The Padel School Podcast

Episoder

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  How to Stop Having Good Days and Bad Days on the Padel Court 11.09.2026 13min

  Why do some days on the padel court feel great, while other days everything seems to go wrong? In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down why recreational players can have such big fluctuations in their level and what you can do to build a more consistent base level. They discuss: 🎾 Why your foundations are more important than individual shots 🎾 How footwork affects preparation, positioning and consistency 🎾 Why pros can rely on their “base level” when they aren't playing their best 🎾 How tr...
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  Why Your Padel Game Starts With Your Feet 03.09.2026 13min

  In this episode, Sandy and Tom discuss the one skill that can have an immediate impact on almost every recreational player’s game: footwork. From feeling rushed and arriving late to the ball, to struggling with positioning, recovery and technique, so many common problems on court can be traced back to inefficient footwork. They discuss: 🎾 Why footwork is the foundation of almost every shot 🎾 Why your movement needs to become automatic 🎾 How the pros train their footwork off the court 🎾 The im...
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  Can You Really Improve Your Padel Game Online? 27.08.2026 17min

  Can you really improve your padel game without being on court with a coach? In this episode, Tom and Sandy challenge the common belief that the only way to improve is through in-person coaching and match play. They break down what effective online learning actually looks like, why simply watching hours of YouTube or social media tips isn't enough, and how players can turn knowledge into real improvement through structured training and quality repetition. They also explain: Why playing m...
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  Why Most Padel Players Get Tactics Wrong 22.08.2026 13min

  Most players go into a padel match with either no tactic at all—or a plan so complicated they forget it after the first point. So what should you actually be thinking about before, during and after a match? In this episode, Tom and Sandy break down padel tactics from beginner level all the way to the professional game. They explain why having a simple game plan is better than having no plan, how partners can create clarity through communication, and why your tactic should evolve as the match ...
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  Premier Padel London: Inside the Action 14.08.2026 27min

  What was it really like behind the scenes at the first-ever Premier Padel London? In this episode, Sandy and Tom recap an unforgettable week in London, from Sandy’s experience commentating for Red Bull TV and getting up close with the world’s best players, to clinics, coach events, player interviews and plenty of time around the practice courts. They discuss what stood out from watching the pros live, including the huge gap between the UK and the established padel nations, what British player...
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  Stop ‘Overthinking’ In Your Matches! 31.07.2026 18min

  Do you find yourself thinking about your technique during matches? Constantly second-guessing your decisions? Feeling like your mind is racing every time the ball comes your way? In this episode, Sandy and Tom explore one of the biggest challenges padel players face: overthinking on court. They explain why overthinking isn't actually the real problem—and why the solution isn't simply trying to "clear your mind." Instead, they reveal how building better foundations through quality repetition a...
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  The Ultimate London Premier Padel Spectator Guide 24.07.2026 10min

  Premier Padel has arrived in London—and if you're attending, this episode will help you get the most out of the experience. Sandy and Tom discuss what makes watching professional padel live so special, which players and pairs you should keep an eye on, and why this tournament is such a significant moment for the growth of padel in the UK. They also explain how the conditions could influence the tournament after the players arrive from South Africa, what fans should watch for beyond the specta...
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  Inside the London Premier Padel: Wildcards, Underdogs & British Hopes 17.07.2026 13min

  London is hosting Premier Padel for the very first time—and it's set to be one of the biggest events in British padel history. In this episode, Sandy and Tom break down everything you need to know before the tournament begins, with a special focus on Team GB's wildcard entries and what it really means to compete against the world's best players. They explain how the wildcard system works, why underdogs can be dangerous, which British players to watch, and how playing at home could give them ...
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  Why Great Padel Clubs Build Coaching Teams—Not Just Hire Coaches 11.07.2026 21min

  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, Sandy sits down with Ayden Rhodes, club manager at Coalition Padel to discuss what separates great coaching teams from average ones. The Padel School Johannesburg Academy is based at Coalition and this was filmed during a recent coach education trip with the team. Whether you're a club owner, head coach, or part of ...
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  Steal These Pro Padel Habits to Improve Faster 01.07.2026 13min

  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 on the spectacular smashes and highlight-reel winners, you'll discover how the best players build...
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  Why Your Lob Is Holding You Back (And How to Fix It) 18.06.2026 14min

  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 hit deeper lobs, and how small improvements in depth and decision-making can transform your results...
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  Why You're Not Improving at Padel (And the 3 Skills That Change Everything) 14.06.2026 18min

  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 and grip influence consistency, and why having a clear focus every time you step on court can acceler...
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  Three Game-Changing Habits for Padel Players 05.06.2026 11min

  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 confidence. You'll learn why these often-overlooked foundations have a bigger impact on your performan...
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  The Hidden Injury Risks in Padel (And How to Avoid Them) 23.05.2026 18min

  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 importance of proper warm-ups and routines ✅ How technique and equipment affect your body ✅ When conditio...
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  Beat Better Padel Players: The Real Secrets to Winning More Matches 14.05.2026 16min

  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 conversation reveals why most club players lose to better opponents before they even realize what’s happeni...
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  Why Your First 10 Minutes Decide Your Match 10.05.2026 13min

  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, national competitors, and top-performing club players use pre-match routines to create consistency, conf...
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  Off-Court Training Secrets: How to Improve Your Padel Game Faster 01.05.2026 18min

  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 solely on match play can actually slow long-term progress—and what players should be doing instea...
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  The One-Thing Rule That Will Transform Your Padel Game 27.04.2026 21min

  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 specific areas of a shot can accelerate your improvement and help you build real consistency. We a...
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  The Truth About Padel and Tennis: Friends or Rivals? 18.04.2026 15min

  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 balancing both? We explore how participation trends are changing, why padel is attracting both tennis p...
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  Why You’re Stuck at 3.5–4.0 (And How to Break Through) 09.04.2026 15min

  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 the biggest misconception: that going back to basics means going backwards—when in reality, it’s th...