Coach's Corner
Technique, tactics and tournament prep from PlaySport coaches.
About this column
The blog's deepest column: advanced shots (bandeja, víbora), positional play, periodised training and honest gear breakdowns — grounded in the experience of Tashkent's playing coaches.
Articles in Coach's Corner
TechniqueBoth Back: How to Defend as a Pair in Padel
When pressure forces you away from the net, both players must retreat together. Learn when to switch, where to stand and how to win the net back.
TechniqueThe Bote Pronto: Taking the Ball Early Without Losing Control
Bote pronto means meeting the ball right after it bounces off the court, before it reaches the glass. Here's the technique, timing and when to use it.
TechniquePoaching in Padel: When to Cross and Steal the Point
A net poach can win the point in one shot — or tear your side of the court wide open. When to cross the middle, how to read it, and where to move after.
TechniqueThe padel dejada: the shot that switches off pace
The dejada is a short, soft, almost spin-free shot that kills the ball's speed instead of adding to it. We break down the grip, technique and when to play it.
CourtsPadel Court Surfaces: How Turf and Sand Change Your Game
Artificial turf, sand infill, drainage and carpet age — what a padel court is actually made of, and why the same surface plays differently from club to club.
TechniqueReading Your Opponent: Anticipation in Padel
Reaction speed only gets you so far. Learn the racket, stance and glass-bounce cues that let you read your opponent's shot before they've even hit it.
TechniqueThe Split Step: The Habit That Speeds Up Your Padel Game
The split step is a tiny hop timed to your opponent's contact — and it decides whether you reach the ball. Mechanics, timing and drills inside.
TrainingPreventing Padel Injuries: A Practical Guide
Why padel injuries happen, how to warm up properly, and what actually helps you recover between sessions — a practical guide from the PlayPadel team.
TechniqueThe Padel Smash: Finish the Point, Don't Give It Away
The padel smash isn't a tennis-style kill shot. Here's the technique, target selection with the walls in mind, common mistakes and drills that fix them.
CourtsIndoor vs. Outdoor Padel Courts: What Actually Changes
Ball bounce, wind, light and tactics: what really separates an indoor padel court from an outdoor one — and how to pick the right court in Tashkent.
TechniqueHow to Read Your Opponent in Padel: Pre-Shot Cues
A rival's stance, racket and weight transfer reveal the shot before the ball does. The anticipation cues to watch, and how to train them.
TrainingPadel in Tashkent's Summer Heat: Hydration & Court Tips
How to play padel safely through Tashkent's summer heat: how much to drink, what to wear, when to book a court, and which court type to pick.
TechniqueThe Smash (Remate) in Padel: Finishing Points at the Net
The smash is the finishing move at the net: grip, footwork, the four contact phases, target strategy, and drills that turn an easy lob into a point.
TechniqueHow to Hold a Padel Racket: The Continental Grip
The grip is padel's most underrated skill. We break down the continental 'hammer' grip: how to find it, how tight to hold, and where it works.
CourtsSun on the court: when it blinds you and when it is too hot
A step-by-step look at how PlaySport predicts the sun on every Tashkent court: NOAA astronomy, court orientation, a glare score, heat by WBGT, and a check against real venues.
TechniqueThe Padel Volley: How to Win at the Net
The volley is the workhorse of net play — it's how you finish points. Grip, high vs low volley, footwork, where to aim and drills to build control.
TechniqueThe bajada: counter-attacking off the back glass
The bajada is padel's most aggressive baseline shot. Learn to read the lob, meet the ball coming off the glass at the right height, and turn defence into offence.
TechniqueThe chiquita in padel: the quiet shot that steals the net
The chiquita is a slow, low ball played at the feet of the netters. Learn when it beats a lob, how to hit it, and where to aim to take the net safely.
TechniqueThe Víbora in Padel: Mastering the Attacking Overhead
The víbora is the bandeja with teeth: same swing, but higher, more aggressive and with sidespin. Here's the technique, grip, footwork, targets and drills.
TechniqueThe Lob in Padel: The Shot That Wins Amateur Matches
The lob is padel's most underrated shot — it's how you steal the net from your opponents. Defensive vs offensive lobs, technique, targets and drills.