The Padel Intelligence Files.
Evidence-based padel improvement, organised by what you're trying to solve.
Improve.8 articles
The evidence-based path to actually getting better, in priority order.
Start here: your AI padel coachPadel drills that actually transfer to matches (including ones you can do alone)
Stop practising what is fun and start drilling the exact game situations that actually decide match results.
The 10 most common club padel mistakes, ranked by how many points they cost
Club matches aren't won—they're donated. Identify the leaks costing you points and start fixing them today.
Why am I not improving at padel? (the honest answer)
Stop rehearsing your mistakes; learn how to break through your plateau by fixing your specific error patterns.
How to beat better padel players (without playing above yourself)
Stop trying to out-hit your opponents. Here is the evidence-led blueprint for turning the tables on better pairs.
Why you keep losing at padel (it's a pattern, not bad luck)
Stop blaming bad luck for your defeats—your match history holds a pattern you can finally break.
Stuck at the same padel level for a year? The intermediate plateau, explained
Volume without feedback just consolidates your errors—here is how to break your plateau with a diagnosis loop.
How to get better at padel, according to the evidence
Stop guessing your development. The data shows exactly why matches are won or lost—and it's not your racket.
Where club padel points are actually lost (it's not where you think)
Data proves that 65% of club points end on an error. Here is exactly where you are losing yours.
Tactics.7 articles
Positioning, patterns and decisions — padel as a territory game.
Start here: padel positioningPadel doubles strategy: the four patterns that win club matches
Four repeatable, evidence-led patterns to stop guessing and start winning your club matches.
When to lob in padel (and when never to)
The lob isn't an act of desperation; it's your primary weapon for winning court position.
Left side or right side? How to choose your padel side (and play it properly)
Stop guessing your position and start building a balanced partnership based on your actual game.
How to attack in padel (finish points without donating them)
Stop trying to win from the back; here is how to earn the net and finish points like a pro.
How to defend in padel (the glass is your best friend)
Defence is not about winning the point from the back; it is about refusing to lose it.
Padel positioning: the complete guide to where to stand
Stop standing where points are lost and start moving as a unit to dominate the court.
Where to stand in padel: the positioning guide for club doubles
Stop losing points in no-man's-land—master the two-up, two-back rule to own the court.
Shots.4 articles
Every shot in the padel toolkit: what it's for and when to hit it.
The bandeja, explained: padel's most misunderstood shot
Stop treating it like a slow smash—the bandeja is a tactical tool to hold the net, not win the point.
The chiquita: padel's sneakiest shot (and when to use it)
Stop feeding the net pair lobs and start forcing them to volley up from their toes with this subtle, game-changing shot.
The padel volley: why winning pairs keep it simple
Stop trying to hit winners and start reducing your error count to control the net.
The best shots in padel, ranked by what actually wins points
Forget the highlight reel; the best shots are those that actually win points by controlling territory.
Levels.4 articles
Ratings, tests and the honest answer to what level you really are.
Start here: your padel level, honestlyWhat's my padel level? The honest self-test
Stop guessing your rank. Use these ten observable on-court behaviours to find your true padel level.
Padel levels in the UK, compared: Playtomic, MATCHi, LTA — and what none of them measure
UK padel level systems track results, but none can see your actual errors on the court.
How the Playtomic level actually works (and why it goes down when you win)
Stop blaming the algorithm—here is how your Playtomic rating actually calculates your matches.
What padel level am I? An honest guide to knowing your real level
Stop guessing your rating and start tracking the five observable behaviours that actually define your padel ability.
Rules & Basics.3 articles
The rules, the scoring and the etiquette — minus the headache.
Start here: how to play padelYour first padel match: what to expect (and what to ignore)
Stop stressing about your skills—92% of first-timers return because the game is designed to be fun, not perfect.
Padel terms explained: the glossary that gets you invited back
Master the court language, from bandeja to golden point, and stop wondering what your partner is shouting.
How to play padel: the complete first-timer's guide
Master the basics, understand the walls, and learn the three simple habits that make your first hour a success.
One evidence-based article a week.
Every claim sourced. One honest limitation per piece. No hype. Starts from article one the week you join.