By Admin 
Most club padel players plateau not because they lack talent — but because they keep repeating the same padel mistakes on every point. The good news? These errors are predictable, fixable, and once you know them, your game improves immediately.
Here are the 5 most common padel mistakes Dutch club players make, and exactly how to fix each one.
Mistake 1: Rushing to the Net After the Serve
What happens: The serving team hits the serve and immediately charges the net — before the ball has even bounced in the service box. This leaves them caught in no man’s land when the return comes back fast and low.
Why it’s wrong: In padel, the net is a reward, not a right. You earn the net position by forcing a weak return. Rushing forward blindly gives the returning team an easy target — a low ball at your feet that you can’t volley effectively.
The fix: After serving, take one step forward and stop. Watch the return. If it’s high and slow, advance to the net. If it’s fast and low, hold your position or retreat to let it bounce off the back glass. Move to the net with purpose, not habit.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Back Glass
What happens: The ball bounces off the back glass and the player panics, swings early, or moves away from the wall instead of letting the ball come to them.
Why it’s wrong: The back glass is your friend in padel — it’s what makes the sport unique. Players who fear the glass give up free points and lose control of rallies they should win.
The fix: Practice the bajada (the shot played off the back wall) in every training session. Stand close to the glass, let the ball bounce off the floor and then the wall, and wait for it to come back into your strike zone. The key is patience — don’t swing until the ball is at waist height and moving away from the wall. Dedicate 10 minutes per session to wall play drills until it feels natural.
Mistake 3: Playing as Two Individuals Instead of One Team
What happens: Both players go for the same ball, leave gaps in the middle, or one player dominates while the other stands watching. The pair moves independently rather than as a unit.
Why it’s wrong: Padel is always doubles. Your positioning is only as good as your partner’s. A team that moves together — covering the court as a unit — will always beat two talented individuals who don’t coordinate.
The fix: Establish clear communication rules before every match. Call “mine” or “yours” on every ambiguous ball. Move laterally together — if your partner goes left, you go right. After every point, reset to the centre of your half of the court. Practice shadow movement drills where both players move in sync without hitting a ball, just to build the habit of parallel positioning.
Mistake 4: Hitting Too Hard at the Net
What happens: A player gets to the net, receives a high ball, and smashes it as hard as possible — straight into the back fence or out of the court.
Why it’s wrong: Power at the net in padel is often counterproductive. Unlike tennis, the enclosed court means your opponents can use the glass to retrieve even hard smashes. A well-placed bandeja (a controlled overhead) is far more effective than a full-power smash.
The fix: Replace the instinct to smash with the habit of placing. When you’re at the net with a high ball, ask yourself: where is the gap? Aim for the sideline glass at an angle, or play a vibora (a sidespin overhead) that kicks away from your opponent after bouncing. Save the full smash for balls that are truly above your head and out of reach of the back glass. Control wins more points than power at club level.
Mistake 5: No Mental Reset Between Points
What happens: A player makes an error, carries the frustration into the next point, rushes the serve, and makes another error. One bad point becomes three.
Why it’s wrong: Padel is a long game. Matches are best of 3 sets, and momentum swings constantly. Players who can’t reset mentally after a bad point give their opponents free points through emotional errors.
The fix: Develop a between-point routine and use it every single point — not just after bad ones. A simple routine: take one breath, say one word to your partner (even just “come on” or “next one”), and bounce on your toes before the next serve. This 5-second reset breaks the emotional chain and brings you back to the present point. The best padel players in the world use this — it’s not a luxury, it’s a skill.
Want to Fix These Mistakes Faster?
If you want a structured approach to improving your padel game — covering footwork, drills, mindset, and match strategy — the Padel Made Easy Collection from Tennis Mindset gives you 50+ drills and exercises designed specifically for club players who want to level up fast.
It covers everything from wall play and net positioning to the mental game — exactly the areas where most club players lose points unnecessarily.
Summary: Fix These 5 Padel Mistakes Today
- Don’t rush the net — earn it with a good serve, then advance
- Use the back glass — practice the bajada until it’s automatic
- Move as a team — communicate, cover, and reset together
- Place at the net, don’t smash — the bandeja wins more points than power
- Reset mentally — a between-point routine stops one error becoming three
Fix one mistake per session. Within a month, your club opponents will notice the difference.
Want more padel tips? Visit Tennis Mindset for free guides on padel training, footwork, and mindset.