Training Programme

The Coach On Court Training Drills

6 drills tailored to your styleintermediate level

The Coach On Court players are defined by their signature ability to deploy Strategically-guided shots with partner input. Communicative leaders who talk constantly on court. They coach their partner through points and matches. The drills below are selected to sharpen your natural strengths and close the gaps around can distract from own play, vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well, giving you a complete training routine purpose-built for your archetype.

Your signature shots

Strategically-guided shots with partner input

Areas to develop

Can distract from own playVulnerable if partner doesn't respond wellMight over-coach

How to structure your practice

A focused drill session for The Coach On Court players should last 45–60 minutes. Start with 10 minutes of footwork warmup, then move into 2–3 targeted drills from the list below at 80% intensity. Finish each session with 15 minutes of points play so the patterns transfer to match conditions.

Prioritise drills marked with your signature shot labels first — these reinforce your natural strengths and raise your ceiling. Then rotate through the “areas to develop” drills once per week so your weaknesses stop being exploited in matches.

At the intermediate level, the biggest gains come from drilling specific patterns under moderate pressure — you already know the mechanics, now build automatic responses.

Recommended drills

1
Advanced Bandeja Attacking Variants
advanced20–30 min
Master aggressive bandeja techniques including sharp angles, topspin variations, and rapid transitions to winners. Advanced players use the bandeja to set up offensive opportunities rather than just neutralize.
Why this drill
Builds the advanced bandeja attacking variants skills that round out The Coach On Court's overall game.
Key steps
1. 1.Wide Stance Setup: Position yourself outside the court line to handle extremely high lobs while maintaining balance and court recovery.
2. 2.Aggressive Grip Adjustment: Shift slightly toward an eastern forehand grip to add topspin and control on angled shots.
3. +4 more steps on the drill page
Tip: Use the bandeja to dictate play rather than just defend. A short, sharp angled bandeja forces the opponent into difficult positioning.
View full drill guide →
2
Advanced Lob Tactics and Variations
advanced20–30 min
Execute sophisticated lob strategies including angled lobs, counter-lobs, and aggressive lobs that set up winners. Advanced players use the lob as an offensive weapon, not just defense, to break down the opponent's net positioning.
Why this drill
Builds the advanced lob tactics and variations skills that round out The Coach On Court's overall game.
Key steps
1. 1.Reading Opponent Position: Recognize when opponents are too far forward at the net and execute lobs to exploit the gap between them and the baseline.
2. 2.Angled Lob Setup: Generate wide sideline lobs that force opponents to retreat diagonally, opening the court for winners.
3. +4 more steps on the drill page
Tip: Use lobs strategically to disrupt opponent rhythm and create offensive opportunities rather than just as a defensive escape.
View full drill guide →
3
Poach Positioning and Execution
intermediate20–30 min
Execute the poach, crossing over from your net position to intercept the opponent's attack at the net. Poaching creates aggressive net dominance and forces immediate finishing opportunities.
Why this drill
Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.
Key steps
1. 1.Partner Communication: Establish clear signals with your partner to coordinate poach timing and court coverage responsibilities.
2. 2.Visual Reading: Watch the opponent's setup and racket position to anticipate when they're about to hit your side.
3. +4 more steps on the drill page
Tip: Poaching requires confidence and communication. A successful poach is an immediate point; a failed poach leaves a gap.
View full drill guide →
4
Gap Shot Placement Precision
advanced20–30 min
Execute gap shots that target spacing between opponents, forcing them to cover impossible ground. Gap shots exploit partner positioning and require precision placement.
Why this drill
Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.
Key steps
1. 1.Partner Positioning Analysis: Identify gaps in the opponent's team positioning, typically between their net and baseline positioning.
2. 2.Target Zone Identification: Recognize the specific gap that offers the best chance for an unreturnable shot based on court geometry.
3. +4 more steps on the drill page
Tip: Gap shots are precision weapons; accuracy matters more than power when targeting tight spaces.
View full drill guide →
5
Stack-and-Switch Doubles Formation
intermediate20–30 min
Master the stack-and-switch doubles formation, a tactical positioning strategy where partners line up on the same side before switching after serve contact. Stack-and-switch confuses opponents and creates serving advantages.
Why this drill
Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.
Key steps
1. 1.Pre-Serve Positioning: Position both partners on the same side of the court (typically both on the service line area).
2. 2.Serve Decision: Determine serve direction and partner switching plan before executing the serve.
3. +4 more steps on the drill page
Tip: Stack-and-switch is effective for creating confusion; practice the timing until it becomes seamless.
View full drill guide →
6
Poach-and-Cover Defensive Partnership
intermediate20–30 min
Develop coordinated poach-and-cover strategies with your partner, combining aggressive poaching with defensive court coverage. Poach-and-cover requires communication and trust in doubles play.
Why this drill
Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.
Key steps
1. 1.Signal System Establishment: Establish clear hand signals between partners for poach intention and coverage communication.
2. 2.Visual Reading: Watch opponent setup and shot intent, determining when poach opportunities present themselves.
3. +4 more steps on the drill page
Tip: Poach-and-cover requires trust and communication; establish clear signals and practice until instinctive.
View full drill guide →

Weekly training schedule

Session 1

Signature shot reinforcement — Strategically-guided shots with partner input

45 min

Session 2

Weakness drilling — can distract from own play

30 min

Session 3

Match-play integration — apply drilled patterns in live points

60 min

FAQs

What are the best drills for a The Coach On Court padel player?

The Coach On Court players benefit most from drills targeting their signature shots and plugging key weaknesses. Core practice areas include: Strategically-guided shots with partner input and addressing gaps like can distract from own play, vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.

How often should a The Coach On Court player drill?

For steady improvement, aim for 3–4 focused drill sessions per week. Each session should include 10–20 minutes of targeted solo or pair work, followed by match-play so the patterns become instinctive under pressure. As a intermediate-level archetype, The Coach On Court players benefit from mixing technique repetition with tactical practice.

How does SmashIQ video analysis help The Coach On Court players improve?

SmashIQ analyses every shot in your match footage and flags specific technique patterns. For The Coach On Court players, it tracks metrics directly relevant to your style — Strategically-guided shots with partner input execution, positioning, and error patterns. You get objective data on where your game matches the The Coach On Court profile and where drilling will unlock the most improvement.

Track your progress with SmashIQ video analysis

Upload your match footage and SmashIQ identifies exactly which The Coach On Courtpatterns you're executing well and which drills will move the needle fastest. Objective data, not guesswork.

Join the waitlist →

Know your archetype

Not sure if The Coach On Court is the right label for your game? Read the full archetype profile for tactical breakdowns, famous examples, and how to counter it.

The Coach On Court archetype profile →

Other intermediate archetypes

Smash.

The Coach On Court Training Drills

6 drills tailored to your styleintermediate level

How to structure your practice

At the intermediate level, the biggest gains come from drilling specific patterns under moderate pressure — you already know the mechanics, now build automatic responses.

Recommended drills

Advanced Bandeja Attacking Variants

advanced20–30 min

Master aggressive bandeja techniques including sharp angles, topspin variations, and rapid transitions to winners. Advanced players use the bandeja to set up offensive opportunities rather than just neutralize.

Why this drill

Builds the advanced bandeja attacking variants skills that round out The Coach On Court's overall game.

Key steps

1.Wide Stance Setup: Position yourself outside the court line to handle extremely high lobs while maintaining balance and court recovery.
2.Aggressive Grip Adjustment: Shift slightly toward an eastern forehand grip to add topspin and control on angled shots.
+4 more steps on the drill page

Tip: Use the bandeja to dictate play rather than just defend. A short, sharp angled bandeja forces the opponent into difficult positioning.

View full drill guide →

Advanced Lob Tactics and Variations

advanced20–30 min

Execute sophisticated lob strategies including angled lobs, counter-lobs, and aggressive lobs that set up winners. Advanced players use the lob as an offensive weapon, not just defense, to break down the opponent's net positioning.

Why this drill

Builds the advanced lob tactics and variations skills that round out The Coach On Court's overall game.

Key steps

1.Reading Opponent Position: Recognize when opponents are too far forward at the net and execute lobs to exploit the gap between them and the baseline.
2.Angled Lob Setup: Generate wide sideline lobs that force opponents to retreat diagonally, opening the court for winners.
+4 more steps on the drill page

Tip: Use lobs strategically to disrupt opponent rhythm and create offensive opportunities rather than just as a defensive escape.

View full drill guide →

Poach Positioning and Execution

intermediate20–30 min

Execute the poach, crossing over from your net position to intercept the opponent's attack at the net. Poaching creates aggressive net dominance and forces immediate finishing opportunities.

Why this drill

Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.

Key steps

1.Partner Communication: Establish clear signals with your partner to coordinate poach timing and court coverage responsibilities.
2.Visual Reading: Watch the opponent's setup and racket position to anticipate when they're about to hit your side.
+4 more steps on the drill page

Tip: Poaching requires confidence and communication. A successful poach is an immediate point; a failed poach leaves a gap.

View full drill guide →

Gap Shot Placement Precision

advanced20–30 min

Execute gap shots that target spacing between opponents, forcing them to cover impossible ground. Gap shots exploit partner positioning and require precision placement.

Why this drill

Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.

Key steps

1.Partner Positioning Analysis: Identify gaps in the opponent's team positioning, typically between their net and baseline positioning.
2.Target Zone Identification: Recognize the specific gap that offers the best chance for an unreturnable shot based on court geometry.
+4 more steps on the drill page

Tip: Gap shots are precision weapons; accuracy matters more than power when targeting tight spaces.

View full drill guide →

Stack-and-Switch Doubles Formation

intermediate20–30 min

Master the stack-and-switch doubles formation, a tactical positioning strategy where partners line up on the same side before switching after serve contact. Stack-and-switch confuses opponents and creates serving advantages.

Why this drill

Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.

Key steps

1.Pre-Serve Positioning: Position both partners on the same side of the court (typically both on the service line area).
2.Serve Decision: Determine serve direction and partner switching plan before executing the serve.
+4 more steps on the drill page

Tip: Stack-and-switch is effective for creating confusion; practice the timing until it becomes seamless.

View full drill guide →

Poach-and-Cover Defensive Partnership

intermediate20–30 min

Develop coordinated poach-and-cover strategies with your partner, combining aggressive poaching with defensive court coverage. Poach-and-cover requires communication and trust in doubles play.

Why this drill

Addresses a key gap for The Coach On Court: vulnerable if partner doesn't respond well.

Key steps

1.Signal System Establishment: Establish clear hand signals between partners for poach intention and coverage communication.
2.Visual Reading: Watch opponent setup and shot intent, determining when poach opportunities present themselves.
+4 more steps on the drill page

Tip: Poach-and-cover requires trust and communication; establish clear signals and practice until instinctive.

View full drill guide →

FAQs

What are the best drills for a The Coach On Court padel player?

How often should a The Coach On Court player drill?

How does SmashIQ video analysis help The Coach On Court players improve?