Into the net – coming forward for tactical play/ the importance of holding the net

If you’re new to Padel it’s possible you might not yet know the importance of holding the net. 

Padel coaches around the world are forever encouraging players to take those five or six strides forward and hold the net.

I’ll start by giving you a stat, 90% of all Padel points are won at the net.

Suddenly you’ve done a double take haven’t you, so why is it so important? 

If you run to the net in Padel, then you will be in a great position to pressure the opponents, with volleys, smashes, other aggressive shots, as well as Bandejas to keep that at the back of the court. 

Padel is a fast paced, intense game which requires thoughtful position shots as well as speed of movement, at entry level it generally falls into a game of tactics rather than technique. 

By getting close to the net the pressure on your opponent is ramped up, essentially boxing them in which more often than not leads to them making a mistake. 

On the Padel court, your position should always be midway up the court and further forward when you can as this allows you to recover the ball in case of being lobbed, as well as being able to apply pressure on the opponent.

When running to the net it’s important to be strategic, the following situations are when you may likely move to the net 

• After your serve.
• When you lob your opponent.
• When you play the ball softly around the service line 
• If you play a Chiquita.
• If any of the opponents are at the back of the court. 
• If your partner goes to the net so you are working as a team, as a wall. 

However, there are scenario’s when you SHOULD NOT run to the net in Padel, and they are as follows: 

• When both opponents are at the net.
• Randomly!  Don’t just charge at the opponents. 

In summary, the aim of running to the net is to apply pressure. So now it’s time to get out there and start practising!

If you’re looking to find a court local to you, our list might be of some help. You can also do some more padel preparation and find out more about the sport here.