💡 Tactics and Technique 💡

Need advice from 4.0+ or former pros (activation)

I am playing padel for a year now (4.0 NTRP tennis player, 4.0 Playtomic), and usually I am playing games only (no constant training). What I noticed, in every match (we usually play for 2 hours), I need 1-2 sets to properly activate my legs, leg-hand-eye coordination on court, so I start playing my normal level after about an hour, not moving well/playing tightly at the beggining. I didn't do anything with this, but it started bothering me for the last month, since people I tend to play with, don't have that issue. So, my question is: what helps you guys to jumpstart the intensity and fast response time before stepping on court? Physically and mentally. What is your go-to method you use before tournaments (for example)? Maybe copying atp players will be too much (swinging out, warming up with the coach) is a lil fancy for rec players out here😂

View on Reddit

Comments (9)

u/TopgearM6w ago

Do a proper warm up before the game, get your heartrate up.

u/Free-Scratch-2964OP6w ago

Good advice, I tend to warm up very low-intensity

u/Square_Bed64106w ago

You don't need advice from pros for this. If you need more time for activation, use more time for activation. Hand eye coordination drills, intensive warmup, some quick volleys with partner outside the court, etc.

u/Free-Scratch-2964OP6w ago

That is good point - I tend to fully activate in about 40-60 minutes, and there is not always a possibility to arrive at the court 1 hour early

u/zemvpferreira6w ago

No need for anything fancy. Get a little sweat going, focus on the ball as much as possible and get on executing your game plan. Literally a minute or two will do if you're in the proper mindset. In my experience most players shoot themselves in the foot by focusing on their shots during warm-up. It's very easy to get in your own head and start thinking about technical aspects, whatever your arm should be doing or your legs or where the impact point should be etc etc when all you should be doing is getting into match mode. Especially if you're cracking into the higher levels.

u/Free-Scratch-2964OP6w ago

I see people doing it too. Usually the warm-up is about 5 minutes, and from my past experience, I don't focus on technical side of a game, because it is useless. More I try to get the feeling of the ball, the bounce (since I play simultaneously tennis 5 times a week on different surfaces). I thought that there is the role of spectating my opponent's shot selection, ball outcome (I often play with new people), and adaptation takes time too

u/Adept_Deer_59766w ago

Get a ball, drop it below your waist and then catch it in your fingers. Repeat. This is good for hand eye coordination. In terms of mental focus, I’ve seen guys get stuck in traffic before a game, jump straight on court and they’ve been shit. Get to your game a little bit earlier and hit a ball against a wall. Just get tuned in a bit. Just playing games only is a really mad feature of padel. I’ve played tennis and squash. I used to hit and drill constantly. If you’re serious about playing, I’d really recommend signing on to do drills or coaching - however, I fully get that this can be financially prohibitive

u/Free-Scratch-2964OP6w ago

Totally agree, I used to take couple of lessons on the shots I am not fully confident about, and the result was huge. There is a little problem though. Where I am from, here we don't have padel-experienced coaches (padel appeared 2-3 years ago), and all of the coaches are still learning to play padel. So not much help from coaches too. What usually makes me improve is 2 things - recording myself and watching it back/comparing with youtube tutorials. Practicing it in the game - that is huge for me. When I play baskets with coach and when I try it in the game - it is 2 different worlds. I just approach my friendly games as practice sessions (usually opponents force to hit you you weakest shots) and mindfully improving them over course of a game

u/Adept_Deer_59766w ago

I get you mate - I can hit a lovely vibora in coaching, but then in a match situation under pressure it’s another thing. It’s a slow process teaching the brain. Good luck pal 👍🏻