Why I asked to work on placement (and not “one more shot”)
Before taking to the courts, I had a very clear request for Arnaud: that we insist on placement. Not because it’s “sexy”, but because it’s what I lack most when the tempo is going up. Geoffrey and I realize this all the time: we get to the ball, but not in the right tempo. The result? We often play backwards, get stuck, or get carried away on an easy ball.
In this session, we’re not looking for highlights. We’re looking to lay solid foundations: being in the right place at the right time, and above all… getting back into position quickly, without waiting to see if our ball is “good”.
The starting point: useful footwork, not movement for movement’s sake
We often hear “stay on the balls of your feet”. Arnaud puts it into a simple context: it’s a posture that helps you get started. If you’re already moving a little when the opponent strikes, you gain that micro-second that changes everything on a volley, a ball to the feet, or a lob to defend.
What I remembered was the nuance: the idea isn’t to be restless all the time. The idea is to have footwork that launches you in the right direction at the right time.
Step back, yes… but only to move forward again
One passage in the session stood out for me because it’s exactly the mistake I make in matches: I move backwards, and end up playing backwards. Arnaud is very clear: moving backwards is only useful if you want to move forwards again. If you step back and hit the ball while being “sucked” backwards, you lose the point.
So we worked on this back-and-forth: adjusting when the ball arrives before the glass, giving yourself room, then putting your body back forward when it’s time to play. It sounds basic… but as soon as you really do it, you feel you’ve got stability and time back.
The lob: a tool for regaining control, not a prayer
I won’t go into the sequences, but if you tend to lob “for breath”, you’ll love this game. We talk about lob placement, trajectory and, above all, what it does to your opponent. The lob isn’t just a high ball: it’s a shot that can give you time to get back into a favorable pattern.
The detail that changes everything: aim to move
What I try to apply is to lob with intention: to create an uncomfortable shift at the net, rather than to send back randomly. And behind that, there’s a simple rule that comes up a lot: if you’re going to move forward, do it when you’ve really retrieved some control over the rally. Otherwise, you get punished.
Playing softer… to be more dangerous
It can be frustrating (myself included), but Arnaud insists on one thing: when the ball is easy, hitting harder isn’t necessarily the best solution. Often, a softer ball that falls to the feet is more complicated to manage than a “comfort” acceleration that arrives at racket height.
Above all, it gives me something I’m looking for in a match: time to get back into the swing of things. Because my big problem is stringing together too fast in one go, then finding myself behind on the next.
Information gathering: stop waiting for the ball to respond
Something you’re going to hear (and see) a lot: as soon as the opponent touches the ball, I already have to retrieve my useful position. Basically, I don’t need to watch “what’s going on” for a second. That second is exactly what’s missing when I’m lobbed or when a ball comes back to me.
We also talk about reading situations: not “guesswork”, but simple clues (position, posture, ball to the glass). It helps me to anticipate without guessing, and to be ready to cover the most likely areas.
Bandeja, vibora, rulo: control first, style later
We also worked on overheads. To lay the foundations: the bandeja is the control overhead; the vibora is a more aggressive topspin overhead; and the rulo (lifted overhead) requires a very clean impact marker if you want to remain precise.
Without spoiler, what I remember is the logic of progression: simplify the gesture, stabilize the wrist, orientate the shoulders, and look for a clear impact before thinking “spin”. This is exactly the kind of detail that turns a “random” shot into a reliable one.
If you want to make serious progress, take a look at this
- My footwork: how to stay ready to go without tensing up.
- The forward/backward pattern: move backwards to move forwards.
- The way I use the lob to save time and get back to the net.
- Control on easy balls: slow down at the right moment to be in a better position afterwards.
The video (and my networks): I’ll let you judge for yourself
I’ll let you discover the complete session here: padel lessons with Arnaud Meessen (YouTube). I’d rather not tell you about the “key moments”: the best way to experience them is by watching the video.
You can also find me here: Instagram @esteban_padel_yt and TikTok @esteban_padel_yt.
