Do racket sport players have an advantage when learning to play padel?

Padel is booming, and players are pouring in from every background imaginable. Tennis players. Squash players. Even people who’ve never picked up a racket in their lives. 

What’s fascinating is how differently each group adapts to the sport – and why some players rocket through the levels while others get stuck fighting their own instincts.

Here is a snapshot of what we have seen at Padel39 when new players, with different backgrounds, pick up a racket for the first time. 

Tennis players: early success, then the habit trap

Tennis players often look fantastic on day one.

They volley cleanly. They understand court positioning. They’re confident moving forward and finishing points. For a little while, everything seems to click.

Then something interesting happens.

Because they start strong, many tennis players skip the basics. They don’t take early lessons, they don’t fully learn wall play, and they rely on familiar tennis mechanics to win points. 

They ignore Rodrigo… That’s when bad habits start creeping in.

Some of the classic issues that we see include:  

• Swinging too big instead of compacting strokes for tight spaces
• Overhitting lobs and smashes
• Standing too far back because it “feels like tennis”
• Treating the walls like a nuisance rather than a weapon

These habits can be fixed later - but the longer you play with them, the harder they are to undo. 

Tennis players often improve quickly at the start, plateau in the middle, and only break through once they fully commit to learning padel-specific technique.

Squash players: the fast learners

Squash players, on the other hand, tend to get the important things (for padel) right early. 

They typically tend to be better than the tennis players at: 

• Reading the glass
• Short, controlled swings
• Staying compact in tight situations
• Positioning based on rebounds and angles

Because squash players already think in terms of walls, timing, and controlled strokes, they don’t fight their instincts as much. They spend less time “unlearning” and more time adapting. 

As a result, they often reach a strong level faster and with fewer frustrations.

Their only major hurdle? Learning to play up at the net with confidence. That is something that squash players aren’t naturally used to. But once they blend their back-court strengths with front-court aggression, they often become incredibly tough opponents.

The curveball: total beginners who fly

Here’s the plot twist no one expects.

Players with absolutely zero racket-sport background - no tennis, no squash, no badminton - can progress shockingly fast. This is especially true for naturally gifted sports men and women.

Why?

Because everything they learn is built correctly from day one. They do not arrive with huge tennis swings. They do not try squash-style drops or have awkward grips. Crucially, they are not fighting against muscle memory.

The players without any racket sport history absorb padel technique exactly as it should be, layer by layer. They listen closely, take lessons early, and build habits suited specifically to the sport. Their growth curve is clean and steep.

So who has the advantage?

Truthfully, everyone has an advantage. But also a challenge.  

• Tennis players start strong but must unlearn habits to reach a higher ceiling.
• Squash players learn walls and control quickly but must grow their net game.
• Complete beginners build perfect technique early but may need time to develop athletic instincts.

The real differentiator isn’t the background – it’s the mindset.

Players who stay coachable, curious, and adaptable progress the fastest, regardless of where they came from. Padel rewards smart habits and good decision-making. The earlier you build those habits, the further you’ll go.

The most important thing? That you have fun on (and off) court and enjoy the ride. You will find a warm welcome at Padel39 whether you are a seasoned racket-sports player or a total newbie.