If you are new to padel, practise in this order: keep a comfortable rally going, learn to start a point with a serve and return, get used to a predictable ball off the back glass, then play simple points with your partner. This four-session progression is a flexible practice route, not an official coaching course. You can spread the stages over as many weeks as you need.
LTA Padel’s beginner advice covers basic shots, control, the glass and movement. Its Padel Xpress programme is a separate six-week course for adult beginners, delivered by eligible instructors. The plan below turns those broad areas into a short sequence for players practising with a partner.
A four-session progression for new players
| Session | Practise | Partner task | Ready to add the next stage when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Keep the ball moving | Comfortable forehands and backhands from a manageable distance. | Rally cooperatively, slow the feed or shorten the court when the exchange breaks down. | You can build a relaxed rally and recover your balance between shots. |
| 2. Start the point | Underarm serve, return and the first movement after the return. | Take turns serving and returning, then keep the rally going without a coach’s feed. | Both players can start a practice point and know whose turn it is to serve or receive. |
| 3. Read the back glass | Let a predictable deep ball bounce, reach the back glass and come forward. | Feed slowly; allow an extra bounce during early practice, then remove it when the player is comfortable. | You can wait for a slow feed’s rebound and guide it back into court without rushing the swing. |
| 4. Join the skills in a point | Serve, return, rally, communicate and recover as a pair. | Play short points with one shared focus, such as calling the middle or moving together after a lob. | After a point, you can name one repeatable situation to practise next. |
The checks are coaching prompts for your own practice, not pass marks. If one still feels rushed, repeat it with an easier feed or ask a padel coach to look at your technique.
Session 1: make the rally manageable
Begin with short, controlled exchanges rather than trying to hit hard from the baseline. Use a half-court rally or stand closer to the net and feed the ball gently. Aim for a contact height and pace that let your partner prepare for the next shot.
When the rally breaks, make the task easier: shorten the distance, slow the feed or agree to hit only forehands for a few turns. Then add the backhand. LTA Padel suggests building a rally of more than 10 shots as one possible racket warm-up goal; treat that as a practice target, not a minimum skill requirement. Before a match, its advice fits naturally with this site’s 12-minute padel warm-up routine.
Session 2: learn how a point starts
Alternate roles as server and receiver. Practise the underarm serve and a controlled return, then continue the rally. Keep the first task simple: get the ball into play and be balanced for the next shot. You do not need to rush to the net after every return while learning the sequence.
When the start of the point feels familiar, practise the next movement with the padel serve-return and first-volley guide. If the serve, scoring or service order is unclear, check the padel serve rules guide rather than guessing during a match.
Session 3: let a predictable ball reach the glass
The back glass changes the timing: after the ball bounces on your side, you can let it rebound from the wall before returning it. Start with a slow, deep feed. Leave space between you and the wall, watch the rebound, then guide the ball back with control.
LTA Padel’s training advice describes partner-fed back-glass practice, and its beginner back-glass guidance suggests allowing an extra bounce at first before removing it as you become comfortable. Use the site’s back-glass guide if you need help with spacing and preparation. Keep feeds predictable until you can read the ball; random feeds add pressure before the basic timing is familiar.
Session 4: turn the practice into simple points
Play short, friendly points and choose one shared intention. For example, both players can call early on a middle ball or move back together when the opponents play a lob. A point gives you a chance to connect the earlier skills; it does not need to become a full match every time.
LTA Padel’s beginner match-tactics guidance stresses communication and moving as a pair. Its positioning basics guide covers team spacing in more detail. After a few points, pause and note one situation that repeated. The site’s guide to what to track after a padel match can help turn that observation into your next practice focus.
How should you adjust the progression?
The sessions describe an order, not a weekly timetable. If your partner is also new, keep the feed predictable and take turns. If you already control the rally, move sooner to serves, returns or glass practice. If the ball off the glass is still uncomfortable, repeat that stage rather than adding speed.
You can also book a lesson for a coach to check your grip, contact and movement. LTA Padel’s Padel Xpress course is a structured six-week option for adult beginners; the lesson plans are provided to accredited coaches through the LTA Coach Hub.
After a social game, Padel Coach App can help you review a recorded clip and choose one question for your next court session—for example, whether you and your partner recovered together after a lob. Start with the match-video review guide or download the app. Treat automated feedback as a prompt to discuss or test, not a replacement for coaching.
Sources and scope
- LTA Padel: six tips for beginners.
- LTA Padel: rules, scoring and serving.
- LTA Padel: training tips and partner drills.
- LTA Padel: beginner match tactics.
- LTA Padel: Padel Xpress.
This four-session progression is an editorial practice suggestion based on those public sources. It is not the Padel Xpress syllabus, an LTA assessment or a guarantee of match readiness.
Learn how our guides are researched, prepared and checked in our editorial policy.