GB no.4 Lisa Phillips is set to take understanding of her game “to a whole new level” through data and analysis after partnering with Smash Padel.
Gordon Dunn, Academy Manager at Smash Padel Bicester, uses in-depth match analysis with the club’s junior squads. World no.136 Phillips will now benefit from the same forensic insights and dedication as she charts her path towards the world’s top 100.
Dunn’s work in post-match data collection, tactical analysis and strategy is unrivalled in British padel. He routinely watches his pupils’ matches many times, charting the effectiveness of different shots, shot combinations, positions on the court, as well as errors.
Phillips, who has joined Smash Padel as an ambassador and will help coach their legion of junior players, told The Padel Paper: “Gordon is another level entirely. I’d never done analysis in this much detail before.
“How he sees the game is fascinating. Working with someone like him, using his brain to formulate patterns and plans in my matches is going to help tremendously. It’s very exciting.”
The GB international added: “I already knew that Smash Padel has the best junior programme and were doing all the right things, but it’s not until I’ve become part of it and got to know the team, that I’ve understood the level of detail they go into.
“They are just incredible. No other club even comes close to what they’re doing, how much they’re willing to give and what they want to achieve.”
Smash Padel’s junior academy includes Gordon’s son Andrew (top 50 in Europe at U16), Lucy Bertram, Heidi Ellis, Ethan Holt, Elizabeth Vellacott, Rosie Allen and Charlie Aldred, all of whom have played in FIP Promises junior events in Europe and compete in LTA senior competitions.
All have benefited greatly from Dunn’s many hours scrutinising their matches and identifying patterns and improvement points. All Smash Padel’s juniors have an individual development plan which uses child, parent and coach feedback, and data from video footage of coaching sessions and matches, to accurately rate the player’s mental, physical, tactical and technical progress.
Phillips will now get her own individual development plan and will work closely on a weekly basis with Dunn and Smash Padel’s Head of Padel, Miguel Caramalho, on data-informed strategic plans for every match.
“I don’t think players use data enough,” said Dunn. “It will now be a constant factor in Lisa’s development and that will be extremely helpful for her. She needs to know what’s winning her the most points and equally why she’s losing them.
“The analysis process starts there, by understanding why points end. From the shorthand notes I make during live matches, I can provide players with a clearer understanding of what to do to address that.
“That’s the hardest thing, turning an abundance of information into very simple, clear instruction. We’ll also be taking a wider approach, looking at elements such as rest and recovery too.”
Phillips will travel two days a week from her base in Chichester, Sussex, up to Bicester to receive Dunn and Caramalho’s expert tutelage. She’ll also be giving back by coaching juniors, in particular girls, and sharing insights from the international scene. “It’s so exciting to have her on our team,” says Carvalho.
Phillips, who played a key role alongside Catherine Rose in Great Britain’s victory over Sweden at last year’s FIP Euro Padel Cup Phase 2 in Madrid, is relishing the opportunity to optimise her game.
“Data doesn’t lie,” she said. “Whatever it’s showing, it’s the hard truth. Sometimes you feel that a certain shot or tactic is working on court, but when you step back and see it from a different perspective, it’s clear it’s not.”
She offers an example: “That lob down the line that you feel is getting you out of trouble, is actually creating a problem for your partner and putting them under pressure, which is losing you the point.
“The great thing about being at Smash Padel in Bicester is we can transition from the screen straight to the practice court. It’s a case of, ‘Here’s what the data is showing, now let’s put that into practice.’
“Before, I watched my own matches back to see where I’m winning and where I’m making unforced errors, but Gordon takes things to another level. He will watch a whole match and literally just watch first serves, then he’ll watch it again and focus on how many chiquitas they hit. He will watch the same match 20 times!
“His level of detail is absolutely incredible and I’m very excited to start working with him and the team at Smash.”
Read more about Lisa Phillips in our exclusive interview following her maiden FIP title last year
Read more about Smash Padel after our visit to Bicester last year to meet their junior players
