By Yves Richel ·
Basics
Grip, ready position and the walls: the foundation for every shot.
- Beginner
The right grip in padel
With the continental grip you play forehand, backhand, Volley and overheads without changing grip. Here is how to hold the racket.
Read lesson - Beginner
Ready position and split step
With the right ready position and the split step you get to every ball in time, at the net and at the back.
Read lesson - Beginner
Using the walls: back wall and side wall
Let the ball hit the wall and play it after the rebound. Learn how balls come back off the back wall and the side wall.
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Shots at the net
Volley, Bandeja, Víbora and Smash: how you hold the net and win points.
- Beginner
The Volley: compact and controlled at the net
The Volley is the shot at the net before the bounce. Short backswing, firm block, and aim where your opponent cannot build pressure.
Read lesson - Intermediate
The Bandeja: defend the Lob and stay at the net
The Bandeja is the typical padel overhead with backspin. It keeps you at the net after a Lob instead of being pushed to the back.
Read lesson - Advanced
The Víbora: the overhead with sidespin
The Víbora is a faster, sliced version of the Bandeja. It targets the side wall and stays low and awkward after it.
Read lesson - Advanced
The Smash: when it wins points
The Smash is the hard overhead. In padel it only wins when you choose it right; otherwise it comes back off the wall. Here is how to use it.
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Shots from the back
Serve, return, Lob and the balls off the wall.
- Beginner
The serve in padel: rules and technique
In padel you serve underhand, diagonally into the service box. The rules, a safe technique and where best to serve.
Read lesson - Beginner
The return: playing the serve back safely
With the return you take the attack away from the serving pair. Low to the feet or high as a Lob: here is how to use it right.
Read lesson - Beginner
The Lob: the most important shot in padel
The Lob wins you back the net. High over your opponents, deep to the back wall, then forward. Here is how to play it right.
Read lesson - Intermediate
The Chiquita: the soft ball to the feet
The Chiquita is a slow, low ball to the feet of the net players. It forces a weak Volley and opens your way forward.
Read lesson - Advanced
The Bajada: attacking after the rebound
On the Bajada you play a high ball back after it rebounds off the back wall, jumping or overhead, as an attack instead of a defence.
Read lesson - Intermediate
Back wall play: the ball after the wall
Return balls off the back wall safely: turn, wait, hit in front. The technique every padel player needs.
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Tactics
Where you stand, how you move as a pair and how you take the net.
- Beginner
The net position: where points are won in padel
The pair at the net wins most points. Where exactly you stand at the net and why the area behind it is dangerous.
Read lesson - Intermediate
Moving as a pair: as if tied by a rope
In padel you move as one unit. When the ball goes to one side, you shift together so the middle is never open.
Read lesson - Intermediate
Defence: patient from the back
When your opponents are at the net, you defend from the back: use the walls, play balls back deep and win the net back with the Lob.
Read lesson - Intermediate
The transition: from the back to the net
After a good Lob you move up to the net together. When the right moment is and how to make it forward safely.
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