Great Britain padel pros share advice on how to elevate your padel game

Ahead of the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final this week, Great Britain’s No. 1 player Aimée Gibson and GB No. 3 Tia Norton have shared their top tips to elevate your padel game. 

The 2025 FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8 is currently underway and set to conclude on Saturday 25 October in Cadiz, Spain. 

This marks the final phase of this year’s Padel Cup, which began in July, writes Sports News Blitz’s Shameeka Voyiya. 

New three-phase format

With a record 37 men’s teams and 31 women’s teams entered this year, the tournament has now been divided into three phases, beginning with Europe’s smaller nations battling it out in Phase 1 (7-10 July).

The top five men’s and top four women’s teams from Phase 1 move on to Phase two, which immediately follows at the same venue in Madrid. 

Phase 2 was organised into four groups of four (4×4), playing a round-robin format, which involves every player battling every other participant an equal number of times. 

This is a popular format in padel that ensures each player gets to play against each other and with different partners.

Each of the four men’s and women’s group winners will qualify for Phase 3, known as The Final 8. 

Fast-growing sport

World No. 1 Aimee Gibson and World No. 3 Tia Norton are set to represent GB at this week’s Final 8, and they shared top tips to improve one’s skills in this fast-growing sport.

Both Gibson and Norton shared excitement to compete with the likes of padel powerhouses Spain and Italy.

“It was amazing for us to qualify, to be amongst Spain and Italy,” said Gibson, according to Sports Gazette. 

“It’s going to be tough but we’ve all said it will be interesting to see how our level compares to the likes of Spain. Hopefully we can get some wins as well.”

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Top tips to elevate your padel game

Unlike in tennis, padel features glass walls that surround the court where the ball is allowed to hit the back glass after one bounce.

Gibson and Norton emphasised that using the glass is essential to amping up your padel playing skills. 

“The glass is your friend,” said Gibson, according to Sports Gazette.  

“I would suggest trying to let the ball hit the glass when you’re starting. Even if you miss it, just get used to letting the ball go past you. 

“Coming from tennis, I was always trying to volley it or hit it before the glass. But once you get more confidence and you get used to it, it’s easier to deal with.”

Use the glass

Norton agreed: “Try to use the glass as quickly as you can. 

“It is really foreign to have something behind you so people tend to neglect it and then get into the habit of hitting everything before the glass. 

“I would say just try and use it as fast as possible and get into the habit of doing it. The more you do it, the easier it will become.”

The pros also advised against attempting to overpower your opponent, despite it being tempting.

“My top piece of advice is to not hit the ball as hard as you can,” Gibson said. 

“When people step onto a padel court they tend to want to smack it and win the point as fast as possible, like tennis. 

“But padel is a little bit more about control and building the point more so that you’re able to finish it. If you hit it too hard the ball’s going to come back easily for your opponent.”

Enjoy the game

Above all, Norton highlighted the importance of having fun on the padel court.

Speaking at the Pro Am Padel Tour National Final last week, she said: “Have fun! Padel is a really big community sport.

“Like you can see here today, we’ve got pros, we’ve got celebs, we’ve got a big community feel to the environment. 

“That’s one of the reasons I started playing – you almost feel like a little family.  

“With the padel space growing a lot, there’s lots of new cultures and diversities coming into it. The biggest one is to enjoy it.”

Gibson said the supportive nature of the sport is one of the reasons she looks forward to representing GB at The Final 8 this week.

“The team is so nice, we all support each other, especially on the side,” she said.

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