024, up from just 15,000 five years earlier. Court numbers in Britain have climbed to 893 venues by early 2025, with the Lawn Tennis Association investing over £6 million to support accessible play
For tennis players craving strategic doubles play, Padel offers richer rally tactics, a social vibe, and slightly easier entry all wrapped in a modern, trend-forward setting.
Adapting Your Tennis game step by step:
1. Shrink Your Swing, Own the Shot. The single biggest adjustment: tennis players habitually use large loops and wrist actions. In padel, your swings need to be short, compact and precise—especially volleys and overheads, which rely on placement, not power
2. Befriend the Glass
Tennis teaches us to chase every ball—but in padel, letting the ball bounce off the back or side glass can give you the crucial split‑second advantage. Make drills that let the ball travel past you before returning, and focus less on timing and more on anticipation.
3. Redefine Your Serve & Return
The Padel serve is always underarm, struck below waist height, aimed towards side glass with backspin, not pace
. As tennis serves become less effective, players often adapt by adopting the “serve‑plus‑one” model so using the return to shape the point strategically
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4. Prioritise Teamwork & Court Positioning
Padel is doubles only: success hinges on instant coordination, shared ‘T‑position’, and shifts in unison. You’re now part of a duet, not a solo act.
5. Layer New Skills: Volume Lobs, Bandejas, Viboras
Traditional tennis smashes still work but in Padel, spin-based finishers like the bandeja and vibora add tactical depth. Build drills that alternate between net volleys and spin overheads to strengthen your adaptability .
A Training Blueprint for Fast Progress
1 Wall‑to‑wall rally training. Let the ball bounce off side/back glass every 2nd shot.
2 Serve‑return transition drills. Serve underarm, then press net consistently.
3 Netted volleys and spin finishers. Work on control, not power.
4 Match simulation with doubles partners. Enforce resets to the “T”.
Keep What Works, Reshape What Doesn’t
Your tennis experience gives you superior volley technique, “feel of pace”, and shot anticipation. To transition confidently, do the following:
* Shorten your swing and focus on smart placement over ball speed.
* Use the walls as weapons, not obstacles.
* Serve smart, not fast.
* Collaborate with a partner—padel is about quiet communication, not solo heroics.
* Layer padel‑specific skills: lobs, spin smashes, footwork patterns.
Good luck in the transition !