❔ Question ❔

Do my friends have a point or are they just being bad friends?

2584 commentsu/xland442w ago

I know this drama isn't meant for this sub but i genuinely don't know who to ask. Do my friends have a point or are they just being bad friends? ---------- Back in February a padel place opened up near where I live - you pay X money to rent a court and equipment for Y amount of time. My friends and I spoke a few times about going to try it out when it'd open Also in February I went on a solo six-week trip to celebrate finishing my degree. When I came back I asked if I could join the next time some of them wanted to go and they were like 'yeah sure', rinse and repeat a few times when it casually came up in conversations every once in a while, including once where I tried to organize it myself but only two other people were down. Last week we hanged out it was mentioned again and I asked if anyone is down to play it on the weekend, when one of my friends said frankly that they'd already gotten good and there's too much of a skill gap. They suggested i instead play first with friends who've never played it before, play a lot, and that maybe in the future we can play together once I've gotten better. They then argued that the first 10 games or so are super important for learning and also that the padel is expensive (so they don't want to spend a lot of money playing games which aren't challenging while i catch up). --------- Now, to be sure I don't expect to be good at it in the beginning, but given that the place opened only a few months ago I really don't think only three months matters in the grand scheme of things beyond the first few times - if anything that's more of an excuse to bring me in now because the skill gap will only grow with time and now I'd still be able to work hard at closing the gap. I wrote to them that honestly it's bugging me a bit because I felt like if it was flipped I wouldn't mind bringing in a friend, and money wouldn't even be a concern in it. They replied that it honestly just became a normal routine for them to play and that they're now "competitive" and want to enjoy being challenged, and that even if I joined when one of them wasn't available and played 10 games it'd be not enough because they play now twice a week. Because he knows I like chess, he then brought up the example of it being like me playing chess against someone who just learned how to move the pieces. (as a side note - this analogy sucks because I love teaching people chess and in addition to playing to get as good as possible in ranked online chess with hundreds of hours played, I also love playing with weaker players and help improve them - if i want a challenge i just play with a handicap so that it evens the playing field) ----------- **padel players, do i have shit friends or do they have a point?*

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Comments (84)

u/Greg199312w ago

Every once in a while to play with a friend who isn't as good? Sure. Every single day without noticeable improvement? I'd grow tired of it at some point. But even then, I'd enjoy playing paddle with my friends, regardless of skill level if I can also play some higher level matches on the side. Those people are not your friends tbh.

u/xland44OP2w ago

I don't expect to play with them every single day if there is genuinely a large skill gap, but a single casual game once in a blue moon just for fun I don't think hurts anyone, even if they were olympic level athletes

u/Neighbourly2w ago

there's a mismatch in expectations. You expect them to play with you despite skill gap, they don't. There's no right or wrong here, and both sides have a point. Ultimately, I think if you ask, you've done all you can do. If you're dying to play with them, take some lessons, buddy up with some other people, come back and kick their asses in 6 months - then refuse to play with them once you beat them comfortably. This is probably why I have no friends

u/Enough_Tart_2352w ago

Spot on! I fully agree screw those people who behave in such a childish way. OP you deserve better than these arrogant loosers who think they’re world class athletes in a sport they just started playing a few weeks ago lol

u/alakazamwanted2w ago

Last sentence sums it up

u/pgds2w ago

Some people are saying your friends are right others are saying they’re assholes so here’s my take. REAL friends would help you skill up. I’m way better than my wife but I still play with her as my partner because I want to help her get better so we can play a lot of mixed doubles. On the flip side I do understand the skill gap issue but maybe cut your losses and find some people at your level and who knows you might make better friends because that behavior is toxic imo. What were they hoping would happen? You’d stop asking ? They’ve clearly had discussions behind your back… let that sink in.

u/xland44OP2w ago

> REAL friends would help you skill up. this was my initial interpretation as well. I do recognize though from reading all the conflicting comments that while i still disagree with how they're tackling this, i will recognize their take is controversial rather than black and white like i first thought.

u/spam__likely2w ago

Nah, they have been playing for 3 months. They have not "already gotten good"They are terrible, and you can catch up with a couple of clinics and games. In fact, that is what you should do. Play every day, do training, clinics etc, then you snob them.

u/Careless_LawChess2w ago

Are you generally not good at sports or something? Cause I can see where someone that doesn’t play sports wants to play, padel is easy enough to pick up and get good at but it still needs some coordination/ athleticism. The good thing about padel is that there’s a big initial skill jump when you play consistently. Also its a very social game especially for beginners so will be easy to find players and make new friends. I would play a couple games and then go watch your friends play to see how much of a skill gap there is.

u/Complete-Artichoke692w ago

Your friends are cunts. I got into padel precisely because my friends played and they invited me. There was a skill gap there but between playing with them, watching videos and taking classes I was able to close the gap. Even demolish them. We always had a lot of fun, that’s all it was about.

u/xland44OP2w ago

thanks for sharing your thoughts, i appreciate it!

u/RockPaperShredder2w ago

Reverse take. Group of about 8 of us started playing about 18 months ago. We've all got much, much better except one mate who lags a long way behind (he really seems to struggle with the tactical and positional elements). We still play with him and encourage him because, well, he's a mate. Your mates are arseholes who are not as good as they think they are.

u/xland44OP2w ago

Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts man, i appreciate it

u/zemvpferreira2w ago

They’re being dicks or you’re not that close. What is the big deal of taking a friend to a new experience even if he sucks ass? It’s one game out of a hundred in a year. Very poor spirit.

u/Cold-Wishbone84472w ago

They have a point, i would go play with a first timer as well. Its just isnt as much fun playing with someone significantly worse. Padel can be learnt very fast to be played at a decent level. So yeah a 3 month gap is enough to get a lot better

u/HuevosRancheros_2w ago

Playing padel with a random first timer is not that fun. But introducing new friends who are complete beginners to my new favourite hobby is incredibly fun. That is what makes padel great. You can still have a good time with beginners. Where playing tennis with complete beginners is absolute torture. Though price does factor in. Where I play it's £10 so not too bad, same price as it would be to go to the movies with my mates. If it's more like £20-£30 then I'd just do it from time to time.

u/xland44OP2w ago

I live in a very expensive country in general, within walking distance of a city which was crowned as the most expensive city in the world a handful of years ago. converting to euro it's indeed 30 euros

u/xland44OP2w ago

thanks for honest input!

u/No_Reference_28312w ago

Just go take some courses, so you’ll return back more skilled, beat them (2 of them) once ! And never let them taste your challenge again ! Your friends sucks !

u/xland44OP2w ago

Hahaha that would be a cool revenge arc ;)

u/Beyond_thebeyond2242w ago

This is the answer. Get better, and show them one time. Then find another crew to play with.

u/Duggy_fresh2w ago

Bunch of dicks.

u/DrIncogNeo2w ago

If the gap is huge, which I doubt in 3 months unless they played like tennis for 10 years and you have never done a single sport in your live, I do get it a bit. But they have not seen you play, so they don’t know the level right? I would always just try out 1 game and then judge the level from there. Or myself as “your friend”, join you plus two Random players so I can see your level and still play padel with my friend (if the others don’t allow you to play with us). I would still be ok playing lower level casual games every now and then just to play with actual friends (and do so). But like people said, to be included in the weekly “fixed” highly competitive roster would be difficult if the level difference is too big or in groups classes. Then it is just too expensive for the huge gap in skill level.

u/KingKawaiiBot2w ago

3 months is nothing, you can catchup easily if you play often. But to be honest, I would stop begging and search for other people to play padel with. You don’t have to write them off as bad friends (even though they are), but don’t ever try to do any sports with them in the future

u/kacperp2w ago

They are bad friends.

u/pgds2w ago

You’re getting downvoted by people who value their padel skill more than friendships. You’re right though. The friends are shit.

u/Wild_Mud_46732w ago

What a load of crap. So they only have been playing like 2-3 months more than you? Sure they have some feel of the court yet but it’s not like they are already supergood at it if they are just starting out 😂

u/HairyCallahan2w ago

To be honest some people have zero hand eye coordination. Others may have had a lot of experience with racket/ball sports and simply have a lot more skill to begin with.

u/TopgearM2w ago

Do your friends have a racket background? If not, they still suck after 3 months (except if they took private courses each day). So my assumption is that they are overrating themselves a lot. Like really a lot. Ignore my comment if they have played serious tennis, squash, table tennis, etc. in their youth. If they didn't, then they are super bad at padel. Same as you. So yes. they are assholes.

u/xland44OP2w ago

When they brought up skill gap they mentioned inviting a friend with 10+ years experience in tennis and that he was "good for a first timer"

u/blahblahcrapsheep2w ago

I'm sorry they're treating you like this. I'd continue with some lessons and see if you can find a new group who appreciate you better. Maybe through playtomic/local club network. But as someone else had mentioned, this is the Dunning Kruger effect in action. I've played against people like this where they think they're good, then they've played awful and lost and then said it was pretty close a set and evenly matched.

u/Independent_Art53012w ago

they have a tiny technical point (skill gaps in padel matter more than tennis because the court is small and one weak player gets exploited every rally), but their delivery and reasoning are pretty cold for friends. 3 months isn't that big a gap to close, especially with you motivated. real solution: just take 2-3 lessons or play a few americanos at the club solo before joining them. you'll catch up faster than they think, and you remove their actual concern. then it's not a "favor" they're doing you, you're just at their level. but yeah, the chess analogy is rough. good friends find ways to include you, not gatekeep with cost arguments.

u/Quickloot2w ago

If you are playing among friends amd one of them sucks, you can challenge yourself to put controlled balls to his side and fast-paced / difficult balls to the other guy. This rhythym changing and precise tactical ball control takes way more skill than what these "friends" think they are capable of doing right now.

u/alakazamwanted2w ago

Yes, exactly - players w/ any decent amount of skill or level should be able to play controlled balls; play tougher ball at tougher players and easier ones at beginners. You can also play fewer balls to the beginner to keep the point going. It's not that difficult.

u/mercynuts2w ago

If they're that keen (and not so wildly busy they can only play occasionally) then you'd think they could play both with you and without you? In any case they should be more inclusive and not completely freeze you out just because you're not quite as good as they are yet

u/bogie552w ago

They seem very harsh from your telling of the situation. My advice would be to have a few lessons and join appropriate-level open matches, which Playtomic makes very easy to do. Most people make playing with new people very enjoyable, but don't be discouraged by the odd arsehole. Perhaps you'll make better friends, or get good/catch up...

u/xland44OP2w ago

People keep mentioning playtomic haha but it's not a thing in my country, padel is only now starting to enter mainstream here, it's not a recognized sport here yet, and the organization closest to playtomic equivalent did their first actual ranked tournament for padel (in the history of the organization and country) only recently

u/bogie552w ago

Ah, sorry! I assumed you'd be somewhere that would have it. I played in Southeast Asia using a different app recently - it was a very similar concept to Playtomic (I play in the UK/Europe mostly). Where are you playing?

u/InterestInTheNoise272w ago

I would not expect them to play with you all the time. I would also expect them to help you learn at least once or twice and once in a while going forward. I have some friends that play and some that won’t. I will 100% spend time teaching the ones that don’t know how to play.

u/Friendly-Cicada-51802w ago

We had the same instance in our padel group.Our "Gap" friend became frustrated due to technical and or physical gaps .He started playing with randoms at his level and attended the odd lesson .He caught up when we hit inevitable skill plateau around 2.5-3.5.

u/Mohinder_DE2w ago

Do you have introduction events at the venue ? Go there to pickup the rules and the basics. If there is a starter Americano or afterwotk event, go there to find some other total beginners. Do you have single courts , one friend should give you some practice and a friendly match. If they arent total shitty person, when they go and play, they should take you with them as a fifth person and you can play random teams. If you loose badly because of the gap in experience, you just watch and the others can play. Or you just join at the beginning or the end. Or the winner get you as a handicap. Beginning / warmup is better. Maybe there is a group starter class with 5 or 10 hours, go join. Are there open matches in your booking app or the whatapp group of the venue ? Is there a social netwotk for events ? Create your own starter padel event. When i started i joined games with a lot of different people. Because of playtomic everybody knew i was below 20 games, but from time to time we play a match and see how we evolved. Now i would say, my gameplay sucked badly when i started, but i learned a lot Real friends should play a match with you, or would join you as a supportive left side player in your first games ,so they can help you and coach you. Over time player bubbles will separate and other bubbles will join because of the skill development. Playing for three month two times a week and hiding it, is an asshole move in my opinion. But you will find your own padel buddies in zhat community.

u/Kommanderson12w ago

Sounds like not the best friends. I’d start with lessons, play open matches until you feel you’ve progressed beyond true beginner and then go smoke them.

u/HairyCallahan2w ago

Not great friends. BUT. I am very competitive myself and don't want to play with friends regularly anymore cause of the skill gap. I may play with them once in two months for fun, but not (bi)weekly. It's an expensive sport and I personally only feel satisfied when I play competitively.

u/andrew_barratt2w ago

Here is what you should do : Don’t play with them. Join a few social games on Playtomic to learn the basics with people who will actually be friendly. Get a coaching session on service, learning to serve well is massive improvement. Then spend some time watching Padel players on red bull tv. Look at the slower play tactics. Getting to the net, slow play off the wall etc. Practice the serve and volley point wins in friendliest in Playtomic. Then go kick your ‘friends’ ass

u/Maleficent_Dark_72932w ago

Bad friends, hands down. I frequently play with people MUCH worse than me because I enjoy getting people into the sport. I won't invite them to a competitive game, sure - thats not fun for anyone - but your friends are bad friends, and I dont think theyre as good at padel as they think they are.

u/Prior_Psychology_1502w ago

They just not real friends. Full stop. They would play with you at least once in a while. Sounds more like an excuse tbh

u/Extension_Hospital752w ago

Your 'friends' suck and have way too high and opinion of their skills after a couple of months playing 😅 join some beginner classes and socials and meet some of the many wonderful, friendly and sociable people playing at your club and get matches with them. Your non friends will be humbled in due course when they try playing outside of their group and realise they aren't as good as they think they are.

u/mdb3ard2w ago

If they’ve just gotten “good” playing matches. No they haven’t. Join up, join the beginner classes, socials and tournaments. Get the basics down. You will advance far faster if you don’t have bad habits to unlearn as your friends may inevitably do having just played matches with each other. Then maybe give them a friendly game in a couple of months. Padel’s more fun when you’re not playing the same group of people all the time.

u/alakazamwanted2w ago

Not playing w/ you at all is a dumb attitude from them, OP. I would also say: padel is an extremely social and fun sport - I have met (not kidding) >1000 people in my first year+, and 99.9% of them are awesome. You will, too. Perhaps check w/ the local club if you can join some open play/fun tournaments (e.g. americanos, mexicanos, etc.) - these are very friendly for all levels - or see if there are some beginner clinics. Or even just play w/ some strangers and ask the club to help you find a game - I bet they will. IME, you will meet SO MANY people by just playing - so don't limit yourself to people like this - they sound like they suck. And the whole point of padel is to have fun (and improve, of course - this is also fun - find and play w/ people who vibe w/ that.

u/Ulfgarsson2w ago

Man, you have some shitty-ass friends... I once saw guys in our club playing squash at a very high level (top 200 in our country) and I asked them if I could join. Even though I was nowhere near their skill level (couldn't even return most of their serves), they let me join the group. Now, after nearly two years, I'm at their level and have become friends with all of them. I also encourage all my other friends who've never played the game to come play with me, and I'll gladly teach them whatever I can. It's also just even funnier considering padel is such an easy game to start with, much easier than squash for sure. Idk if I just have such good friends, or if yours are just trash.

u/kchuen2w ago

Don’t know the answer unless we see both how you play. But truth is, it’s not fun to play with complete beginners. I have many friends who want to get into it or play it socially and I don’t enjoy tagging with them at all after a few months into padel. If a player can’t return my 75% hard shot consistently, then really I’m just being a free coach to them. Not a good one with equipment either. It’s not beneficial to either of us. Not to mention other metrics like court awareness, positioning, etc. It’s not fun to play with someone with a big discrepancy in these aspects. I was ok with playing with worse friends for a while but after a few months I was kinda sick of it. Truth to be told, it seems like you’re much worse than your friends. And you think it’s ok because you see it as a social activity but they see it as a competitive sport. Accept they have a different view or try catching up in skills.

u/xland44OP2w ago

>Truth to be told, it seems like you’re much worse than your friends To be clear i've never plated padel in my life, it's a very new sport in my country and none of my friends had played it before it opened

u/jacsieee2w ago

Isolated discussions here - because you asked for the truth: 1- Is skill gap an issue in Padel?: Yes, absolutely. It’s just not good for competitive players to play with a person who is struggling with the rules, to serve, to keep the ball in play and to communicate and move. Personally I’ve played tons of tournaments where the level ranges from beginners to Well-versed, and when I match up/against people who has <10 hours, it’s just not a game. It’s just a waste of time. You just wait till it’s over, if we’re talking true beginners. However, the good thing is that Padel is taught very fast. People say anyone can play padel - and it’s close to true. But the first 10-15 hours is needed before playing with people who do know how to serve, lop, volley and so fourth. 2- Are they bad friends? Hot take, but I honestly also would struggle choosing to play with 1 player who has no experience, when I am inviting 2 others who does for a game. I am not just wasting my own time, but also the other People’s in the group. I play tournaments, have evening activities, spend most of my time working - so the times I do play padel, I want to go in with a purpose and resolve. Other people in this comment section seem to say they are bad friends, but if you realistically have 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours of padel a week (and 8 being a lot) - then would you want to spend them playing with/versus someone significantly below your level? Respectfully, you’re friends might also only be able to get one court/2 hours a week. It’s understandable they want those two hours to be fruitful. You seem like a good dude. People here want you to cut your friends, but I think it’s a bit dramatic. I am sure they are also in a super uncomfortable spot, having to reject a good guy because they wanna be competitive. I’d say get an app like PadelLink and find random beginner games, join beginner tournaments. Then catch up with them. Or don’t. Either way, don’t make this an emotional burden. Sorry if I step on anyone’s toes here. Just being honest. Limited time and ambitions can make people sound arrogant and douchy..

u/xland44OP2w ago

Thanks for your honest thoughts, i appreciate it!

u/Kind_Reputation_36192w ago

As Frank Sinatra said ‘Success is the best revenge’ I’d go on my own to get the experience and make them look foolish, but yeah I would still take my friend along with me no matter how bad they are. I’ll put it down to them being young stupid haha

u/TeaseNgo2w ago

Bad friends tbh. I started playing padel in February or March and the first two matches were with friends and all of them have been playing padel for 2+ years. So the skill gap was MASSIVE. So I played two times with them and that was it because it wasn’t a good experience for neither of us. But then I started playing with randoms around my level + went to a few americanos and based on that experience I can say that now I play way better than I was playing back in March. But even so I still have problems with some shots / positions and I wouldn’t ask my friends to play with me until I manage to improve in those areas. But again, they’ve been playing for 2+ years, not 3 months like your friends. And I still play with randoms which can be straight up first timers and I don’t mind because I focus on my own performance. So based on that, your friends aren’t that good and the skill gap is not that big. You should play with randoms around your level and then make a list with the better ones and try to play with them + go to americanos and private sessions with a trainer and in 6 months you’ll probably be better than your “skilled” friends.

u/Then-Young472w ago

Will not read all, but since they don’t even compete as amateurs, they are not good friends. Just create your own group play and have fun, and you will make new friends!

u/xAeroMonkeyx2w ago

I think they mostly sound like dicks, but also if they’re routinely playing twice a week with the same 4 people, maybe you’ve just missed the wave and that’s the ‘padel group’ now. Therefore if you were only going to occasionally fill in, I could see how the skill gap would be annoying. I also think proper friends would fit you in somewhere though.

u/Sadpvper2w ago

To be honest, both. They are not being real Friends because they should be helping you and motivate you to improve, but also you should Accept the fact that you are behind on skill level and put the effort by yourself (teaching or joining lower level matches) to catch up to them. They probably mean that you cannot only rely on them to carry your improvement

u/BruceWillis19632w ago

I think it is best to find people at your level , maybe take some lessons. Then kick their asses and refuse to play with them because you are too good for them and you want to play against more competitive players . Seriously though it can suck to play way below your level . But with friends I am patient just as other people are patient with me .

u/Jaded-Bit44262w ago

They should just play at least once with you and tell you as much as they can from what they know, then leave you to have a few games to improve then come back to play together.

u/No_Factor_48942w ago

They should have at least join for one game then say this skill gap , competition and money will be issue. One suggestion to call 6 friends (if you have) forming 3 teams to book one court and keep switching to let them enjoy and you will learn and the price will be splited on six. You will feel the heat and competition which will help you focus more on catching them. Plus, two months isn’t a big gap of skills. I had invited my friends to play for free when I started playing to enjoy it instead of tennis but they refused. I had to find another group and then after two years I’m very far and one of them decided to try it. When we did, it was boring but I enjoyed being with him. So they need to scarify for you.

u/emz50022w ago

I've been playing for two years and still enjoy playing with beginners every now and then. If they're not even willing to play with you once, they're pretty shut friends I'm afraid

u/Hot_Farm_21762w ago

To be honest i feel like given the number of times they play every week they are now in a flow state where they’re in a level to be competitive enough and good enough but not ´that high’ that personally i would not even mind to play a game or two with a newbie and teach you a couple of things. I think they are being either a bit immature, a dick or just caught up in the moment.

u/Svn0782w ago

I consider myself a very good friend but also, my spare time is limited with kids, job, wife etc. The 2 times a week I can play Padel I need the thrill of the game, and indeed one player at a lower level can ruin the it. Can’t say how big the gap is, 3 months isnt that much and Im sure you can catch up. But in the end, I don’t play with some of my best friends just because of the skill gap.

u/PetrisCy2w ago

Your friends are either stupid or not really your friends, or atleast not close friends. Plus i bet they are barely at initiation level at 2 months 2 games a week. Thats like 10 games or something, literally nothing. Its the same thing as going out for coffee but instead you hold rackets play and talk. If they are indeed your friends they just too dumb to

u/No-Unit66722w ago

Definitely can relate to the friends here, ok maybe they could have been nicer about it and made one game to at least play with you once/assess your level. But with the financial element plus factors like Playtomic rating involved - if they’re trying to take their padel seriously having someone significantly worse join because they want to be involved would definitely annoy me. Add to your chess analogy - every time you play a classical game you have to pay £15-£20 and you risk losing 8-15 points of elo while you’re at it. I’m sure you’d pick your games a lot more carefully in that case

u/HuevosRancheros_2w ago

You know you can do a friendly match on playtomic right..?

u/xland44OP2w ago

thanks for sharing your honest thoughts!

u/Active_Feedback7052w ago

I can see why you think this way. For most sports/activities it sounds weird to reject friends like that. But as a 3+ year padel player, I can actually understand your friends perspective: it is nothing personal, padel is just a sport where it really sucks when there is skill gap. You really do need 4 players of pretty much equal skill for it to be fun. If one player is significantly worse, it kind of ruins the whole game. Newer players also have a tendency to underestimate the skill gap between them and better players. It does suck from your side, but I hope you will use this as motivation to prove you can reach their level or above!

u/xland44OP2w ago

thanks for sharing your honest thoughts, i appreciate it

u/butterflyl32w ago

Assholes

u/DVB11282w ago

First of all - I am sorry to hear that. I don't think these are great friends btw. I don't know how they are in general, but it could be that padel made them so addicted thay they are neglecting these kind of things. How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I don't understand why they didn't tell you in the first place that they did play whilst you were away. 3 months is nothing. I understand where they are coming from - there is definitely a huge development in your first few months/years, which then plateau if you don't have lessons, etc. But tbh that shouldn't mean anything amongst a group of friends. My recommendation: sign up for a social / intro to Padel session with a coach. Attend beginner/no racket experience socials and lessons. See how you feel and if you enjoy. If you do, start playing with random people (through Playtomic, Padel Mates, etc,.) and start to build confidence - you will likely improve much faster than them if they just play amongst themselves. I play padel for over 5 years and I absolutely love to bring new people into the sport and play with them to teach/have fun - exactly like you for Chess. Of course I wouldn't be able to play every single week with them, but I incentivise them to join socials/matches with random people when they want to play at their level.

u/KongKing692w ago

You have shit friends

u/karlitooo2w ago

Your friends are suffering from Dunning Kruger effect. 3 months is nothing. If you work with a coach a little (group classes or lessons) you’d overtake them before they even leave Beginner Level.

u/LooseCandidate2w ago

What efforts are you making to catch up? For example, I started playing with a group of 6 friends. We’re all very competitive, but some of us put in much more effort than others. Personally, I take lessons, watch a lot of padel content, play frequently with random people, and join a lot of king-of-the-court sessions so I can face different types of players and improve quickly. Meanwhile, two people in the group only play within our group and don’t put in any effort outside of that e.g. taking lessons, watching padel matches to learn, or studying the decisions better players make. Naturally, they’ve fallen far behind the other four players. One of them, however, feels entitled to having one of the stronger players partner with him in tournaments and include him in our competition team, despite making no effort to improve while already being the weakest player in the group. We discussed this with him and made it clear that we’re still happy to play with him socially once every couple of weeks, but we won’t include him in the competitive side of things unless he starts putting in the same level of effort as everyone else.

u/BowlAlert92872w ago

- Play with randoms. You'll improve faster then your friends who all play together. - Play with your friends - destroy them - tell them you'll play with them again. But only if they get better first -Find new friends

u/jamkola2w ago

I can understand it from both sides tbh. I played for a couple of years with friends socially. I still do. But if I’m honest I enjoy it less and less compared to open matches with my partner and Americanos with people of a similar level. It’s frustrating to be playing with my friends who don’t really make much of an attempt to get better. The same lack of movement and mistakes every week. It pretty expensive to play but more than that I don’t have a huge amount of social time. Whilst it can still be fun it doesn’t feel worth the effort most of the time. Saying that 6 weeks isn’t very long at all for you to catch up.

u/pedrorodriguez162w ago

I do not understand your logic. If you learn something new, you make a lot of improvements in the beginning. So a couple of months of experience are huge. I fully understand your friends and told a friend the same.

u/xland44OP2w ago

thank you