Training Padel

Individual session: back-court defense, with and without glass

This individual session allows the player to work on defense in a complete way, focusing on low defensive shots, both with and without the help of the glass. It then introduces a tactical dimension, with forward transitions after a good defensive shot…➡️

1. Perfect your defensive skills with these four technical workshops by Sarta (Martin di Nenno’s coach)
2. Surging forward after a good defense to recover the net: an exercise from the Rodrigo Ovide Academy
3. Optimize tactically your defense with these 3 workshops: how to place the ball to put the opponent in difficulty (right-hand player version)
4. 1-vs-1 diagonal match with the coach

Individual session: improving forehand and backhand volley technique

This individual session focuses on volley technique, with the goal of improving both footwork and arm mechanics. After a technical reminder to reinforce proper form, the player continues working on their volleys starting from a seated position, emphasizing forward projection toward the ball…➡️

1. Technical reminder on the volley (backhand and forehand): all the steps to a successful stroke
2. Alejandro Galán: a two-volley sequence starting from a seated position to work on net transition timing
3. Alternating rapidly a vibora and a free volley, an exercise with high intensity in the legs
4. 1-vs-1 diagonal match with the coach

Individual session: being more aggressive with your volley (volley to the fence and finishing volley)

Designed for advanced players, this session aims to improve a player’s aggressiveness on volley situations—either by attacking to the side fence or by hitting a firm, sliced finishing volley. The session then continues with work on a standard tactical sequence, followed by a 1-vs-1 diagonal…➡️

1. Chingotto / Gonzalez: work on the first volley after the serve with intensity and intention
2. The cross-court backhand volley to the diagonal side fence: a technique that often proves decisive
3. Paquito Navarro’s sliced volley to bury the ball with extreme underspin
4. A tactical 4-ball sequence: transition from defense to attack
5. 1-vs-1 diagonal match with the coach

Individual session: technical and tactical work on the bandeja

This session focuses on overhead shots, and particularly on the bandeja. After a classic technical repetition drill, the player works on choosing the correct target zone depending on the incoming lob. The session ends with an intense consistency drill for overheads, followed by a 1-vs-1 diagonal match with…➡️

1. Masterclass by Coki Nieto on the bandeja: a technical session on the stroke and tactical decision-making with 4 progressive drills
2. Choosing the right zone for your overhead shot (bandeja/vibora) according to the incoming ball (left-side player version)
3. Improving your bandeja success rate with this drill by Pablo Crosetti
4. 1-vs-1 diagonal match with the coach

Individual session: working on the vibora and the rulo

This individual session focuses on improving the player’s vibora and rulo (or gancho if the player plays on the right side). After a technical correction drill for the vibora, the player works on hitting the rulo toward the fence. The player then applies both shots in a classic alternation drill combining…➡️

1. Working the vibora with this intense exercise and tips from Fernando Poggi (M3 Padel Academy)
2. Agustín Tapia: training the « rulo » on the diagonal fence, a decisive move to perfect
3. Alternating rapidly a vibora and a free volley, an exercise with high intensity in the legs
4. 1-vs-1 diagonal match with the coach

Individual session: focus on the lob with technical work and decision-making

This individual session focuses on the lob, one of the most important shots in padel. After a purely technical drill, the session continues with two tactical decision-making exercises to help the player choose the best moment to play the lob…➡️

1. Play the lob like the pros with this exercise by Pablo Crosetti
2. Choosing the right moment to lob: defensive decision-making exercise
3. Optimize tactically your defense with these 3 workshops: how to place the ball to put the opponent in difficulty (right-hand player version)
4. 1-vs-1 diagonal match with the coach

All fundamentals sessions with progressive drills

These sessions cover the technical fundamentals of padel, breaking down each stroke step by step to learn it progressively. They are suitable for beginner players who are learning the technical motions, as well as intermediate players who want to improve their technical precision.

A defensive session with a focus on the lob

This training session brings together several defensive drills with an emphasis on the lob, one of the most important shots in padel. After a warm-up and technical work on the correct motion, the players immediately put it into practice through a variety of game-based situations…➡️

1. Two warm-up workshops to work on forehand and backhand defensive shots
2. Pablo Crosetti: get Tapia’s lob with an intense lob-on-lob exercise
3. On defense, alternate lobs and balls into a player’s feet to create an opportunity to take the net, by Rodrigo Ovide
4. The serve is a lob: an exercise in reversing the server’s situation

Volley session to optimize ball placement

In padel, the placement of your volley is often more important than its power. A well-placed, controlled volley can win the point without taking excessive risks. This session aims to improve volley placement—both in terms of direction and depth—and to help players make better decisions at the net…➡️

1. The deep volley to put pressure on the defender and prevent him from lobbing: a technical exercise by Rodrigo Ovide
2. At the net, avoid volleying toward glass wall no. 4 to maintain pressure and better control defenders
3. Work on the way you change direction on the volley to avoid a passing-shot by the defenders
4. Match sequence (conditioned or free play)

Offensive session with a focus on volley duels

Volley duels are a common situation in padel, where all four players end up at the net—often after a chiquita or a lob from one of the pairs. It is essential to have practiced this pattern in training to develop the right reflexes and win as many of these duels as possible…➡️

1. Exchanges with 2 balls at the same time to stimulate reflexes and peripheral vision
2. Work on the volley duel with a controlled 1-on-1 exercise
3. The volley duel with 4 players: work on this pattern to automate quick decision-making and improve reflexes
4. Match sequence: conditioned play

Improving defensive consistency and building confidence at the back of the court

When you feel comfortable at the back of the court and can regularly defend your opponent’s viboras and bandejas—especially those that hit double glass—the game becomes much more relaxed: you stop rushing and start making better decisions. The goal of this session is to help players become solid…➡️

1. Two warm-up workshops to work on forehand and backhand defensive shots
2. Defending difficult balls in the middle of the court: technical and decision-making work
3. An excellent exercise for consistency, patience and tactical intelligence, by Rodrigo Ovide
4. Consistency in defense and strategic intelligence: returning as many balls as possible without losing the point with Martín Di Nenno, Federico Chingotto, and Rodrigo Ovide
5. Match sequence (free play)

Building confidence in overhead shots (rulo and vibora)

This is a fairly complete session with a central focus on the consistency of overhead shots, whether they are powerful or not. After a controlled warm-up, the players work technically on their rulo, a shot that is often underestimated and underused by left-side players…➡️

1. 3 control drills to warm up in 1 vs 1 and work on defensive and offensive fundamentals
2. Technical work and practice of the rulo, a slow overhead shot that crosses over towards the fence
3. A conditioned attack/defense drill, followed by free play with Agustín Tapia, Tolito Aguirre and Gonzalo Alfonso by Martín Canali
4. Martin Di Nenno and Paquito Navarro: an exercise to work on finishing under pressure
5. Match sequence (free play)