There is a point in most padel journeys where progress slows right down. You can rally, you can serve, you know roughly where to stand. And yet the same players keep beating you, and you cannot quite work out why. Nine times out of ten it is not a lack of talent. It is a handful of habits that were fine when you started and are now quietly costing you points.
Here are the seven I see most often on courts around Manchester, and what to do about each one.
1. Smashing everything instead of playing the bandeja
The winning smash feels great, so intermediate players go for it on every high ball. The trouble is that a full smash from an awkward position sails long, sits up off the back glass, or leaves you stranded out of position. The bandeja is the shot that keeps you at the net and keeps the pressure on without the risk.
The fix: treat the flat smash as a rare finishing shot, not your default. Learn the controlled, sliced bandeja and use it for anything above shoulder height that is not a clear put-away. Your consistency will jump straight away.
2. Standing too deep
Fear of getting lobbed pushes a lot of players two or three steps behind the service line. From there you are neither attacking nor defending well. You cannot volley, and you are still not far enough back to handle a proper lob comfortably.
The fix: when you win the net, commit to it. Stand around a metre inside the service line and back off only as the lob actually goes up. Position is a huge part of the game, and it is worth reading our guide to padel positioning mistakes if this one sounds familiar.
3. Using the lob as a last resort
Beginners lob when they are in trouble. Good intermediate players lob on purpose. A well-placed lob over the backhand side pushes the opposition off the net and hands you the attacking position instead.
The fix: start using the lob as a first choice when you are under a bit of pressure at the back, not just when you are stretched. Aim high and deep towards the corner. Our piece on the lob in padel breaks down the technique and when to use it.
4. Not moving as a pair
This is the big one. Two players drifting around the court independently leave gaps down the middle and up the sides. If your partner moves left and you stay put, the whole court opens up.
The fix: imagine a short rope tying you and your partner together. When one moves across, the other shifts to cover. When one steps up, so does the other. Practising this with a partner using padel drills for two players is the quickest way to make it automatic.
5. Rushing the net at the wrong time
Coming forward is good. Coming forward off a weak, floaty shot is asking to be passed or lobbed. Intermediate players often charge in behind a ball that gives the opponent all the time in the world.
The fix: only move up behind a shot that pushes your opponent back or low. If your ball sits up nicely for them, hold your ground and wait for a better chance. Earn the net, do not just sprint at it.
6. A weak backhand off the glass
The back glass turns a lot of confident players into nervous ones. The ball comes off at odd heights and angles, and the reflex is to jab at it early.
The fix: let the ball come off the glass and drop before you play it. Turn your side to the wall, wait, and lift the ball back deep rather than trying to do too much. Patience off the glass is a skill you can drill on your own by feeding the ball into the back wall and playing it out.
7. No patience
The most common trait among stuck intermediates is impatience. They try to win the point in two or three shots, go for lines that are not there, and hand over cheap errors.
The fix: accept that padel points are long. Keep the ball in play, make your opponents beat you, and wait for the short ball you can actually attack. If you want a structure for all of this, our simple improvement plan ties these habits into a weekly routine.
You do not need to fix all seven at once. Pick the one that stings the most, work on it for a few weeks, then move to the next. If you would rather have someone watch you play and point out your own patterns, a session or two with a coach is well worth it. Take a look at our Manchester coaches page to find someone local.
FAQ
How long does it take to get past the intermediate plateau?
It varies, but most players who focus on one habit at a time see a clear difference within a month or two of regular play. The plateau is usually about decision making rather than fitness or raw talent.
Should I learn the bandeja before the smash?
Yes. The bandeja is the shot you will use far more often, and it keeps you in a strong position. The full smash can come later once your bandeja is reliable.
Is a weak backhand off the glass fixable without a coach?
It is. You can practise on your own by feeding balls into the back wall and playing them out, letting each one drop before you hit. A coach speeds it up, but repetition is what really fixes it.