Your London padel session: Learning to read corners
Set aside half an hour in London for two practice themes: Learning to read corners and The middle belongs to both of you. Start without scoring, then test the same decisions in a short doubles game.
Set aside half an hour in London for two practice themes: Learning to read corners and The middle belongs to both of you. Start without scoring, then test the same decisions in a short doubles game.
The first five minutes
One venue for this session is Stratford Padel Club. When booking, make sure your group has a court together. Start with short, gentle rallies and decide who will feed the first ball before you begin scoring.
05–13 · Learning to read corners
Watch the bounce, first wall and second wall. Especially at first, following the trajectory without hitting helps. Their order and the angles change where the ball becomes reachable again.
If you can take the ball early and under control before the corner, that is a valid solution. If using the wall sequence, stay mobile and leave enough space. Do not turn blindly towards glass or another player.
Practice · Feed gently into the same corner from the front half. After the bounce, the defender calls which wall the ball will reach first, then plays the return.
13–21 · The middle belongs to both of you
Agree how to call balls through the middle. “Mine” and “yours” are enough when called early. A general rule such as “forehand always takes it” can help sometimes but does not replace reading the trajectory.
The better-positioned player can take the middle if communication is clear. The partner covers the space left open. For a lob or a ball behind your partner, short calls such as “time” or “behind” help.
Practice · Send six controlled balls between the opposing pair. Defenders call who takes each one before contact. Count unambiguous calls, then switch roles.
21–30 · Nine minutes with a score
Play the last few minutes as doubles. Choose one of the two themes and remember a point where it worked. After the last ball, describe the moment before the shot: where were the opponents, where was the space and which decision would you repeat?
A question players ask
How can we practise with mixed abilities?
Ask the more consistent player to feed a controlled ball. Count good decisions together at first. Move on to open play once both pairs can repeat the pattern.
