TRAINING GUIDE — INTERMEDIATE
Padel Training for Intermediate Players — Drills, Tactics & Progression
12 min read
Updated March 2026
By PadelPicked
You can rally consistently, your serve goes in, and you're comfortable with the wall rebound. Now comes the real game. This guide covers the shots and tactics that separate intermediate players from beginners — and the structured drills to develop them fast.
WHERE YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSING
Intermediate players need to master three things: the lob, the smash, and winning the net. Once you can lob your opponents off the net, smash decisively, and hold net position as a pair, you'll win the majority of your club games.
Key shots to develop at intermediate level
At beginner level, keeping the ball in play was enough. At intermediate, you need a vocabulary of shots. Here's what to prioritise:
- The lob — the most important shot in padel. High, deep, and landing near the back glass. Forces opponents off the net
- The bandeja — a defensive smash that keeps the ball in play after a lob, landing back into the opponent's court. Essential at this level
- The smash — a finishing shot when your opponent's lob is short. Aim for the side glass and floor combination
- The short angle volley — placing volleys wide and low to create angles your opponents can't reach
- The bajada — hitting the ball on the rebound after it bounces off the back glass, sending it back flat and fast
Intermediate drills
4 players15 minutesLob / Smash
One pair at the net, one pair at the baseline. Baseline pair lobs consistently — net pair smashes. After each smash, the point is dead and the lob begins again. Rotate every 10 lobs. Focus: baseline pair aims for deep, high lobs; net pair focuses on placement not power on the smash. This drill teaches both the lob and the smash simultaneously.
4 players15 minutesNet play
Both pairs at the net. Rally with volleys only — no groundstrokes, no lobs. The pair that forces the other back wins the point. Focuses entirely on net positioning, volley placement and reaction speed. Start at half-pace and build up. This drill will transform your net game within a few sessions.
2 players10 minutesWall play
Player A hits a drive to the back glass. Player B lets it rebound off the side wall and back wall before playing it. The aim is to practice the bajada — reading the double-wall rebound and striking it cleanly back down the court. This is a genuinely difficult skill that most players at this level haven't mastered.
4 players12 minutesNet transition
Start at the baseline. Feed drives at each other until someone hits a short ball. The pair that receives the short ball attacks the net. Play out the point from there. This teaches the transition from defence to attack — the most important tactical movement in padel. Most points at club level are won or lost in this transition moment.
4 players15 minutesMatch tactics
Server serves, follows serve to the net immediately with their partner. Returners play the return and try to lob the incoming pair. Server's pair must handle the lob or hold net. Play out the full point. Rotate serves. This is how real points start at intermediate and above — practice the opening pattern until it's automatic.
Tactical fundamentals for intermediate players
1
Always try to win the net
The pair at the net wins the majority of points in padel. Every rally should have a goal of getting both players to the net. When your opponents are at the net, your job is to lob them off it. When you're at the net, your job is to volley aggressively and maintain position.
2
Target the middle of the court
Hitting down the middle creates confusion about who takes the ball. It also gives you the lowest part of the net (centre strap) and reduces the angle your opponents can hit back. Most intermediate players aim for the lines — the middle is smarter and more consistent.
When you're under pressure, don't try to hit a winner. Lob high and deep to push your opponents back and give yourself time to recover position. A good defensive lob that lands near the back glass is worth more than an aggressive shot that goes into the net.
4
Exploit the weaker player
In every doubles pair, one player is weaker. Identify which one early and direct at least 70% of your shots at them. This isn't unsporting — it's padel. At competitive level every team does this. Build your tactics around creating pressure on the weaker side.
Dominating the net
The net position is where padel matches are decided. Here's how to hold it effectively:
- Stand close but not too close — approximately 2 metres from the net. Close enough to volley aggressively, far enough to reach a lob
- Move as a pair — when you move left, your partner moves left. Don't leave gaps down the middle
- Racket always up — keep your racket at shoulder height when at the net. This gives you less reaction time to prepare for fast volleys
- Anticipate the lob — when you've hit a strong volley, take half a step back in anticipation of the defensive lob
The lob — your most important weapon
A well-executed lob wins more points in padel than any other shot. Most intermediate players underuse it. Here's how to make yours reliable:
- Aim 1 metre above the net pair's reach — high enough to clear them, low enough to land near the service line
- Use topspin — brush up the back of the ball to add topspin, which brings the ball down faster and makes the rebound harder to handle
- Change the pace — slow defensive lobs and quicker attacking lobs serve different purposes. Mix them up
- Aim for the side glass corner — a lob that lands near the back corner and kicks into the side glass is almost unplayable
Developing a reliable smash
Most intermediate players try to smash too hard. The smash is a placement shot, not a power shot. Here's the approach that actually works:
- Aim for the side glass first — don't try to end the point into the floor. Hit it into the side glass so it rebounds unpredictably away from your opponents
- Hit at 75% power — a controlled smash you place correctly beats a hard smash you hit out every time
- Move behind the ball — position yourself under the ball with your non-dominant shoulder pointing at it before striking
- Learn the bandeja — when the lob is deep and you can't smash properly, use the bandeja (a controlled overhead with slice) to keep the ball in play and hold net position
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