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

Beginner children’s session: 7 key drills to build the fundamentals of padel

This session is made up of exercises designed to develop the fundamental skills of padel in beginner children. The drills are easy to perform, while still occasionally pushing children slightly outside their comfort zone. This session is ideal for children who are new to padel, typically between the ages of 6 and 12, depending on their level…➡️

1. Beginner children: ball throwing and catching after the rebound (no racket drill)
2. Beginner children: racket rallies with a ball rolling on the ground
3. Beginner children: returning a ball after a rebound off the back glass (2 variations)
4. Playing rallies on a mini-court: a 3-step progression for beginner children
5. Basic stroke and movement drill for beginners
6. Fun defense and movement drill for children (2 progressions)
7. Fun challenge for children: avoiding a series of balls fed by 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. Improve the placement of your cross-court víbora to make it extremely difficult to defend
5. 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 and tactical 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. Capitalize on a good lob by playing low to the same opponent and recovering the net
4. The serve is a lob: an exercise in reversing the server’s situation
5. Match sequence

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. Volley-padel: two passes with his teammate before sending it back
2. Work on the depth of your volleys with this drill by Rodrigo Ovide
3. At the net, avoid volleying toward glass wall no. 4 to maintain pressure and better control defenders
4. Work on the way you change direction on the volley to avoid a passing-shot by the defenders
5. 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. Rodrigo Casado (Gustavo Pratto Academy): the blocked volley to use the opponent’s power against him
3. Work on the volley duel with a controlled 1-on-1 exercise
4. The volley duel with 4 players: work on this pattern to automate quick decision-making and improve reflexes
5. 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 volleys, viboras and bandejas—especially those that hit double glass—the game becomes much more relaxed: you stop rushing and start making better decisions…➡️

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. The deep volley to put pressure on the defender and prevent him from lobbing: a technical drill 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)

Defense and transition to the net after a lob

This four-player session focuses on both the technical and tactical aspects of back-court defense and the players’ transition to the net after a well-executed lob. After a fun warm-up centered on the lob, the players work specifically on their defensive technique…➡️

1. A simple and fun drill to work on lob consistency and depth — with Rodrigo Ovide, Gemma Triay and Alejandra Salazar
2. Defending difficult balls in the middle of the court: technical and decision-making work
3. Capitalize on a good lob by playing low to the same opponent and recovering the net
4. Match sequence (free play)

Defense and lobbing under pressure (2-against-1 situations)

Working in a 2-versus-1 format allows for a high volume of shots for the solo player, helping them improve more quickly. After a standard warm-up, the players focus on defensive technique with balls fed by the coach. They then apply this work in 2-vs-1 situations…➡️

1. Classic open warm-up with rallies between the two parallel players
2. Defending difficult balls in the middle of the court: technical and decision-making work
3. Decision-making and precise lobbing: 2-on-1 defensive work
4. 2 vs 1 defensive drill to improve lob decision-making and technical comfort from the back of the court
5. An excellent exercise for consistency, patience and tactical intelligence, by Rodrigo Ovide

Variation of overhead shots: rulo, vibora, bandeja

This comprehensive session focuses on the full range of overhead shots: bandeja, vibora, rulo, and smash. After a standard warm-up, the players work on their technical execution with balls fed from a basket by the coach…➡️

1. Classic open warm-up with rallies between the two parallel players
2. Technical work and practice of the rulo, a slow overhead shot that crosses over towards the fence
3. Improve the placement of your cross-court víbora to make it extremely difficult to defend
4. A conditioned attack/defense drill, followed by free play with Agustín Tapia, Tolito Aguirre and Gonzalo Alfonso by Martín Canali
5. Match sequence

Decision-making at the net

When at the net, players should not try to “attack” every ball, as this often leads to unforced errors. Some balls come with too much pace and therefore simply need to be controlled with a smart block. This session therefore focuses on decision-making at the net…➡️

1. Volley warm-up drill with two balls always in play
2. Rodrigo Casado (Gustavo Pratto Academy): the blocked volley to use the opponent’s power against him
3. Gustavo Pratto: choosing the right volley for the incoming ball
4. At the net, avoid volleying toward glass wall no. 4 to maintain pressure and better control defenders
5. Match sequence

A complete and high-intensity one-on-one session typical of a pro academy

This individual session will work on the player’s full technical range: defense, volleys, víboras, and smashes. It will also include more tactical sequences to improve decision-making in match situations…➡️

1. Typical warm-up for an individual session in a Spanish academy (or with 2 players)
2. Classic parallel back-court defense drill, individual with coach (or 2 players)
3. Classic back-of-the-court defense drill with lob and chiquita, individual with coach (or 2 players)
4. Individual session drill focused on aerial shot variation to develop the full technical range
5. Capitalize on a slightly high floating ball to attack with the volley and then finish the point
6. Capitalize on a strong víbora by closing in tight to the net and finishing the point
7. Match sequence 1 versus 1

Develop offensive intent and improve net transition

This is a fairly complete session, with a central focus on offensive intent at the net and regaining the offensive position. After a controlled warm-up, the players will technically work on their víbora, with the objective of improving its placement and making it more difficult to defend…➡️

1. Typical warm-up for an individual session in a Spanish academy (or with 2 players)
2. Improve the placement of your cross-court víbora to make it extremely difficult to defend
3. Capitalize on a good lob by playing low to the same opponent and recovering the net
4. A tactical and mental drill to score important points and finalize games
5. Match sequence by playing a full set

Recover net position from defense using the chiquita and the lob

The objective of this session is to develop the players’ defensive range, with a focus on the chiquita and the lob — two shots that allow players to regain the net when executed effectively. After a complete warm-up, the players work technically on their chiquita through basket-fed drills…➡️

1. Miguel Sciorilli: a short-game drill to improve the chiquita
2. Chiquita training session with 6 progressive drills: control, precision, and transition to the net
3. Building the point without being able to finish it, and defending without lifting the ball — a 2-on-2 drill focused on patience and consistency
4. Cross anticipation & game reading: reading the opponent’s movement to play a lob or a chiquita in defense
5. Match sequence by playing a full set

Two-player session: complete technical and tactical work in the diagonal

This two-player session is quite versatile, combining technical work, followed by tactical work, and finally point-play situations in the diagonal. After a standard diagonal warm-up, the players will technically work on their volleys through basket-fed drills…➡️

1. Classic diagonal warm-up
2. Pablo Crosetti: adapting your volley to each situation with an intense drill
3. A tactical 4-ball sequence: transition from defense to attack
4. Getting to the net in the best possible conditions: Pablo Crosetti’s method
5. Galan – Holm: attack/defense situation on the diagonal, lob prohibited
6. Super tie-break played fully open in the diagonal

Session for a pair of players: improving match aggressiveness

This session aims to improve a pair’s aggressiveness in match play and their commitment within each point. After a controlled warm-up, the players will work on the first volley after the serve through a basket-fed drill, with the objective of immediately putting pressure on the opponents…➡️

1. Two complementary technical workshops for multi-skilled, controlled work
2. Chingotto / Gonzalez: work on the first volley after the serve with intensity and intention
3. Automating this play sequence to capitalize on the serve with a strong volley combination
4. A game of defensive consistency for 2 players: resist 5 aggressive volleys to win the point
5. Free-play parallel attack/defense training with Juan Lebron (with and without a ban on lobs)

Two-player session: focus on overhead shots

This two-player session mainly focuses on overhead shots: the bandeja, víbora, and rulo. After a classic warm-up, the players work on the placement of their víbora through a basket-fed drill, then move on to an overhead/volley variation exercise, adding the rulo to the sequence…➡️

1. Typical warm-up for an individual session in a Spanish academy (or with 2 players)
2. Improve the placement of your cross-court víbora to make it extremely difficult to defend
3. Volley and overhead training session with four drills and variations (for 2 or 3 players)
4. Rehearsing an offensive sequence to maintain superiority at the net
5. Miguel Lamperti / Agustin Tapia: free attack/defense situation on the diagonal
6. Super tie-break played fully open in the diagonal

Two-player session: technical and tactical focus on volleys

This two-player session focuses on the volley, combining technical work followed by tactical development. The players begin by working on their volley technique with balls fed by the coach, then move on to tactical decision-making drills…➡️

1. Classic parallel warm-up
2. Starting from a seated position to work on reactivity and movement on the volley
3. Alejandro Galán: a two-volley sequence starting from a seated position to work on net transition timing
4. Gustavo Pratto: choosing the right volley for the incoming ball
5. Pablo Crosetti: adapting your volley to each situation with an intense drill
6. A game of defensive consistency for 2 players: resist 5 aggressive volleys to win the point
7. One-on-one diagonal match sequence

Session with a pair: complementarity and movement to cover space and anticipate the opponent

This session is designed to improve on-court complementarity within a pair, focusing on coordination and movement. After a precision and control warm-up, the players work on two common match situations that require strong coordination…➡️

1. Precision and control warm-up before the glass: aim for your opponent’s cone
2. Classic rally exchanges, with one player at the net and the other at the back of the court
3. Move up together to the net after a good lob to apply pressure and block the opponent’s víbora
4. Complementarity at the net: cover the center after your partner’s overhead to intercept the return
5. Match sequence with a parallel super tie-break

Training session for a pair: defensive technique, tactical awareness, and offensive intensity

Used at the Pablo Ayma Academy, this session designed for a pair of two players focuses on developing key technical and tactical aspects of the game. After starting with technical work on back-court defense, the pair will then focus on their complementarity at the net, improving their coordination…➡️

1. Classic warm-up in 4 variations: focus on intensity
2. Specific defensive drill: focus on weight transfer from back to front
3. Offensive drill with maximum physical intensity: alternating volleys and overheads to put pressure on the opponent
4. Pair positioning drill: developing complementarity to improve net positioning during rallies
5. Return of serve drill: prioritizing the half-volley before the glass

Training session for a pair: defensive variation and offensive aggression

This training session designed for a pair of two players focuses on two key areas of improvement: adding more variation in defense to create opportunities to regain the net, and developing greater attacking aggression, especially on volleys. The session also incorporates ball control work and tactical…➡️

1. Typical warm-up for an individual session in a Spanish academy (or with 2 players)
2. Varying the rhythm in defense: playing fast and slow to surprise the attacker
3. Fun two-player drill for the flat smash
4. A complete and fun two-player rally sequence to improve ball control
5. Pair positioning drill: developing complementarity to improve net positioning during rallies
6. Stepping forward at the net to intercept the ball earlier and increase volley aggression

Two-player session focused on back-court defense: technique, variation, and decision-making

The objective of this session is to build confidence in back-court defense, through attack vs defense situations, played both down the line and cross-court. After an initial phase of pure technical work, players will develop variation in their defensive shots, ensuring they never give the opponent the same ball…➡️

1. Shadow warm-up without ball: building up intensity before training
2. Classic warm-up in 6 variations: full activation with physical intensity
3. Original defensive drill: targeting the net tape to improve height control on defensive shots
4. Diagonal attack/defense drill: alternating lobs and varied low defensive shots
5. Conditioned attack/defense drill: developing decision-making in defense
6. End-of-session drill: conditioned cross-court match with no forehand lobs

Individual session on defense and transition: building low defense and capitalizing on the chiquita (advanced player)

The objective of this individual session for an advanced player is to reinforce technical and tactical solutions to regain the net without relying on the lob, particularly against opponents with a strong smash. This is achieved through a combination of developing and varying low defensive shots, as well as working on the chiquita and quick forward movement to transition into attack….➡️

1. Cross-court warm-up in defense/volley situation: no lobs allowed (2 players or 1 player with coach)
2. Coach-fed drill: defending cross-court volleys to the fence and working forward/backward transitions
3. Coach-fed net drill: maximizing volleys with fast footwork
4. Cross-court 1v1 with no lobs: varying low defense and capitalizing on the chiquita

Tactical session on transitioning from defense to attack: a powerful down-the-line defense followed by a staggered transition to the net

This session is designed to provide an in-depth study of a tactical pattern for regaining the net from a defensive position through a series of drills and game situations. This pattern consists of combining a powerful down-the-line defensive shot along the side fence with a forward movement into the court to put pressure on the parallel net player…➡️

1. Classic warm-up in 4 variations: focus on intensity
2. 2 vs 1 drill: transitioning to the net from a defensive position with a powerful down-the-line defense
3. 2 vs 2 offensive transition using the pattern of a down-the-line defense along the side fence followed by a move forward
4. Match sequence (2 vs 2)

Beginner children’s session: ball control, coordination and movement development

This session is made up of 7 varied drills designed to develop ball control through simple and fundamental strokes. Specifically designed for beginner children, these exercises provide a comprehensive approach to developing coordination and movement skills, which are essential foundations for young padel players…➡️

1. Coordination drill for beginner children: catching the ball in the air
2. Beginner children: ball control drill using the back glass
3. Beginner children’s drill: slalom through cones and striking a rolling ball
4. Beginner children: ball-striking drill after a lateral movement
5. Children’s drill: forehand control and quick movement
6. Hitting the ball after a back-glass rebound: a beginner children’s drill
7. Children’s drill: volley after a forward movement