Seven losses in a row and I'm running out of excuses

At this point in time the best advice is to slow down. At this level the unforced errors are killing you

I had a similar post to yours, as a result of a few results not going the way I wanted, frustration at feeling like I'm getting worse not better and some pretty nasty shin splints, I've decided to take a break for 2-3 weeks, hope the shin splints go away and that the break can act as a reset.. Maybe you could try something similar? I did read that if people obsess over the mechanics rather than the outcome it can make it very difficult when things aren't going your way.

Maybe just focus on playing to space, the more you make them move the more mistakes you’re likely to make. If they don’t come to the net, try and hit short volleys or aim for the cage on the opposite side to you. Combine patience with direction and maybe you’ll fair better plus it sounds like you’ve got to cut some of the mistakes out so less power will help I often find it hard to play against more inexperienced players who just sit at the back as the lob isn’t overly effective.

One thing you said stood out to me. When you say nothing worked, for example lobbing when under pressure. Normally you don’t lob when under pressure. You are also contradicting yourself when saying you set yourself up for the bandeja, when you never get a lob from them. So which is it? Remember padel is really very much about tactics and shot decisions. Clearly, if you say you make the right decisions you wouldn’t lose 0-7, sorry to say. 1. If the opponents are at the second post or close to the net, hit hard neutral shots to the body to force an easy shot/block from your opponents, that you can then lob easily and have a better chance at winning the net. 2. If they hang a little bit back from the net, there is space in front of them and the net. Then hit chiquitas that drop under the net forcing them to make poor volleys to you, which can be lobbed easily and have a better chance at winning the net. When you are at the net, it seems they are doing this strategy above against you. And it seems it is working before even letting a lob off against you. Based on what you’re telling, you’re misreading the shots coming at you. Neutral shots at your body that you are only supposed to block, but you hit back too hard it hits the backwall. Chiquitas dropping below net height, and you try to attack and it hits the net. You say they don’t follow patterns. That is what’s throwing you off, because good players are doing exactly 1 and 2 against you in an unpredictable pattern. They go fast and slow and keep you guessing, alternating between these two shots. And they wait for the perfect shot from you so they can lob the ball, UNLESS you make a mistake before that.

A couple things from your comment: \- using lobs when we're under pressure: this is actually the opposite. You should lob when you are comfortable, and play to their body when under pressure. Of course it depends on the level, but if you have a decent smasher or someone with a good vibora, doing lobs under pressure will cost you points (unless you can do amazing lobs) \- they don't play with any kind of structure: this can be the actual issue. When the adversaries don't have structure, your body/mind is always trying to guess what will happen, taking focus and energy from your normal game. At a lower level this is probably the hardest kind of opponent because it seems you are playing a different game. This is hard to give tips without seeing all playing, but I would try a few things for the next few games and see if it helps. a) try to freeze one of them, playing 95% of the shots to the same person. This will at least get you back into some sort of pattern and take the initiative vs just replying to what they do. (If they don't lob, and you play always to the same person, you can even 'close' the court a bit more since you know some angles will be cut) b) if they don't lob, start risking a bit more with stronger volleys (chancletaco). I saw this a lot in ex tennis players that played strong from the back, no lobs, but because of years of tennis/fitness, they were able to play well from there (even blocking the wall a lot). Force them to change (if they afraid every other volley will smack them, they will change)

There are a few factors at work here. 1. Your own mistakes, which you have already owned up to 2. Because you play them every week, they know all your tendencies even if you think they are not playing with a strategy. They are. It's just not obvious as they are playing directly to your weaknesses be they backhand or digging out of the corner or whatever 3. You are prob playing too fast and aggressively against them. As young guys, (all of you are young to me) you guys can run forever and get to every ball so you need to push them out of position and change speeds and play slower sometimes. I'm in my 50s and often play against young smashers and my goal is to add lots of spin and change speeds to make them think instead of just run fast and read and react.

Try playing more down at the back and lob easy balls

Make less mistakes

Well if they are playing "random" shots the "correct" way to play will be a lot less obvious. I would then focus more on consistency and keeping the net, taking the net because they would probably hit a high amount of balls that allow it. Then focus on being in ready position and go with the flow

You’re losing to your self. Unforced errors stack up and make you lose games.

You are playing too safe and predictable. Try something new and play more freely

Can you pinpoint how they won the match ? Are they hitting winners ? Are you making errors/unforced errors/forced errors ? Do you win your serve games, return games ?

When they don’t lob, be closer to the net to punish easy shots. You have to be ready for that though - racket up to prepare early. And in defense, just focus on not making any mistake. Don’t lob when under high pressure - you might make a mistake. Play flat to their body until they give you an easy shot. This one you decide to lob with no risk and go forward.