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1. To the net
The main tactic in Padel is going to the net. This is where most points are won. The team that wins the battle for net positions often wins the highest percentage of points. What is important is that together the field is properly shielded. Move in relation to each other and make sure you always move with them. When you get a volley, there are actually two options: Go for a winner if you are sure that the opponent no longer touches the ball or go for a ball towards the feet of the opponent. The second option is a very difficult ball for opponents, as a result of which they will make many forced errors.
2. Serve & Volley
After serving, it is a good attacking tactic to run to the net. This increases your scoring chance. After all, it is easier to score from the net than from behind. In addition, you put the pressure on the opponents. Make sure that you move like a block together with your partner. Move with the ball to protect the field as best as possible.
3. Short Smash
If you get a smash, hitting a short smash can be a good option. There are different types of smash, where different techniques emerge. An overview of all strokes can be found here. Especially when both opponents run towards the net. This is the sign that they expect a hard smash that will come back through the wall. A short smash is a padel tactic that surprises opponents. Try to place the ball so that it bounces twice in front of the back wall. Just make sure that the preparation looks like a real smash.
FRONT AND BACK
The service
The game always starts with a serve. You can benefit greatly from good service. If the service is not easy to return, you can attack yourself. With a weaker serve, the opponent may attack.
Only one service is used in Padel competitions. That's the slice service. Because you serve with slice, the ball gets a backspin, so that the ball shoots through after the bounce and therefore often remains lower than the net. This makes it more difficult to return this service.
La Chiquita
The Lobe
Of all the types of strokes in Padel, the lobe is one of the most important. As we have just said, padel is often injured after the service. This ensures that you have two opponents at the net, where they are dangerous. If you can hit a good lob at such a moment, it can completely change the point. This forces the opponents to move back and gives you and your buddy a chance to go to the net. Deploying a Lob therefore counts as a defensive tactic. Want to know more about tactics? Then view this article.
You can also choose whether you hit the lob with the forehand or the backhand.
With the lob it is important that you bend your knees when the ball comes at you. Go from low to high with your racket. The moment you hit the ball, raise your upper body and move your body forward. Most of the power behind the ball comes from the legs.
SIDE MOVEMENT
The Volley
What is actually the most important thing in Padel is that you can complete well. Padel is often played at the net. After a service, there is an immediate run-up to the net. This puts pressure on the opponents but ensures that you will get many balls quickly at you. So if you can volley well, you have mastered the most important types of strokes in Padel.
At the net you have the forehand volley and the backhand volley. Because you are at the net, you are closer to the opponents. This will make the balls come at you faster. This often makes the net game difficult. The most important thing in the volley is the posture. When the ball comes at you, you immediately go back with your racket. You turn in with your shoulders and you step forward with your other foot. The ball hits you slightly in front of your body. You keep your forearm and wrist tight and stable, so that you block the ball, as it were. You use the speed with which the opponents hit the ball to you. This applies to both the forehand and the backhand volley.
The Drop shot
A good drop shot in Padel is difficult. This is because the field is a lot smaller and the opponents can get to the balls more easily. To hit a winning drop shot you have to be at the net yourself. The opponents must both be far from the ball. Therefore, do not try to hit a drop shot when you are at the back of the field or even when you are halfway down the field. When the ball arrives, bend your knees. You make sure you are stable. It is often chosen to give the ball a backspin so that the ball rises less after the bounce. The ideal interface is between chest and knee height.
There you have it! All kinds of strokes at Padel. Which stroke is your favourite?
The Vibora the different contacts you can have for the vibora!
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Bajada
The Bajada is an attacking ball from the backfield. When a ball bounces, then hits the glass on your side and bounces up you can stand the ball down offensively. We call this battle the Bajada or La Chuchilla. You will be able to do this most often after the opponent has lobbed. The higher the ball gets, the more you can hit the ball down. Sometimes this can be in the form of a kind of smash, sometimes it is much more of an offensive forehand or backhand.
The Smash
In Padel you often see that a point ends with a smash. Ideally, the smash will leave the track after bouncing.
With the smash in Padel you can choose from a flat smash, a topspin smash or a slice smash also called the Bandeja.
The danger with the smash in Padel is that the ball can come back through the wall, giving the opponent a dangerous chance to score the point.
La Bandeja / Slice smash (Bandeja)
One of the most iconic types of strokes in Padel is the Bandeja. The preparation for the slice smash is the same as for the other smashes. You turn in with your body and go up with your racket. You point at the ball with your other hand. What's different is that you lower the ball further than the other smashes, allowing you to give the ball a backspin. The backspin ensures that the ball shoots through after bouncing and thus becomes more difficult for the opponents.
Flat smash / flat smash
The flat smash is often used when you are sure you can score the point. When the ball hits high, turn in with your body. Then you raise your racket and point at the ball with your other hand. You move forward or backward with a side step to get perfectly under the ball. You try to hit the ball high. You try to hit the flat smash in such a way that the opponents can no longer reach it.
Top spin smash
The difference with the topspin smash is that you hit the ball from low to high with your racket. This gives the ball a forward rotating spin. This spin causes the ball to shoot up after the bounce. Because of this you often see that the ball goes over the glass after the bounce. This forces the opponent out of the field.
The backhand
In backhand we know the flat and slice backhand. Do you want to know more about the backhand than can be found in this article? Check out our post in which we describe everything about the backhand.
Slice back hand
The racket starts at shoulder height. You hit the ball in front of you. You make a downward movement with the racket when you hit the ball. Shift your weight forward again.
Flat backhand / flat backhand
The racket starts at hip height and ends at shoulder height. You hit the ball flat with your racket. When the ball comes to you, turn your body in and step towards the ball with your front foot.
The Forehand
The forehand is often seen as the easiest shot. Often players also prefer to hit a forehand instead of a backhand. With a forehand they often have more control and can place the ball better.
We know a number of variations on the forehand. You can hit the ball "flat" with your racket, with slice or in open position.
Open stance forehand
An open stance forehand is used when the ball arrives quickly and you have little time for proper preparation. In the open stance forehand, your feet are about shoulder-width apart. You hit a flat forehand with your racket from low to high. After hitting the ball, move your body forward with one foot.
Slice forehand
You hit the slice forehand by starting high with your racket and ending low. Your racket starts at shoulder height and makes a downward movement when hitting the ball. Also make sure that your weight shifts from your back foot to your front foot. It is ideal to hit the ball between hip and shoulder height.
Flat forehand / flat forehand
You hit a flat forehand without any effect. So you hit the ball flat with your racket. Make sure you turn in to the ball and shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you hit. Your racket comes from hip height and ends at shoulder height.