Moving from tennis to padel looks very easy at first glance: there is a racket, a ball and a net. But after a few minutes on court you notice subtle differences between tennis reflexes and padel realities. A strong forehand, a long preparation motion and the idea of dominating from the baseline are great habits for tennis; some of them can slow you down in padel. At O'Padel Beytepe we see players with a tennis background progress very quickly, but repeat the same mistakes in the first weeks. This article is written to make that process much smoother.
1. Shrink the big backswing
In the tennis forehand a big take-back and a wide swing are normal. In padel the court is smaller, balls are closer and time is shorter. A big preparation motion makes it hard to reach the ball coming off the wall and reduces control. Keeping the racket in a shorter arc, in front of the body, is a basic rule of padel.
In practice this means preparing the racket early at shoulder height and making contact with a short motion. Power must come from correct timing and the feet, not from the swing. In padel what matters is not the power of a single stroke but the continuity and placement of shots.
2. Forget the serve, learn the underhand
The tennis serve is a powerful overhead weapon. In padel the serve is hit underhand, below the waist, after the ball bounces once on the floor. This makes placement and depth more important in the serve than speed. Although tennis players know this rule, out of habit they may try an overhead motion.
- Plan to approach the net right after the serve; net control wins the point in padel.
- Place the serve at the opponent's feet or the glass corner; challenging placement beats power.
- Discuss the post-serve position with your partner; pairs think about the serve together.
3. Do not insist on staying at the baseline
Tennis players are used to baseline dominance. In padel the winning position is the net. Using lobs to make opponents lose net control and moving forward when you see a chance is the basic rhythm of the game. The back glass protects you, but the point usually goes to the player in front.
This transition needs courage at first because balls come very fast at the net. But as you gain proper footwork and volley habits, this position becomes the safest place. Moving forward together with your partner and retreating together is the main logic of padel.
4. See the wall as a helper, not an opponent
On a tennis court the ball hitting a wall is an error; in padel it is part of the game. Tennis players often panic on balls rebounding off the wall and try to catch them in the air. In padel, patience and position are enough: wait for the ball to hit the floor and wall, get behind it and hit with control.
Wall drills are the best way to build this habit. Repeatedly observing how the ball rebounds after the glass with slow balls builds intuition. Since conditions are constant on an indoor court, this learning process is even easier.
5. Calm the grip and the wrist
The wrist movement and topspin effort of tennis are often unnecessary in padel. The padel racket is short, stiff and perforated; using the wrist too much spoils control. The continental grip provides a safe base for most strokes. Keeping the wrist steady and moving with the forearm and body both increases efficiency and reduces load on wrist and elbow.
At the same time staying loose and flexible in the wrist is important. An overly tight grip increases vibration and prepares the ground for elbow problems. A calm, controlled grip is therefore critical for both performance and health.
6. Placement and patience over power
Tennis players trust powerful strokes; in padel a ball hit too hard can rebound off the glass and punish you. The opponent can easily control a ball coming off the side glass. You therefore need to develop a patient, placement-based, long-rally mindset. In padel the point usually goes to the team that waits for an opportunity and draws out the opponent's mistake.
This approach may feel contrary to tennis instinct at first. But after a few weeks of regular play you will notice that controlled play is both less tiring and more efficient.
A warning is also needed on footwork: the wide runs of tennis give way in padel to short, quick, balanced steps. Because the court is small, the aim is less covering distance than standing in the right position. The split step, a small hop just before the opponent hits to enter a ready position, is a habit tennis players can adapt easily and is just as valuable in padel.
In smashing, tennis experience gives a big advantage, but the purpose of the smash in padel is a little different. Not every smash is tried to be finished at full power; controlled direction of the ball to the glass wall, leaving the opponent no returnable ball, often gives a more effective result. Shots like the por 3 and por 4 come from this logic and are what tennis players work on most in their first weeks.
Finally, managing expectations: it may be hard to carry your tennis level straight over to padel. Give yourself a few weeks, get used to the logic of the new game and focus on learning rather than the score in your first matches. This approach reduces disappointment and makes the transition much more enjoyable.
Racket choice is also a transition topic. Unlike tennis rackets, padel rackets are perforated, stringless and have a shorter handle. In the early days choosing a soft, control-oriented racket helps balance the power habit brought from tennis. Trying different models before buying and asking your coach is a good idea.
Shoes make a difference too. Because padel is played on a sand-like surface, a different sole pattern from tennis shoes is needed. The right shoe increases both performance and safety in sudden changes of direction; the sliding movements you are used to from tennis feel different on sand in padel.
7. Learn to play with a partner, 8. Advantages you can carry over
Tennis is generally a singles-based culture; padel is entirely a doubles sport. Decisions such as who takes which ball and when to come forward demand constant communication. Talking to your partner, moving in line and deciding clearly on middle balls are among the most important skills in padel.
On the other hand, what you bring from tennis is valuable: hand-eye coordination, foot speed, ball reading, and volley and smash technique will let you learn quickly. Gaining new habits alongside these advantages is the key to progressing very fast in padel. Working for a short time with an experienced coach on the courts of O'Padel Beytepe will make this transition much smoother. We are waiting for you on court.
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