1. To the net
The most important tactic in Padel is going to the net. This is where the 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 the field is properly shielded together. Move in relation to each other and make sure you always move along. When you get a volley, there are actually two options: Go for a winner if you are sure that the opponent will no longer touch the ball or go for a ball towards the opponent's feet. The second option is a very difficult ball for opponents, which will cause them to make many forced errors.
2. Serve & Volley
After serving, it is a good offensive tactic to walk to the net. This increases your chance of scoring. After all, it is easier to score at the net than from behind. In addition, you put the pressure on the opponents. Make sure that you move like a log 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, each involving different techniques. An overview of all strokes can be found here. Especially when both opponents are walking towards the net. This is the sign that they expect a hard smash that comes 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 launch the attack yourself. With a weaker serve, the opponent may start the attack.
In Padel competitions, only one service is actually used. That's the slice service. Because you serve with a slice, the ball gets a backspin, which causes the ball to fly after the bounce and therefore often remains lower than the net. This makes this service more difficult to return.
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The Lob
Of all the types of strokes in Padel, the lob is one of the most important. As we have just mentioned, padel often suffers from injuries 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 the opportunity to get to the net. Deploying a Lob is therefore 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 towards you. Move your racket from low to high. 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.
LATERAL MOVEMENT
The Volley
What is actually the most important thing with Padel is that you can execute well. Padel is often played at the net. After a service there is a direct walk to the net. This puts pressure on the opponents, but ensures that you will receive a lot of balls quickly. 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 to you faster. This often makes net play difficult. The most important thing with the volley is the body position. When the ball comes towards you, immediately move back with your racket. You roll in your shoulders and step forward with your other foot. You hit the ball 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 at 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 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 away from the ball. Don't try to hit a drop shot when you are standing at the back of the field or even when you are halfway down the field. When the ball arrives, bend to your knees. You ensure that you are stable. It is often decided 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 types of strokes at Padel. Which stroke is your favorite?
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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 attack the ball down. We call this battle the Bajada or La Chuchilla. You will be able to do this most often after the opponent has hit a lob. The higher the ball goes, 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 attacking forehand or backhand.
The Smash
In Padel you often see that a point ends with a smash. Ideally, the smash leaves the court 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 opportunity 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 raise your racket. You point to the ball with your other hand. What's different is that you lower the ball further than with the other smashes, which allows you to give the ball a backspin. The backspin ensures that the ball continues to bounce after bouncing, making it more difficult for opponents.
Flat smash / flat smash
The flat smash is often used when you are sure that you can score the point. When the ball arrives high, turn in with your body. Then you raise your racket and point to 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. As a result, you often see that the ball goes over the glass after the bounce. This forces the opponent out of the field.
The Backhand
With backhand we know the flat and slice backhand. Would you like to know more about the backhand than can be found in this article? Then take a look at our post in which we describe everything about the backhand.
Slice backhand
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 toward you, turn your body and step toward the ball with your front foot.
The Forehand
The forehand is often seen as the easiest shot. Players often 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 a slice or in an 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 forehand position, your feet are approximately 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 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 toward the ball and shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot when hitting. Your racket starts from hip height and ends at shoulder height.