Beyond Instinct: Data-Driven Decision Trees for Tactical Shot Selection in Professional Padel

Abstract

The aim was to analyze the frequency of finalist technical-tactical actions in professional padel according to their effectiveness and sex of the players. Through a descriptive empirical design, 878 points corresponding to ten WPT matches of the 2023 season were analyzed. Through the creation of decisional trees, it was obtained that, in smashes, recovery smashes and out of the court, the percentage of winning shots are higher in men’s padel than in women’s. While, in volleys, bandejas, viboras, off-the-wall and forehands/backhands, the percentage of winning shots is higher in women’s padel than in men’s. On the other hand, in men’s padel, smashes and recovery smashes are the shots with which more winnings are achieved, while in women’s, only smashes are the shots with which more winners are achieved. Coaches must plan training sessions to work on strategies that lead players to force errors on the opponent or make shots that allow them to achieve success.