Key Drills Pros Use at Tour Events (That You Can Try at Your Club)

Watch any professional padel tournament and you will notice something interesting.
The best players are not running long, exhausting training sessions. Most of their on-court work is short, focused, and built around a small number of repeatable drills.

These drills are not flashy. They are designed to help players feel the ball, control rallies, and make better decisions under pressure. The good news is that many of them translate perfectly to club-level training.

Here are some of the most common drills used at tour events, and how you can use them in your own sessions.

1. Short-Court Warm-Up for Feel and Timing

Almost every professional warm-up starts in the service boxes. The goal is not power. It is rhythm, touch, and clean contact.

How it works

• Both players stay inside the service boxes

• Controlled pace

• Focus on net clearance and consistency

Why pros do it
This helps players find their timing quickly and adapt to court conditions without rushing.

How to use it at your club
Spend five to ten minutes here before matches or training. Keep it cooperative and aim for long rallies rather than winners.

2. Cross-Court Volley Control

At higher levels, matches are often decided by who controls the net better. That is why volley drills appear in almost every professional session.

How it works

• One player volleys cross-court

• The other feeds from the baseline

• Focus on placement and recovery position

Why pros do it
It builds stability and reduces unforced errors at the net.

How to use it at your club
Set a target, for example 20 clean volleys in a row, instead of a time limit. Switch roles regularly.

3. Bandeja Accuracy Drill

Professional players rarely hit overheads at full pace in training. Instead, they work on control and decision-making.

How it works

• One player feeds lobs

• The other plays controlled bandejas to specific areas

• Emphasis on balance and recovery

Why pros do it
This reduces rushed overheads and improves consistency during matches.

How to use it at your club
Use cones or visual targets. Focus on height and placement rather than power.

4. Defensive Wall Work

Good defence wins matches, especially at competitive levels. Players at tour events spend a lot of time working on shots off the glass.

How it works

• Feeder plays deep balls that rebound off the back glass

• Defender focuses on controlled, high-percentage returns

• Short, focused repetitions

Why pros do it
It trains patience and control when under pressure.

How to use it at your club
Keep the drill calm and repeatable. Avoid turning it into a point too quickly.

5. Defence to Net Transition Drill

Knowing when to move forward is one of the hardest skills to master in padel. Professionals train this constantly.

How it works

• Rally starts from the back of the court

• At a clear moment, the attacking pair moves to the net

• Focus on timing and teamwork

Why pros do it
It prevents rushed approaches and improves coordination with your partner.

How to use it at your club
Agree on clear cues for moving forward and repeat the pattern several times before changing.

Why These Drills Actually Work

Professional players do not train more than everyone else. They train smarter. Sessions are built around quality, repetition, and situations that appear again and again in matches.

For club players, this approach helps to:

• Reduce unforced errors

• Improve positioning and recovery

• Stay calmer under pressure

• Make better use of limited training time

Bringing This Approach Into Your Own Training

You do not need a professional schedule or coaching team to train effectively. By focusing on a few simple, repeatable drills, you can make your sessions more purposeful and match-focused.

Consistency matters more than complexity. The same drills, done well and done often, are what separate solid match players from inconsistent ones.