What to do When Cornered in the Padel Court
You’ve finally mastered one obstacle, and now you’re faced with another. This loop puts most padel players to test! This is when you get backed up to a corner and you run out of moves. So how exactly do you defend the corner court?
The corner’s placement is the same as the back wall’s. The same criteria apply, and the most important thing is to get your feet in the correct spot.
For defending the corner, you have two choices.
When the ball initially touches the side wall before bouncing off the back wall, that’s a goal Here’s what you wanna do:
First, turn the ball 360 degrees and then make your way out of the area in order to protect yourself.
Take note. You have to be quick on your feet and make sharp turns with the ball in control.
This kind of padel placement is difficult to learn. Practice it hard and make sure it comes to you naturally and instinctively as you play.
But what happens if a shot bounces from the back wall?
Be quick on your reflex and save the ball, making sure that you don’t stay too long in the corner after. This will give your opponents more time to smash on the other side of the court, and you won’t have enough time to catch the ball.
This is when the advice to “move first, then hit” comes in handy.
First, you have to make sure you get out of the path of the ball before attempting a return shot. This way, you get a good estimate, and you can properly aim the return ball to the other side of the court. Do a 360-degree turn and then play or move out of the path and then play.
Advantages and disadvantages of turning vs. not turning
If you turn keep these in mind:
Pros
- You keep an eye out for the ball.
- This movement is more natural
- When you’re paying attention to everything, it’s easier to make snap decisions.
Cons
- It is impossible to view your opponents if you aren’t standing with your back to them.
- You may feel lightheaded or dizzy.
- You have to be careful not to make the customer feel dizzy or confused when training it.
If you stay in place instead:
Pros
- Moves that are simpler
- You can make out which direction your opponents are targeting
- There’s a lot less movement needed
Cons
- It’s difficult to predict where the ball will land.
- To play, you may have to first get out of the path of the ball.
Remember the net is where you win 90% of the points, so we need to get there if we want to win matches.
I’m gonna let you in another padel secret. Do you know what the “No man’s land” is in the padel court?
Another great bit of padel placement advice: move your feet! We must avoid no man’s land at all costs!
When we get stuck in this position, it makes it incredibly hard to volley or defend. If the ball goes past us as well, we are in big trouble.
Remember there is no “I” in TEAM
You and your partner should be a unit. A team that works together pressuring the opponent and getting results. Both of your padel positionings should be in sync.
If you play out of sync with your partner, then it is a recipe for disaster.
If you are at the net, and your partner is at the back, then the opponent will just hit your partner, as they are not in a threatening position.
It then allows your opponent to take the net, and then you are in a difficult position to win the point.
To sum it all up, padel positioning is one of the most important tools to master. With good positioning, you will save energy and find it a lot easier to play your shots. And one of the trickiest aspects is knowing where to position when backed to a corner.
