Whats something you were doing wrong for way too long?

Always serving to the glass when I’m serving left as a left side player. I got caught a bunch of times down the line but beginners suck at glass so it’s sticks with you to keep playing there. Playing too close to the net and then not getting close enough. I was one of the first beginners to get great flat smashes and x4 and it got addictive so I was too close to the net, then when I became intermediate I was never finishing the point aggressively because I never moved closer to the net. Had to find the balance eventually. Not doing enough bajadas and hitting them too hard. I’ve no idea why these work, must be weird physics, but if I loosen the wrist and hit high to low with early preparation I score lots of them every game even though they don’t seem powerful.

Not doing bajada ever and slicing the ball all the time in the back

Padel was my first sport with a racket and somehow I found it very easy to slice. So I sliced everything. Even from the backline. For me it took a long time to learn how to return balls flat and depending on the situation with a bit of top spin. And secondly to just let the ball in the game and acutally play Padel instead of try hard to make each ball a point. Games felt so much more satisfying after learning that lesson. Thirdly to relax on the field. In the first years I was always so hyped up that my hole body had a high tension (higher rate of fails through there is less control over the ball) and I was not able of thinking too much while playing.

You have to accept being lobbed and not try to return the ball at all costs. I would also advise taking lessons as early as possible to learn the correct opening strokes and avoid working on flaws over the course of many rounds.

play with better players as soon as possible and learn by osmosis rather than by thinking everything through on your own. when you are in the right environment, it is easier to pick up the right habits. and then you can focus on one part of your game. which will usually be revealed as soon as you play with better players.

I started playing with a round headed padel racket, and loved it. After 3 months it was chipping way too much, so I went to the store and exchanged it for a (what I understand now 6 months later) diamond/hybrid shaped racket. Ever since that time everything was inconsistent as hell. Recently I forgot it at home and I played with a rented Adidas racket which was round, and the change was noticeable. I wasnt missing any serves, I was confident at the net, my shots were perfect. So I looked up online and apparently the sweet spot for my hybrid shaped racket is more to the top. Keeping this in mind and my last 5 matches have been amazing. I’d never thought this could have made a difference but here I am.

First it was slicing my groundstrokes. Next it was slicing my volleys (too much).

\-Had the continental grip wrong (for a few years!) \-Missing too much serve returns (free points for your opponent)

Not rotating my body sideways before I hit the ball, which resulted in uncontrollable groundstrokes either flying too high or ball ending up at the net. Also jabbing at the ball, which adds speed but zero depth and control.

I’m about 6 months in and I still don’t follow through with my swing. I kind of stun shots. I can’t seem to break the habit. The game has so much flair than I’m able to show.

I struggled with my serve for a long time. I understood the whole mechanics, watched tons of videos, got a session with a coach specifically for the serve, nothing worked. It was either too high or straight to the net. And then by some weird accident in the initial phase of the movement I pulled my racket way beyond the back of my head, like some pros do. And it clicked like a charm. The move turned into a perfect ark, slicing and pushing the ball, shoulders and wrist moved freely, continuing the move after contact with the ball. The ball suddenly started flying like a sniper hit, with precision, low altitude and reverse spin. More importantly, I achieved consistency with my serve. Trying to analyze what happened, I concluded that my somewhat long arms lacked necessary space and maybe speed and freedom to move before contacting the ball. Maybe a shallow swing would work for short-handers. The whole incident felt enlightening, inspiring and overwhelming.