The tone is set from the warm-up: “no stroll”
Arnaud’s first message: even during warm-up, I need to be focused. Not just hitting the ball back. He asks me to play lower, engage my legs, and keep my body “into the ball”. At the time, it seems obvious… except that in a match, that’s exactly where I falter: I straighten up, I lose focus, and I become imprecise again.
The corrections that struck me the most during the session
1) Stop jerky movements: I accompany the ball
I often made a small, cut-off gesture at the moment of impact. Result: the ball went anywhere. Arnaud repeated a simple feeling to me: “I push the ball,” as if I kept it on the racket longer. Fewer unnecessary movements, more precision.
2) Zero wrist, more body
Another key point: the wrist should not decide for me. He made me work on body and shoulder rotation, with an “almost passive” hand. When I let the wrist open, I lose control and become inconsistent. When I play with the body, everything stabilizes.
3) Volleys: impact in front and racket oriented towards the game
At the net, I was waiting too much for the ball. Arnaud corrected that immediately: impact further in front, and racket “towards the game.” He also insisted on a detail I underestimated: my free hand. It serves as a reference to better position myself, aim, and avoid opening up.
4) The net, yes… but with timing
I often want to “eat the net” too early. Here, we worked on a cleaner sequence: I start slightly further back, I go for the ball, and I transfer my weight at the moment I hit. Not before. Otherwise, I’m already “on the front foot” and I hit a ball behind me: unplayable.
5) Bandeja / vibora: step by step, and relaxed
For overhead shots, we established very clear markers: racket behind the head, elbow higher, then a wrapping action to give a lateral effect. And most importantly: relaxation. As soon as I force it, I lose the gesture and I lose the ball.
To locate Arnaud, here is his official profile: Arnaud Meessen – FIP profile.
What I’m taking away for my Top 1000 goal
This lesson reminded me of a very simple thing: in padel, I don’t win because I hit harder. I win when I play cleaner, lower, longer, with better choices. And that’s something you have to work on. We’ve already scheduled another appointment for early January, because I need to repeat these basics until they become automatic.
A little context too: at the end of the session, I mentioned discomfort in my shoulder blade for a week, which limited me on certain movements. I prefer to be transparent: that’s also part of serious progress, managing the body and correcting without rushing.
My “simple plan” to copy for your next match
- Stay low: active legs, no straightening of the torso.
- Accompany: no jerky movements, no cut-off gestures.
- Lock the wrist: play with the body.
- At the net: impact in front, racket towards the game.
- Seek depth before speed.
