Key Takeaways
- Paquito Navarro emphasizes that consistency, lobs, and bandejas must form the foundation before players rely on trick shots: “First of all, the consistency, you have to be a solid player.”
- Sandy advises doubles competitors to balance disguise with team communication: “Be unpredictable to your opponents, but be predictable to your partner.”
- Creative shot-making requires a relaxed mindset without fear of failure, but should be used selectively rather than on high-risk break points.
Balancing consistency and unpredictable play on court
Creativity in padel is often associated with spectacular highlights, yet top competitors treat it as a trained skill built on solid fundamentals. During a detailed discussion on the role of unorthodox shots, Sandy and Tom from The Padel School explored how unconventional play fits into match strategy, highlighting insights from top-10 professional Paquito Navarro.
Navarro explained that his inventive style developed through extensive hours on court from an early age, though he stressed that tricks should never replace the basics of the game. “Maybe it could be the personality. Yes, I always be like you can say, yes, creativity because I spent a lot of hours in the in the court,” Navarro said. “When I was young, I always tried to do some tricks, some to making willys or behind the back. And then, there is not my first option in the court, but at least I have some resources if I need it.”
The Spanish star reinforced that players should not treat every moment on court as rigid, while cautioning that fundamental drills must remain the priority. “I always say that you cannot you don’t have to play seriously all the time when you are with your friend or when you are young,” Navarro noted. “You have to try something different. You have to to see what is your limit and yes, to make some tricks. It’s good.” However, he firmly added: “First of all, the consistency, you have to be a solid player, make a lot of globs, a lot of bandeja, and then el por tres, the willy, the the tricks. But of course, there are some people that practice more the skills than the solid game.”
The necessity of repetition and dedicated practice
Unlike tennis, where creative recovery options are rarely required, the physical layout of a padel court—featuring glass walls, mesh fences, and exit doors—often demands creative solutions. Sandy noted that developing technical shots, such as a flicked backhand tap-out against an opponent’s smash, requires deliberate repetition outside of competitive match play.
Reflecting on his early development, Tom shared how specific practice helped him gain confidence on difficult shots that rarely arise in standard rallies. Sandy had advised him to arrive five minutes early to dedicate focused time to the stroke. “It took months and months and months of practicing that to get it to a level where it’s comfortable,” Tom explained. When such situations arise only once every set or during high-pressure moments, match play alone does not provide enough repetitions to master the technique.
Sandy pointed out that elite players like Agustin Tapia dedicate small segments of their training sessions to trick shots, dormilonas, and unconventional flicks to stay loose. Even when watching players known for flair, such as Tapia or Tolito Aguirre, these creative efforts represent only a tiny fraction of total shots hit during a practice session—perhaps 10 or 12 out of nearly a thousand hits.
Mindset and partner dynamics
The mental approach to creative shot-making requires freedom from tension. Tom observed that trying unconventional shots demands a calm, positive frame of mind. “If you have the the intention of playing trick shots, I think that you have to be in a a mindset that doesn’t have fear of failure. You have to be in a a fun mindset. You’re out there having fun,” Tom noted. Sandy agreed, adding that entering a relaxed state allows players to read rallies clearly and execute delicate soft shots or lobs without tightening up.
Tactically, unpredictability must be managed carefully so that it does not disrupt team chemistry. Sandy outlined a core principle for doubles partnerships: “Be unpredictable to your opponents, but be predictable to your partner.” When a player executes an unexpected move without their partner anticipating the play, court coverage and positioning break down.
Tom and Sandy concluded that while creativity can certainly be trained and should be added to a player’s toolkit, it requires a clear order of progression: establish strict ball control first, integrate creative drills through deliberate practice, and choose the right moments during a match rather than gambling on low-percentage shots on critical points.
Di Nenno and Navarro in Milan, ranking, and results in 2026
WLWWLWLWWW Di Nenno and Navarro have achieved a win-loss 25-11 record together in 2026. They are currently playing the Milano P1 2026 where they beat Jensen(world no.41) and Gala(world no.35) 6-3 6-3.
