How to play the Chiquita
- 1Play the ball with little pace and slight backspin.
- 2The ball should clear the net narrowly and bounce in front of the net players’ feet.
- 3Take two or three steps forward right after, to take the next ball early.
By Yves Richel ·
The Chiquita, Spanish for little one, is a deliberately slow, low ball from the back that drops just past the net at your opponents’ feet. The net player has to play it from below and cannot build pressure. For you, that is the chance to move forward.
When the Chiquita fits
It works best when your opponents stand very close to the net or are not ready again after a Smash.
Mix the Chiquita and the Lob. If your opponent does not know whether a high or a low ball is coming, they cannot position themselves as well.
Common mistakes
- Playing too fast: the Chiquita turns into an easy Volley for your opponent.
- Too high over the net: the net player can take the ball from above.
- Standing still after the Chiquita and wasting the chance to move up.
Drill: Target zone in front of the net
- Mark the area between the net and the opponents’ service line.
- From the back, play 10 Chiquitas into this zone.
- A partner at the net tries to volley them. If they can only do it from below, the Chiquita was good.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chiquita an attacking shot?
More of a setup shot. It takes the pressure off and brings you forward.
Cross-court or into the middle?
Both work. Into the middle often causes confusion about who takes the ball.
More lessons
Still have a question about technique? Pal, our AI assistant at the bottom right, answers from these pages.