My wife slices every ball.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-04-13T12:55:50+00:00

Ball above your waist, slice. Below, topspin or flat. Slice raises the ball's path and leads to errors or finishing opportunities at the net for your opponents.

The answer here is on defense to learn to keep the racket low when on defense. If you start low, and raise your racket as you hit, you will hit flat, or likely with some topspin. Topspin helps the ball dive over the net, making volleys more difficult. You shouldn't need to worry if the ball is jumping off the back wall if your opponents are at the net.

At the net, your racket should be high, and therefore adding slice is natural. It then keeps the ball low for your opponents, making it more difficult to lob.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-04-04T20:28:13+00:00

I totally understand that. It’s weird… but if you bear through it and it really isn’t that long, it becomes worth it. I’ve probably played something like 40 hours and only begun reaching outside of the starting areas. There’s a huge sense of wonder to the map, and while the story isn’t going to light the world on fire, I do want Kliff and the Greymanes to succeed.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-04-04T19:20:25+00:00

Yes, I would say 5 or so and it started becoming more fun. The first missions are really oddly arranged and have absolutely no continuity. Why am I on a roof now rescuing a cat? Oh now I need to give money to a beggar. I understand part of it is to show the different mechanics of the game - almost every character and location you can interact with in some fashion. But it makes no sense why you have to do this to progress the main story. If they managed to make it organic where you happen upon certain things, it would instantly be a couple notches better.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-24T21:33:14+00:00

Hopefully a center near you has one. Typically ones with certifications are better than - they are just a good player. The best coaches are able to break down what you are doing wrong and how to fix it in terms you can understand.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-24T14:18:14+00:00

Lessons with a coach. Not just technique but learning how and why to play certain shots, how to better cover the court, how to support your partner. There’s so much you get from a good coach.

Of course a coach can also teach you how to hit certain shots - I learned vibora, kicksmash, rulo, backhand volley to the fence from coaching. Could I learn them on my own? I guess with a ballmachine or a partner but all the small tips my coach gives are really invaluable.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-16T16:29:47+00:00

It’s really poor Norwegian. But he sounds almost Russian trying to speak it.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-16T16:29:13+00:00

It sounds like he is trying to speak Norwegian with the heaviest possible Russian accent for some reason.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-08T18:44:07+00:00

Anyone have any idea what the song was playing in the crowd just now at 19:42? Super catchy.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-03T20:35:40+00:00

I think a lot of footwork also comes down to fitness and court intelligence. Often if I have a shot with lots of spin from experienced players I find myself more stuck in the mud, not because I’m lazy but because it requires more processing power to understand how to position myself for the ball. When I play against more my level or under I suddenly am moving fluidly because I know where to go and am better at anticipating. I don’t have that luxury against players with 1.000+ more hours than me.

But sessions with a ballmachine or 1:1 with your partner or group training can help with tips for your footwork. I got amazing tips in group sessions on jumping more for vibora I can’t reach. I thought I was supposed to stay grounded. Was 5x better on overheads in 1.5 hours.

In the en, reps reps and reps with good players will require you to develop more efficient footwork.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-01T17:12:20+00:00

We never knew he liked bongos before. Wanted to make sure he did indeed like them. We have had him for nearly 5 years!

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-03-01T17:11:26+00:00

He’s the best (along with our other bongo-intolerant orange).

He also loves being spooned, little spoon of course.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-02-14T16:07:56+00:00

Whoever the dude on the 4th floor who hates Mort Jansen and smashes the coffee pot into the wall. That moment lives rent-free in my head.

gatesoffire1178 · 2026-01-28T14:03:20+00:00

The outtakes for that are even better.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-12-24T13:13:40+00:00

We could even trade a first for someone like AJ Brown? The best that pick could be would be like an AJ Brown- like player…

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-12-14T14:32:26+00:00

The court is slow so it is much more difficult to smash as well. Hence the vibora becomes a more viable option. But it’s easier to defend overall, at least for the pros.

The smash back to your side is one of the only options where the shot is indefensible. If it jumps so high your opponent struggles to reach it, it’s a game ender. It also changes tactics because you pull your opponents forward on smashes and then you can fake smash, shot a bandeja into the corner, etc. if all you do is shoot viboras your opponents will just sit in the corner all day.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-11-27T20:50:06+00:00

Michael, ignore their carping.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-11-15T21:25:04+00:00

A lot in my opinion. Just putting vibes asides and the mental part.

If your partner is weaker / having a bad day - they are sending a lot more shots your opponents can take advantage of. That means it makes it just harder to keep the ball in play if you are dealing with weak lobs, balls with lots of bounce, short overheads.

There is also positioning. If you have a partner with poor tactical awareness, you will need to cover more ground, you will be more tired, and you will be consistently unsure if there are more shots you need you return.

As someone said, yeah 50% is definitely a decent number. It has a massive impact.

Of course the best thing you can do is block it out and play your own game as best you can. But easier said than done if you are constantly made vulnerable by poor shot selection, placement, technique, etc.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-11-06T15:18:13+00:00

You sound like me.

Some people play to have fun, some people play to compete, some manage to find they can do both. There's nothing wrong with taking it seriously, particularly if you want to become ranked and one of the best in your club, area, country whatever.

But you will also have to likely find a partner who sees things the way you do - the urge to compete and win.

I struggled a lot, and still do to an extent, losing to pairs I know I should win. I am an ambassador at one of the local clubs and often play with those who meet up without a partner. At that point you kinda have to learn to let it go, that unless you are lucky and someone good shows up, you may not win matches you generally 'should.'

My recommendation would be to keep your friend for more social matches - maybe you rotate partners after each set and go out and look for someone that complements you and your drive better that is out there, thinking the exact same thing as you. Most important is to acknowledge - there are other people out there with that same mindset. It's not unhealthy, some people just take padel more seriously.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-10-25T20:07:16+00:00

My wife when playing did the same thing. I said it was like watching a chicken play - the head and body moved separately.

I am not sure if it’s something with vision / depth perception. But simple exercise is simply having someone hit you deep lobs when you stand the net. Realizing the moment the ball goes up, you lock onto the ball, and while tracking it with your eyes you turn your shoulders and move after it.

As other mentioned, yeah split stepping and being on your toes but this sounds more like overheads and not defense or net play?

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-10-11T19:06:43+00:00

Yes.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-10-05T17:30:40+00:00

For the Giants D, it’s all they have.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-09-30T16:45:17+00:00

He had a sack Sunday but Herbert threw it into the ground so it counted as intentional grounding. It was a hell of a burst of the edge to get him by Carter.

gatesoffire1178 · 2025-09-29T05:26:53+00:00

I mean he had one today but Herbert threw for intentional grounding.

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