From Tennis to Padel: What Every Tennis Player Should Know

The Good News: A Lot Transfers

If you play tennis, you have a significant head start in padel. The scoring is identical (15-30-40, sets and games), the basic stroke mechanics are similar, and your court sense translates well. Most tennis players can rally comfortably in padel within their first session.

What transfers directly:

• Scoring and match format
• Volley technique (especially important in padel)
• Court positioning awareness
• Competitive mindset and match management
• Fitness and footwork fundamentals

The Big Adjustments

1. The Serve

This is the hardest adjustment for tennis players. In padel, you must serve underhand. The ball bounces on the ground first, then you hit it at or below waist height. No topspin bombs, no aces. The padel serve is about placement, not power.

Tip: Aim for the corner where the back wall meets the side glass. A well-placed underhand serve is surprisingly effective.

2. Wall Play

In tennis, a ball that hits the fence is dead. In padel, a ball that bounces and hits the glass wall is still live. This changes everything:

• Don't turn your back when the ball goes past you — it's coming off the wall
• Let the ball come to you — resist the urge to hit every ball early. Letting it bounce off the back glass often gives you a better position
• Use the walls offensively — you can hit the ball into your own side glass to redirect it over the net (the "contra-pared")

3. The Racket

Padel rackets are solid (no strings), shorter, and thicker than tennis rackets. The lack of strings means less spin generation but more control on touch shots. The shorter handle encourages wrist-based shots and quick exchanges at the net.

Tip: Don't grip the padel racket like a tennis racket. Use a continental grip (like a tennis volley grip) for most shots. Check our guide to the best beginner padel rackets.

4. Power vs. Placement

Tennis rewards power — a hard groundstroke can be a winner. In padel, power often backfires because the ball comes off the back glass and gives your opponent an easy setup. Padel rewards:

• Placement over power — angles and drops win more points than pace
• Net play — the net position is dominant in padel (more so than tennis)
• Patience — rallies are longer; wait for the right ball to attack

5. Doubles Dynamics

In tennis, you might play singles. Padel is always doubles, and the partnership is more integrated. You and your partner move as a unit — when one moves forward, the other should too. Communication is constant.

Common Mistakes Tennis Players Make

1. Hitting too hard — The ball comes off the glass and sets up your opponents
2. Ignoring the walls — Not using the glass offensively or defensively
3. Overhand serving — It's always underhand in padel
4. Playing too far back — In padel, you want to be at the net whenever possible
5. Not communicating — Doubles requires constant verbal coordination

The Bottom Line

Tennis players who adapt their mindset — prioritizing placement over power and embracing wall play — tend to improve rapidly in padel. The sport rewards the finesse and court sense that experienced tennis players already have. The learning curve isn't about athleticism; it's about unlearning the instinct to hit everything hard.

Find a club near you on Padel Browser and give it a try. You might never go back to tennis.