“We lost a match due to poor management of easy balls”

After recalling that 90% of points in padel are decided by the management of easy balls, Romain Taupin, coach and founder of Padelonomics, details the technical keys to better master the different shots and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

According to him, it is not enough to play your favorite shots well: every move matters and must be worked on to progress. Here are his practical tips for each game situation.

"We lost a match due to poor management of easy balls."

Service

Favor a speed average rather than strong, to gain precision.
Allow yourself time to move up the volley after the engagement.

Back

Bend the legs for better stability.
Move forward in the ball and keep a very short preparation at the amateur level.
The priority is for the ball to pass: don't overplay.
On a difficult return: play from below.
On easy return: use the lob.
Always prepare early to have time.

flight

gesture short and compact in the majority of cases.
If the ball is complicated: play again in the same direction.
If it is easy: do not hit too hard, but push forward precisely.
Prepare early to save time.

Bandeja / Vibora control

Goal : take back the net, not win the point.
Play at medium speed to allow time to reposition yourself.
If the opponent's lob is short, attack harder or with precision.
Advance preparation to save time.

Smash

Hit hard only if the lob is really short.
Otherwise, favor the vibora, the bandeja or the smash on the grid if off-center.
Prepare early to give yourself time.

Direct hits (without glass)

On a difficult ball: play again from below.
On a more accessible ball: possibility of lobbing.
Avoid unlikely angles, aim the center of the field.
On a very fast ball: use the windows to delay.

Blows after rebound on glass

On a fastball: simply follow it, without adding speed.
On an easy ball: possibility of lobbing.
On a complicated ball: favor playing from below.
Position the racket at ball level (or slightly below) to anticipate cut effects.

Romain Taupin's key message

To progress and win more matches, you need to remember a simple idea:
prepare early, play with control and avoid forcing easy balls.

“We rarely lose because we miss an extraordinary shot. We most often lose because we mishandled a ball that shouldn't have caused us any problems.”

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.