A good coach helps you avoid bad habits that are hard to change later, and gets you playing genuinely interesting games sooner. So how do you find one?
Why get a padel coach?
- You learn the correct grip and strokes from the start. Changing a bad habit later is harder than learning it right the first time.
- A coach spots mistakes you don’t notice yourself, such as hitting the ball too late or standing in the wrong position at the net.
- Wall play and tactics are easier to learn with a coach than by trial and error.
What qualifications do padel coaches have?
Coaches’ backgrounds vary a lot, and internationally, padel coach education is still taking shape.
The newest option is FIP Academy. On 1 May 2026, the International Padel Federation (FIP) launched a coach education pathway. The first step is a 15-hour online course (Level 0, Foundation Course), and anyone who completes it gets a Coaching Assistant certificate. After that come Levels 1–4 (Coaching, Professional, Elite and Master Coaching Course).
Many coaches have done a course run by a national padel federation. For example, according to Padelstar Academy’s website, all of its coaches have completed Level 1 or Level 2 training with the Argentine Padel Association (APA). Academies also run their own courses: M3 Padel Academy’s assistant coach course requires a Playtomic level of 2.5–3.
Many padel coaches used to teach tennis. That helps, but wall play and tactics work differently in padel. If a coach holds an Estonian coaching qualification, you can check it in the public register of professional qualifications (Kutseregister).
What should you ask a coach before the first session?
- What qualifications and experience do you have? How long have you been teaching padel?
- How will you assess my level?
- How many players are in the session, and are they at a similar level to me?
- Does the price include court rental and balls?
- What happens if I have to cancel a session?
How do you recognise a good coach?
- A good coach assesses your level in the first session and picks drills to match.
- They give you one or two corrections at a time. Nobody remembers ten at once.
- They also explain why something is done a certain way.
- They start the session with a warm-up and make sure the workload is sensible.
- They put groups together so the players are at a similar level.
A coach doesn’t have to be a top player. For beginners and recreational players, the ability to teach matters more than the coach’s own ranking.
How much does a padel coach cost?
It depends on the coach, the centre and the type of session. A private lesson costs more per player than a group class. Always ask whether court rental is included in the price or paid separately, because it makes a big difference to the final cost.
Where can you find a padel coach?
- Check which centres offer private lessons and group classes.
- Look at the city pages for Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu.
- Ask us: send an enquiry with your level, city and the times that suit you. We’ll look for a coach for you.
For the difference between group classes and private lessons, see our training guide.