Target the Weaker Player in Padel
If you want to win more matches without improving your technique overnight, do this:
Target the weaker player.
It sounds obvious.
But most players don’t apply it consistently.
Here’s exactly how to do it properly.
1. What It Is
Targeting the weaker player means:
Directing most of your shots to one opponent
Focusing pressure on their weaker skills
Reducing involvement of the stronger player
In almost every pair, one player is:
Weaker at the back
Weaker at the net
Slower
Less consistent
Mentally less stable
Your job is simple:
Make that player hit more balls.
More balls = more mistakes.
2. When to Use It
Use this tactic:
When there is a clear skill difference
In competitive matches
In tight games (deuce, tiebreaks)
When you need structure in your strategy
When you want to simplify decision-making
It’s especially effective in:
League matches
Tournaments
Pressure moments
If one player is clearly weaker, ignoring that is a mistake.
3. Who Should Use It?
Beginners
Yes, if the difference is obvious.
Keep it simple: play cross-court to the weaker side.
Don’t overcomplicate patterns.
Intermediate Players
Identify specific weaknesses:
Backhand volley
Overheads
Defense off the glass
Build patterns around those weaknesses.
Advanced Players
Use it strategically over multiple games.
Switch targets if momentum changes.
Combine with movement and tempo control.
Use it as a psychological weapon.
At higher levels, this is not optional, it’s standard strategy.
4. Step-by-Step Execution
Let’s make it practical.
Step 1: Identify the Weakness
Before committing to the tactic, ask:
Who misses more?
Who looks uncomfortable?
Who struggles under pressure?
Who defends worse?
Who has weaker overheads?
Don’t guess. Observe.
Step 2: Decide as a Team
You and your partner must agree:
“We’re targeting Player A.”
If only one of you commits to it, the plan breaks.
Clear communication is key.
Step 3: Use Cross-Court as Your Base
Cross-court shots:
Are safer
Give better angles
Allow you to keep strong positioning
Most targeting should happen diagonally.
High percentage first. Aggression second.
Step 4: Keep the Stronger Player Out
The stronger player will try to:
Poach
Cover the middle
Intercept
To prevent that:
Play deeper into the corner.
Force them to defend their side.
Occasionally hit firmly early in the rally to pin them back.
You must “lock” them into position.
Step 5: Move the Weaker Player Around
Don’t hit to the same spot every time.
Make them:
Move forward
Move backward
Defend lobs
Play low volleys
Hit under pressure
Fatigue and frustration increase mistakes.
Step 6: Stay Patient
You are not trying to win every shot.
You are trying to:
Create more balls
Create more pressure
Create more mistakes
Stick to the plan even if it takes time.
5. Common Mistakes
Changing direction randomly
Getting bored and attacking too early
Letting the stronger player dominate the middle
Forgetting the plan under pressure
Targeting ego instead of weakness
Continuing to target someone who has adapted
Big mistake:
Abandoning the strategy after one or two lost points.
Targeting works over time.
6. Simple Key Reminders
Most pairs have one weaker player.
Make them hit more balls.
Cross-court is safest.
Pin the stronger player in place.
Move the target around.
Stay patient.
Adjust if needed.
Winning in padel is often about smart decisions, not spectacular shots.
If you consistently target the weaker player, you’ll win more matches, even against technically stronger opponents.
Simple. Effective. Repeatable.
