The Beautiful Complexity of a Deceptively Simple Sport
Padel is often described as easy to learn but difficult to master — and that tension is precisely what makes it so addictive. The enclosed court, the glass walls, the underarm serve: these features give padel its unique character, but they also mean that technical habits formed early tend to stick. Getting the fundamentals right from the outset pays dividends for years.
New to the sport entirely? Start with our complete introduction to padel before diving into technique. Already playing? Here are the five fundamentals our coaches at Plett Padel Camp focus on — regardless of whether a guest is picking up a racket for the first time or arriving with years of competitive experience.
🎯 The 5 Fundamentals at a Glance
- The Continental Grip
- Ready Position at the Net
- The Soft Hands Volley
- Reading the Back Wall
- Serve Placement (Not Power)
1. The Continental Grip
The grip is the foundation of everything. In padel, the continental grip — sometimes called the 'hammer grip' — gives you the versatility to handle high balls, low slices, and vibora volleys without adjusting your hand between shots. Many players who come from a tennis background instinctively reach for an eastern or semi-western grip, and while this can generate topspin on groundstrokes, it severely limits effectiveness at the net and on wall plays.
Coach's Tip: Hold your racket as if you're about to hammer a nail. The edge of the frame points forward. If it feels awkward, you're probably doing it right — your grip is changing.
2. Ready Position at the Net
Padel is predominantly a net game. The pair that controls the net controls the point — and controlling the net starts with your ready position. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight on the balls of your feet, and racket held at chest height in front of your body. This position allows you to react to drives, lobs, and sharp cross-court angles with minimal preparation time.
A common mistake is holding the racket too low — a habit carried over from tennis groundstroke preparation. At the net in padel, your racket should already be up before the ball is in play.
3. The Soft Hands Volley
Unlike tennis, where volleys are often punched aggressively, padel rewards touch. The soft hands volley — absorbing pace and placing the ball precisely rather than redirecting it with force — is one of the most effective shots in the game. It is also one of the hardest to develop naturally, because it runs counter to our instinct to hit harder under pressure.
Coach's Tip: Imagine the ball is a raw egg. Your job is to catch it gently and redirect it. Tighten your grip only at the moment of contact, not before.
4. Reading the Back Wall
The back glass wall is what makes padel padel. Balls that would be out in tennis become opportunities: you can let them bounce off the glass and play the rebound. But the geometry requires practice. The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection — and in a match situation, you have milliseconds to calculate it. The only solution is repetition. Hours of wall drills. Learning to read pace, spin, and angle before the ball leaves your opponent's racket.
At Plett Padel Camp, we dedicate specific sessions to wall play — it is the fastest route to separating your game from the average club player.
5. Serve Placement — Not Power
The padel serve is underarm, bouncing into the service box and ideally hitting the side glass. It is not a weapon in the way a tennis first serve is. Trying to overpower your opponents from the service box is a strategic error. Instead, focus on placement, spin variation, and consistency. A well-placed slice that hugs the side wall and sits low forces a weak return — and that is exactly what good padel players are fishing for.
Coach's Tip: Aim for the T-junction between the side wall and service box. A ball that lands there and pops up awkwardly is far harder to deal with than a fast flat serve into the body.
Putting It Into Practice
Reading about technique is the starting point. Internalising it requires repetition under proper supervision. That is exactly what three days at Plett Padel Camp provides: expert eyes on your game, consistent feedback, and enough court time to make the adjustments stick.
View our upcoming camp dates and submit an enquiry before spaces fill. Or, if you want to understand the tactical side of the game before you arrive, read our companion piece: How One Weekend Can Transform Your Padel Game.
