Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer tackles one of the most overlooked aspects of competitive padel: the mental game. If you are an intermediate or advanced padel player who knows the tactics but struggles to execute them under match pressure, this episode is essential listening. Jack explores the performance paradox, the well-documented sports psychology princi...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer dives deep into one of the most underutilised tactics in the game: attacking the middle of the court. Whether you're competing in club leagues or pushing toward tournament play, understanding how to exploit the central zone is a game-changer that separates good players from great ones. Jack breaks down exactly why the middle i...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer breaks down one of the most transformative concepts in padel strategy: using the back wall not as a defensive last resort, but as a launching pad for aggressive, point-winning shots. Jack covers the essential mindset shift that separates intermediate players from advanced competitors, explaining why the back wall actually give...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer explores one of the most overlooked aspects of high-level padel: the mental game between points. While many intermediate players use the time between rallies purely for physical recovery, advanced padel players are running a deliberate and disciplined thought process that sets them up to win the next point before it even begin...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer takes a comprehensive look at the vibora, one of padel's most powerful and technically demanding shots. Whether you are an intermediate player trying to add the vibora to your arsenal or an advanced player looking to sharpen your decision making, this episode covers everything you need to know. Jack breaks down the mechanics o...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer breaks down one of the most misunderstood dynamics in padel: why touch players consistently outperform hard hitters, even at intermediate and advanced levels. If you've been working on generating more power in your padel game, this episode will challenge that approach and show you why variation, deception, and racket feel are...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer breaks down one of the most underestimated shots in the game: the lob. Far from being a defensive fallback, the lob is a tactically powerful weapon that can shift momentum, disrupt rhythm, and force opponents out of dominant net positions. Jack explains the critical difference between a panic lob and an intentional, well-place...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer breaks down one of the most underrated skills in competitive padel: pattern recognition. If you've ever felt like you're always one step behind on court, reacting instead of anticipating, this episode is for you. Jack explains why intermediate padel players often get stuck reacting to the ball rather than reading the game ahea...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer delivers a comprehensive breakdown of the bandeja, widely regarded as the most important defensive shot in padel. Whether you're struggling with mid-height lobs, losing net position under pressure, or simply looking to add a reliable overhead option to your game, this episode provides the technical detail and strategic context...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer dives deep into one of the most valuable and often overlooked skills in padel: anticipation. If you've ever watched a high-level player move into position before the ball has even left their opponent's racket and wondered how they do it, this episode is for you. Jack breaks down the key visual cues that give away your opponent...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer breaks down the net positioning strategies that elite padel players rely on but rarely discuss openly. If you've been working on your volleys and overhead smashes but still feel like you're getting exposed at the net, this episode is the missing piece. Jack covers the concept of the pressure triangle and why your distance from...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer breaks down one of the most critical decision points in padel — the third shot. Whether you are moving from intermediate to advanced play or looking to sharpen your tactical understanding, this episode gives you a clear framework for knowing when to attack and when to reset. Jack explains why the third shot is uniquely challen...

In this episode of Padel Up: Intermediate to Advanced, host Jack Mercer tackles one of the most common mistakes that holds intermediate padel players back from reaching the next level — over-relying on the power smash instead of developing a strategic overhead game. If your smashes are sending you to the back of the court, costing you points, or leaving you out of position, this episode is exactly...