❔ Question ❔
New player - feeling like getting worse?
Hi, everyone.
I've played padel a few times over the time with some friends, and coming from a tennis background (not high level but I would say decent, and it has been a few years since I've stopped playing), I found that slicing the ball was usually efficient. It would often be a good ball.
Meanwhile (around 1 month ago), I have been getting coaching sessions 1h per week and playing a nonstop or something every other time. As I watch and train more and try to stop slicing so much, hitting the ball straight instead, I feel like my overall playing has gone down. I am missing more and even other shots like the bandeja, which I used to get quite well, are not feeling quite right.
As I understand it, I am creating a new habit and that takes time, but still, it is quite frustrating.
Has anybody gone through this? Any tips I could get?
Thank you very much
Comments (9)
u/dandaka1w ago
I always feel a degradation when adding a new skill. For example, I have a good vibora. Recently I was training bandeja and felt immediate degradation of vibora because of that — rate of error has increased dramatically.
But it helps in the long run. When you are a player that has variety of shots, you can fit your tactic to a specific situation or game style. And you could be a smart player that reads the court and puts opponents to a difficult situation.
You will have to learn, relearn and unlearn some skills when your level increases. That is a part of progression.
4
u/dmackerman1w ago
It’s almost impossible to get worse by practicing. Likely what you are experiencing is a raising of your floor, but you’re ceiling and overall level haven’t increased.
Just keep at it. I’m new to Padel and feel the same way. Sometimes it all comes together, and other days I can’t seem to get a simple volley down.
2
u/Edugrinch1w ago
It happened to me as well. I felt like I was stuck so I took a few classes (normally I don't) and then I tried to apply everything I learn like all together. It was a disaster! so I stepped back a bit, and started implementing the things I learned slowly. For example. improve the service, and focus on the service only, once its acceptable, try a new shot like bandeja, and so on. Doing it slowly worked better for me.
1
u/TimberNoggins1w ago
I had a training session with my coach today and overthinking things like grip, feet, racket preparation just makes me feel dumb and shit, it’s far more fluid in game.
You’ll work them into your game naturally and feel better for it.
Wax on, wax off
1
u/Percevaul1w ago
This is normal. It's not that you're actually getting worse (practice, experience and lessons will all improve your play) but that rather your understanding of the game is also changing. A good example is that when you started out, just hitting the ball over the net was a win while today you're starting to be conscious of your misses.
As we improve, our bad play tends to stick out more since we rarely can perform consistently at the level we "think" we are. We "know" we can hit that great víbora, but can we actually hit it 8 out 10 times?
As you get better, the way you think about your level of play also increases. Trust me, if you ever record yourself, it will shake your confidence ever more (as you probably think your perfect víbora looks like Paquito, but it actually looks nothing like that).
1
u/Available_Ad41351w ago
It’s normal when you start padel coaching. Padel is an easy game to get going with. So when you actually start playing properly, it usually means you play worse initially.
Tennis skills will only get you so far in padel. So if you’re serious about progressing, coaching is essential.
1
u/Dr-Fix5d ago
Yeas, I can relate 100%.. I was hitting quite decently all the kverhead shoots, now I'm missing the vast majority.
I think too much after lessons, now when a high ball approaches me I het anxious, I see all the math in my head (like in the memes) and I miss them all.
Than I get nervous and start missing also the simple stuff.
1
u/avildar1w ago
same at the moment, been practicing better form on overhead in recent classes, doing ok on class but on matches thinking about all the corrections and stuff is really difficult and until you can internalize the new things its going to be a headache. Just keep at it and it will come
1