I love setting goals. A new season, a new training block or simply a point where you want to reassess your game is a good chance to create a clearer vision for what you want to improve.
When we work with players, we see a number of common mistakes around goal setting that can make it harder to stay motivated and make progress. This guide will help you avoid some of those pitfalls.
Don’t Set Too Many Goals
It’s tempting to try to improve everything at once: your bandeja, vibora, smash, volleys, glass, serve and return. Suddenly your goal becomes a list of the entire game and it stops being useful.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve every aspect of your game. The important thing is to break that ambition down into smaller, practical goals. If you want to improve your bandeja, ask what specifically needs to change. If you need structure around that process, our Player Membership can help organise your learning.
Take A Few Specific Goals To The Court
A better approach is to take two or three goals to the court at a time. An example might be ‘earlier preparation on my bandeja’. Work on a small number of focus points and then review your progress before choosing the next ones.
Make Your Goals Specific
There is a balance between setting goals that are ambitious and achievable. Broad goals such as ‘be more confident in matches’ can be difficult to measure, so try to define what progress would actually look like.
A specific goal gives you something you can review after training and matches. That makes it easier to see whether your work is moving you in the right direction.
Remember To Set Goals Outside Of The Court Too
Improving your padel in the long term doesn’t mean setting goals only around shots. Movement, fitness, recovery and consistent training habits can all support your game.
Small increments matter. Even short periods of focused work, repeated consistently, can add up over weeks and months.
Keep Reviewing Your Goals
Goals are most useful when you revisit them. Decide what you are working on, take it onto the court, reflect on what happened and then either continue with the same focus or move to the next priority.
That cycle gives your training direction and helps you see progress rather than simply hoping that playing more will make everything improve.
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