Happy Friday! It’s Tim and Matt here with your weekly padel tips and news. And no, not even the same Teemo you’re used to 😜 We’re helping him with this fine newsletter for the coming months as he’s expecting a baby any second now.

➡️ Casual sidenote: Matt and I have a Padel Project of our own called BYFOUR Padel and we’d be delighted if you checked us out here.

📺 What we’re watching FIP World Championships in Qatar 🇶🇦

Today’s newsletter is 634 words - a 4 minute read.

In this issue

🏆 The world Championships in Doha and the unique constellations we get to see

💤 The Dormilona - Trickshot or useful addition to your repertoire?

👍 Poll of the week

How to best improve your game?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Shot selection (13)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Positioning (10)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Aerial shot technique (5)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Defending the corner (1)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Fitness (5)

🤩 Level up

🔍 Mastering the Dormilona: The Sneaky Shot You Need

If you're looking to add a touch of flair to your padel game, the "Dormilona" might be your secret weapon. This nifty recovery shot can turn a low ball situation into a surprise return, catching your opponents off-guard.

Here's the lowdown: When faced with a ball that lands low after a fast smash or a poor return, and isn't prime for a high volley, the dormilona comes into play. Think of it as a proposal—get it right, and it's a game-changer; get it wrong, and, well, it’s complicated.

The trick is to get low—knee to the ground low—and slice under the ball. The goal? To generate enough backspin so the ball makes a U-turn back to your side of the court. It's a bold move, often played cross-court or down the line, and while it might not always go as planned, the payoff can be huge.

While the "Dormilona" can make you look like a padel wizard when executed correctly, it’s not without risks. Sometimes it works like a charm, and other times, not so much. It's all about taking the leap and practicing.

Remember, the dormilona is a finesse shot, not to be overused, but when executed perfectly, it's a real crowd-pleaser.

Ready to give it a go? Check out the full tutorial to see the Dormilona in action!

Pros

🏆 The Padel world meets in Doha and blesses us with some interesting couples

Part of the reason for these interesting matchups is that a few players have changed nationality to compete in the FIP championship.

This kind of nationality switch is common in sports like football and combat sports, so it’s no surprise to see it happening in Padel now. With Padel’s global rise and popularity, this trend was almost inevitable as players seek competitive opportunities on the world stage.

Now Padel players Arnau Ayats, Iñigo Jofre, Sergio Icardo, and Fran Jurado, former Spanish nationals, have switched allegiances to represent the UAE in international competitions.

Despite them not being in the FIP's top 20, they’re still seen as a powerful lineup. Their presence has led to some dubbing the UAE as "Spain B".

Though Spain remains the favorite, this new UAE lineup adds a challenging layer, as these players bring high-level skills to the table—especially Ayats and Jofre, known for playing in top tournaments.

Yet Spain obliterated UAE with the following results:

1. Lebron/Coello vs. Icardo/Jofre (6:1/6:2)

2. Galan/Yanguas vs. Jurado/Ayats (6:4/7:5)

3. Paquito🔥/Sanz vs. Al Janahi/Al Janahi (6:0/6:0) —> in 33 minutes 🫣

📺 What we’re watching 

FIP World Championships in Doha

The battle for the title is beginning in Doha and so far we don’t see any big surprises in the line-up for position 1-8.

But far from all matches are played and you still have 2 more days to tune into some spicy Padel action.

All the highlights and live matches can be watched on YT for free here.