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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.

BasicsBeginner

By Yves Richel ·

The glass walls are what make padel padel. A ball that hits the wall after the bounce is not lost: you can play it after the rebound. Use the walls and you get more time, play more relaxed and reach balls that would otherwise be out of reach.

The back wall

If the ball bounces in your half and flies into the back wall, it comes back at roughly the same angle. The faster and higher it arrives, the further it rebounds.

Turn with the ball instead of running towards it: shoulder to the wall, racket back early. Then move forward with the ball and hit it to the side, in front of your body.

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The ball bounces, hits the back wall and is played after the rebound.Your pairOpponentsBallMovementBounce

The side wall

If the ball comes diagonally, it often hits the side wall first after the bounce. It then changes direction and comes back into the middle lower.

Stay a little away from the wall and let the ball come to you. If you stand too close to the wall, the rebound jams you.

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A diagonal ball rebounds off the side wall and comes back lower.Your pairOpponentsBallMovementBounce

The most important rule

Your opponent’s ball must bounce on the ground in your half before it touches a wall. If it hits the glass or the fence directly, the point is yours. After the bounce it may touch any wall, and you may play it as long as it does not touch the ground a second time.

Common mistakes

  • Standing too close to the wall: the ball bounces into your body.
  • Chasing the ball instead of turning with it: the shot gets rushed and late.
  • Trying to play every ball before the wall: it is often easier to let it rebound first.

Drill: Back wall from feeds

  1. From the net, your partner throws balls high into your half so they hit the back wall.
  2. Turn with the ball, let it rebound and play it back calmly cross-court.
  3. Only raise the pace once 8 out of 10 balls come back cleanly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I play the ball against my own wall?

Yes. You may hit the ball against your own wall so it goes over the net from there. It is an emergency shot, but it is allowed.

What happens if the ball goes into the fence?

After the bounce the fence is in play too, but the ball rebounds unpredictably there. Straight into the opponents’ fence without a bounce is a fault.

Still have a question about technique? Pal, our AI assistant at the bottom right, answers from these pages.