The Padel School Podcast

A great coaching programme is never built around just one coach. It's built around a team that shares the same vision, values, and approach to player development. In this episode, Tom and Sandy discuss what separates great coaching teams from average ones. Drawing on their experience working with coaches and clubs around the world, they explore how consistency, communication, and shared stand...

Watching professional padel is entertaining, but are you actually learning from it? In this solo episode, Sandy shares how to watch pro padel like a student, not just a fan. Drawing on his experience commentating on Premier Padel for Red Bull and coaching players from complete beginners to national team level, he explains what club players should really be paying attention to. Instead of focusing...

Everyone wants a better smash, a sharper vibora, or a more aggressive game. But after watching and coaching players at every level—from beginners to professional tournaments—Sandy and Tom keep coming back to one shot that has the biggest impact on winning matches: the lob. In this episode, they break down why the quality of your lob dictates who controls the net, why better players consistently hi...

Many players start their padel journey improving quickly, only to hit a frustrating plateau where progress seems to stop. In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down the three key areas they've identified after working with thousands of players worldwide that separate players who keep improving from those who get stuck. They explore why footwork is the foundation of every shot, how ball control...

Have you reached a point where your padel game feels stuck? In this episode, we uncover the three biggest reasons players stop improving—and, more importantly, what they can do about it. Drawing on years of experience coaching everyone from complete beginners to national-level athletes, we break down the three essential pillars of long-term improvement: footwork , ball control , and consistent con...

Padel is addictive… but that’s also part of the problem. 🎾 Players go from never playing to spending hours on court every week, often without preparing their body properly. Add poor warm-ups, the wrong shoes, wet conditions, bad technique, or unsafe habits on court, and injuries quickly become common. In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down: ✅ Why so many padel players get injured ✅ The impor...

Why do some players always seem impossible to beat — even when they don’t look technically superior? In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down what truly separates stronger players from the rest, and more importantly, how you can close that gap faster than you think. From consistency, tactical discipline, and shot selection to mental resilience and avoiding the trap of overplaying, this conversati...

In this episode, we break down why most players lose their matches in the first 10 minutes—and how to make sure you’re not one of them. From rushing straight from work onto court, skipping warm-ups, lacking tactical clarity, or simply starting too slowly, many recreational players unknowingly sabotage their performance before the match has even properly begun. We explore how elite players, nationa...

In this episode, we explore one of the most overlooked ways to accelerate your padel improvement: what you do off the court. Many recreational players believe that simply playing more matches is the fastest path to getting better. While matches are important, they often only take players so far before bad habits, technical flaws, and performance plateaus begin to appear. We break down why relying...

In this episode, we break down one of the most common mistakes players make when trying to improve: trying to fix too many things at once. Instead of progressing, players often overload themselves with technical thoughts—especially on key shots like the bandeja—and end up executing none of them well. The real key? Simplifying your focus. We discuss why narrowing your attention to just one or two s...

In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest questions in racquet sports right now: is padel truly complementary to tennis… or is it quietly replacing it? With more tennis clubs introducing padel courts, there’s a growing belief that the two sports can thrive side by side. But is that really what’s happening? Or are we seeing a shift, with players moving from tennis to padel rather than balanc...

Why do so many players get stuck at the 3.5–4.0 level? In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind the plateau—and why simply playing more matches won’t fix it. We explore how early improvement can be misleading, especially for players coming from other racket sports, and why missing fundamentals like footwork, preparation, and positioning eventually catch up with you. We also unpack th...

Footwear is one of the most overlooked parts of padel—but it plays a huge role in both performance and injury prevention. In this episode, we break down what the pros do, from changing into court-specific shoes before stepping on court to choosing the right sole for modern surfaces. We dive into the common mistakes we see at clubs especially players wearing running shoes—and explain why they’re si...

Are individual padel lessons really the best way to improve? In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down the role of private coaching vs group sessions. While one-on-one lessons can be powerful for fixing specific technical issues—especially with video analysis—they explore why they’ve become so popular, and whether that’s always justified. From the appeal of a “VIP” coaching experience to the reali...

How much do rankings really mean in padel right now? In this episode, Sandy and Tom explore the reality of rankings in a fast-growing sport. Unlike tennis, where rankings are well-established and clearly reflect level, padel is still evolving — and that creates a very different landscape. They discuss why a top 50 ranking in the UK doesn’t always tell the full story, how players can climb quickly...

In this episode, Sandy and Tom explore one of the most overlooked aspects of padel: how conditions change the game . From fast, hot tournaments like Riyadh to cold indoor clubs in the UK, the environment can dramatically affect tactics, shot selection, and decision-making. The discussion breaks down how professional players adapt during tournaments, why conditions can create unexpected upsets, and...

Communication in padel isn’t optional — it’s tactical. In this episode, we break down one of the simplest but most misunderstood parts of partnership: talking when your partner gets lobbed. When the ball goes over them, they can’t see what’s happening in front of the court — and that’s where you come in. We explore how giving clear, calm information (“they’re both back,” “one’s closing,” “space cr...

In this episode, we tackle a misconception that’s slowing down padel’s development in emerging countries: the belief that a great player automatically makes a great coach — or can build a successful academy. We explore why playing level and coaching ability are two very different skill sets, and why structure, long-term programming, and volume matter far more than individual talent. As the sport g...

What happens when the call comes in? In professional padel, partnerships can change overnight. One phone call from a top player — maybe even someone like Juan Lebrón — and suddenly everything shifts. Loyalty, results, ambition… it all gets tested. In this episode, we unpack the reality behind “the call up.” How do players handle it when a bigger opportunity appears? What happens to the partner lef...

Defence wins matches — even if it doesn’t make the highlight reel. In this episode, we break down why becoming confident at the back of the court is one of the biggest game-changers in padel. From using the glass properly and slowing the ball down against fast hitters, to shifting your mindset from “win the point” to “earn the net,” we cover the practical and tactical steps that transform your def...

What does patience really mean in padel? In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down why the mindset that works in tennis often fails in padel — especially in tight moments. From rally length and risk vs reward, to active vs passive patience, they explain how top players build points, manage pressure, and make better decisions under stress. You’ll learn why patience isn’t about pushing the ball in,...

When club players think about the off-season, they often picture hard fitness blocks, more power, and pushing their bodies to the limit. But is that really what recreational padel players need? In this episode, we break down what the off-season actually looks like at the professional level — and how club players can apply the same principles in a smarter, more realistic way. We explore why injury...

In this episode, we unpack one of the biggest gaps between amateur and professional padel: how players actually train . Fresh from Barcelona and a behind-the-scenes look at one of the highest-level finals ever played, Sandy shares what stood out most—not just the level in matches, but the detail and intention in how the pros prepare. From practicing individual shots to adapting to slow courts, we...

Losing matches is part of padel—but knowing how to respond to those losses is what really defines your level. In this episode, we break down how to bounce back after a tough defeat, a match you feel you should’ve won, or even a frustrating losing streak. We talk about why margins in padel are so small, how expectations and emotions can spiral after a loss, and why focusing on the process—not the o...

Tom and Sandy discuss lessons from Premier Padel, including Tom's recent training session with Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger in Madrid!    In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down key lessons from Premier Padel tournaments and Tom's recent training sessions in Madrid with Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger! They explore why pros make fewer unforced errors, how they “find their range” early...