Padel Drills for Beginners and Intermediates: 7 Exercises That Actually Improve Your Game
A good padel coach will design a drill programme around your weak points — not generic exercises. These 7 drills cover the core skills that determine improvement at club level: wall play, volley control, serve, movement, and net game.
Most club padel improvement stalls not from lack of playing time — it stalls from lack of deliberate practice. Turning up to matches and hoping to get better is the slowest path. Dedicated drill sessions, even 45–60 minutes once a week, compound faster than three hours of match play.
The drills below are structured around the skills that most directly determine club-level results. Each includes setup, common errors, coaching cues, and how to progress once the base version feels comfortable.
If you want these drills run in sequence with feedback on your technique, a qualified padel coach can build a personalised drill programme in 2–3 sessions, targeting the specific areas holding your game back. See our padel fitness guide for the off-court conditioning that supports these on-court drills.
Beginner Drills
Level 1–3 (1.0–3.0)Back Wall Feed Drill
Setup
One feeder stands at the net. The drilling player starts in mid-court. Feeder plays a slow, high ball to one back corner. The drilling player retreats to let the ball bounce off the back glass, then strikes a controlled return to the feeder.
Coaching tips
- →The most common error: hitting the ball before it reaches the glass. Wait for the glass — let the ball come to you.
- →Stay sideways to the glass when retreating. Facing the glass directly makes it hard to generate pace on the return.
- →Aim to strike the ball at hip height after the glass rebound — this gives the most control.
- →Start with both players using underarm feeds (no pace) and progress to full-pace groundstrokes.
Progression
Add a third player as the net pressure — after the glass ball return, the feeder and a partner attack the net, forcing the drilling player to lob or pass from a defensive position.
Solo variant
Feed off your own racket into the back wall and practice the retrieve timing solo.
Cross-Court Volley Control Drill
Setup
Two players stand at the net on opposite sides of the court, roughly 1m behind the net. Volley cooperatively cross-court for 60–90 seconds, keeping the ball in play with controlled, non-aggressive strokes. Switch to down-the-line after 60 seconds.
Coaching tips
- →Continental grip for all volleys — do not switch to a forehand or backhand grip mid-rally.
- →Short backswing: the preparation for a volley should take no more than the width of your body.
- →Absorb the ball rather than hitting through it — think 'catch and direct' rather than 'punch'.
- →Watch the ball onto the strings. The most common error at beginner level is looking where you want to send the ball before contact.
Progression
Introduce a winner attempt every 10th volley — the partner must defend the aggressive shot and reset the cooperative exchange.
Solo variant
Volley against the side or front wall from 2m, focusing on keeping the ball controlled.
Serve and Return Practice
Setup
Server practices serves targeting the back corners (T and wide), using the sidewall to create difficulty. Returner practices returning deep, controlling direction (cross-court or down-the-line). After 20 serves, switch roles.
Coaching tips
- →The padel serve must be hit underarm with the ball below hip level — no overhead serves allowed. Develop a consistent toss first.
- →Target the junction of the back wall and side wall (the 'corner') — a well-placed serve produces a tricky bouncing return.
- →As returner, a neutral return deep to the center is safer than a risky winner. Get the ball back first.
- →Serve practice is one of the most underused drills at club level — most players only serve in matches.
Progression
Add the third-ball attack: after a good serve, the server approaches the net immediately. After a weak return, the server closes and finishes.
Solo variant
Serve practice alone — no partner needed. 100 serves targeting the corner is a complete session.
Lateral Movement and Split-Step Drill
Setup
One feeder stands at the net. Drilling player starts at the centre of the baseline. Feeder calls 'left', 'right', or 'net' — the drilling player performs a split-step on the call and moves explosively to that position, touching the specified spot. No ball needed for the first phase.
Coaching tips
- →The split-step should happen when the feeder is about to make contact (in match play) or on their call (in this drill). Timing the split-step too early or too late removes all its benefit.
- →Land the split-step with both feet simultaneous — not one foot then the other.
- →First movement after the split should be a crossover step, not a side-shuffle. Crossover step is faster for covering distance.
- →Add a ball in phase two: feeder actually hits the ball after calling the direction.
Progression
Run a 10-ball sequence: feeder hits balls alternating between forehand and backhand corners at medium pace. Drilling player must split-step before each shot and recover to centre after each return.
Solo variant
Shadow movement drill: set a timer, alternate between baseline positions every 4–5 seconds, practising the split-step and crossover pattern.
Intermediate Drills
Level 4–6 (3.0–5.0)Bandeja and Lob Response Drill
Setup
Two players at the net, two players at the baseline. Baseline players feed high lobs to the net players. Net players return with a controlled bandeja (slice overhead aimed back at the baseline). Repeat for 10 shots per pair, then switch.
Coaching tips
- →The bandeja is not a smash — do not try to end the point with it. The goal is a controlled, penetrating shot that keeps your net position.
- →Contact point should be in front and slightly to the side (not above the head like a tennis overhead).
- →After a bandeja, hold the net position — do not drop back. The defensive team should be under pressure, not you.
- →Beginners can replace bandeja with a controlled smash to the back wall — practice letting the shot 'die' in the back corner.
Progression
Add a competitive element: the defending pair scores a point each time they successfully retrieve the bandeja and put a ball past the net pair. First to 5 points wins.
Solo variant
Not applicable for this drill — requires a feeder.
Net Approach and Put-Away Drill
Setup
One player starts at the baseline. Feeder stands at the opposite baseline. Feeder plays a short ball (mid-court). Drilling player approaches the net behind their strike and receives the next ball as a volley — either a winner opportunity or a reset volley.
Coaching tips
- →The approach shot should be hit with pace and low trajectory — give the baseline opponent no easy lob opportunity while you approach.
- →Close the net on the approach: reach the service-line depth before the ball reaches the opponent.
- →At the net, split-step as the opponent strikes the ball — even during your forward movement.
- →First volley at net should be directional and firm, not a winner attempt. Force the opponent sideways, then finish.
Progression
Add a second baseline player defending: the approaching player must put away a winner or play two net volleys before the defenders can lob them off the net.
Solo variant
Practise the approach shot only — 20 minutes hitting to a specific target from mid-court, varying depth and direction.
Two-on-One Pressure Drill
Setup
One player defends the full baseline alone (or with a partner in a 2v2 variant). Two players attack from the net position. Attacking pair plays two shots then can only put away — they cannot win immediately. Defending player must survive 5 balls to score a point.
Coaching tips
- →The defender's primary weapon is the lob — height and length, not power.
- →A good padel coach will design this drill so the pressure increases progressively: first the net pair has no smash, then one smash, then full attacking play.
- →Defenders under pressure tend to aim at the net pair — this is a mistake. Aim for the back corners to force movement.
- →Breathe and reset mentally after each successful defensive return — sustained pressure drills are as much about mental resilience as technique.
Progression
Remove the 'two-shot before winner' restriction. Now it is full match play from the start. Defender wins a point for every 5-ball rally they survive; net pair wins a point for each winner.
Solo variant
Not applicable — requires at least two players.
Why a Coach Changes What You Drill
The drills above are structured and evidence-based — but they are generic. A qualified padel coach will diagnose which of these areas holds your game back most, then sequence drills to fix the root cause first. Most club players assume their forehand is the problem. Most coaches find it is the split-step, or the serve, or reading the glass ball.
Diagnosis first
A coach identifies your actual weak point in the first session — often different from what you think. Drilling the right thing is more valuable than drilling the obvious thing.
Consistent ball feed
Self-fed and partner-fed drills introduce variability that slows skill acquisition. A coach can provide 100 identical balls in a row, which is how neural pathways form.
Real-time correction
You can drill a bad habit deeply if no one corrects you. A coach catches the error at repetition 3 instead of repetition 300.
Padel Drills FAQs
What drills should a padel beginner practice?
Beginners should prioritise three drills: the back wall feed drill (learning to let the ball come off the glass before striking), the cross-court volley control drill (developing soft hands at the net), and the lateral movement drill (building the split-step habit). These three address the most common errors in beginner padel — rushing the glass ball, jabbing at volleys, and poor court positioning.
How often should I practice padel drills?
Aim for at least one dedicated drill session per week in addition to your match play. Drill sessions of 45–60 minutes focusing on 2–3 specific areas produce faster improvement than the same time spent in unstructured rallying. With a coach, even 30-minute weekly drill sessions can make a measurable difference within 4–6 weeks.
Can I practice padel drills alone?
Yes — a solo player and a wall is enough for several productive drills. Wall play drills, serve practice, and solo volley-to-wall work can all be done alone. You do need a partner for cross-court feed drills and net-approach combinations. A coach significantly accelerates drill quality by providing consistent feeds and correcting technique in real time.
What is the most important skill to drill in padel?
Back wall play — specifically the ability to read, retreat, and strike a ball that has come off the glass — is the most unique and game-determining skill in padel. Tennis players who struggle to adapt to padel almost always need dedicated glass play drilling. It is also the skill that separates 4.0 padel players from 5.0 players most clearly.