Padel Shot Techniques: A Complete Guide to the 14 Basic Shots

Padel shot techniques are a shot repertoire that clearly differs from tennis, developed to account for the court's glass walls and compact dimensions. In the simplest terms: a good shot in padel isn't the one hit hardest, but the one that sends the ball to the right spot, at the right height and at the speed that's hardest for your opponent to play. In this guide we cover the 14 essential shots one by one, explaining clearly what each is for, how to hit it and at what level you should learn it.

As the O’Padel Beytepe coaching team, we watch many lessons every week on our courts at Beytepe, and the most common picture we see is this: players skip the basics while trying to add more shots. This article turns those basics into a sequenced learning path. If you are just starting, focus on the first five shots; if you are above 3.0, read the bandeja, víbora and wall shots sections carefully. At the end of each section there is a link to that shot’s detailed guide; use this article as a map and the links as points to go deeper.

Three principles that set padel shot technique apart from tennis

The first thing players who start learning padel with tennis habits notice is that hard shots get punished. On a 20×10 metre court and in front of the glass, a ball hit hard comes off the glass and gives the opponent a second chance. That is why padel technique is built on three principles.

• Short swing: The backswing never goes past shoulder height. The racket is taken to the side, not back; the contact point is in front of the body.
• Height control: The height at which the ball clears the net and comes off the glass matters more than speed. A low ball puts pressure on the opponent; a high ball gives them a chance to smash.
• One grip: A padel racket has a short handle and the ball comes in low; since the continental grip works for every shot, there's no time to switch grips. For details, see our padel racket grip guide.

Once you accept these three principles, all 14 shots below become one interconnected system. Think of the shots not as isolated skills but as versions of the same body rotation and the same grip at different heights and speeds.

Basic shots: forehand, backhand and serve

1. Forehand (Derecha)

The forehand is the most frequently used groundstroke in padel. The player turns sideways, takes the racket to the side with a short backswing and makes contact at hip height in front of the body. The follow-through is short and controlled; the racket extends toward the target, not across to the opposite shoulder.

The most common beginner mistake is taking a big backswing like in tennis. In padel the ball has lost speed after coming off the glass; a big swing ruins your timing. We cover the preparation, contact and follow-through phases of the forehand in detail in our padel forehand technique article.

2. Backhand (Revés)

In padel the backhand is mostly hit one-handed because the racket is light and a two-handed swing isn't fast enough for balls coming off the wall. The body turns toward the ball, the arm extends away from the body to make contact, and the wrist stays firm. The slice backhand is one of the safest shots in padel for keeping the ball low on defense.

A two-handed backhand is a defensible choice only for players coming from tennis who don't want to change the habit. For a comparison of the two approaches, see padel backhand technique .

3. Serve (Saque)

The padel serve is hit underhand: the ball is dropped, and after it bounces, contact is made below waist height. By rule, the racket can't be above waist height at contact and at least one foot must stay on the ground. The goal of the serve isn't to win the point outright but to safely take the net.

A good serve jams the returner toward the side glass and makes the return harder. For rule details and five different serve variations, check out our padel serve technique check out the guide.

4. Return of serve (Resto)

The return of serve is the least practiced shot in padel but the one where the most points are lost. The returner waits one step behind the service line in a slight crouch. They read early whether the ball will hit the glass, let it come off the glass if needed, and send the return to the net player's feet or as a lob to the back corner.

The goal of this shot is to break the serving team's net advantage. Positioning, reading and return options are covered in our padel serve return article.

Net shots: volley, bandeja, víbora and smash

Padel matches are won at the net. That's why the four shots in the net zone determine the jump to intermediate and advanced levels. The table below compares the four shots by contact height, spin and purpose.

Shot	Contact height	Spin	Main purpose	Recommended level
Volley	Between chest and shoulder	Light slice	Holding position, depth	1.5+
Bandeja	Between shoulder and head, to the side	Slice	Regaining the net after a lob	3.0+
The víbora	Head height, out in front	Side spin	Building pressure by forcing the opponent off the glass	3.5+
Smash	Overhead, full extension	Flat / topspin	Finishing the point	2.5+

5. Volley (Volea)

A volley means taking the ball at the net before it bounces. A padel volley is shorter than a tennis volley: the racket face is slightly open, contact is in front of the body and there's almost no follow-through. The goal isn't to hit hard but to place the ball at your opponent's feet or in the corner between the side glass and back glass.

In padel it's important to distinguish two types of volley: the block volley (meeting a fast ball with just the racket face) and the cut volley (sending the ball low and deep with slice). We explain the technique for both in our padel volley guide.

6. Bandeja

Bandeja means “tray” in Spanish and is padel's most characteristic shot. When the opponent lobs, the net player moves back with side steps, brings the racket up beside the head and hits the ball at shoulder height with a light slice. The ball travels deep and low and comes off the glass only a little; this way the net position is held.

The bandeja isn't a finishing shot; it's a defensive attacking shot. Learners try to hit it like a smash, send the ball high off the glass and leave themselves open to a counterattack. To learn it step by step, read our how to hit a bandeja read the article.

7. Víbora

The víbora (“viper”) is the bandeja's more aggressive cousin. The contact point is further forward, and the racket brushes past the side of the ball to impart side spin. After hitting the opponent's back glass, the ball veers sideways and becomes hard to read. The víbora carries more risk than the bandeja, but used at the right moment it sets up the point.

Choosing between bandeja and víbora depends on the ball's height and your position: víbora on high, comfortable balls; bandeja on low balls or when you're caught behind. We go into the differences in detail in our víbora technique guide.

8. Smash (Remate)

The smash is the overhead shot used to finish points in padel. But unlike in tennis, the padel smash comes in several types: the flat smash (driving the ball straight down so it bounces high off the glass), the kick smash (using topspin to send the ball out over the back glass), por tres (the ball leaves the court over the side glass) and por cuatro (the ball leaves the court over the back glass).

The biggest mistake at club level is trying to smash every high ball. A smash only makes sense when the ball is high enough and the net player is far enough forward. Otherwise, the bandeja is the right choice. For all the types, see see types of padel smash .

Defensive shots: lob, chiquita and dejada

9. Lob (Globo)

The lob is padel's most used defensive shot; many coaches say “padel is a game of lobs.” The goal is to send the ball high and deep over the net players to push them back and take over the net. A good lob lands between the back glass and the baseline and doesn't let the opponent smash.

The most critical elements of lob technique are the angle of the racket face and soft contact. A lob hit too hard lands short and gets smashed; a lob hit too softly also falls short. For the right feel for depth, see padel lob technique and for high defensive lobs, defending with the globo — we recommend both articles.

10. Chiquita

The chiquita is a low, soft ball played from the back; it drops at the net player's feet and forces them to volley from low down. It works on the opposite logic of the lob: instead of pushing the opponent back, it gives them an awkward low ball. After a chiquita, the defending pair gets a chance to move forward.

This shot calls for touch, not power. Racket face slightly open, soft contact, aiming at the net player's ankle height. Details in what is a chiquita .

11. Dejada (Drop Shot)

The dejada is a short ball played from the net. When the opposing pair is stuck at the back, the ball is dropped just over the net, ideally close to the side glass. In padel the dejada is riskier than in tennis, because a ball that isn't short enough gives the opponent an easy return.

The right time for a dejada is when you see the opponent is back and the ball is coming in low. For detailed timing and technique, see dejada (drop shot) guide.

Glass shots: bajada, contrapared and coming off the wall

Using the glass is what sets padel apart from other racket sports, and it's what scares beginners most. Yet the glass isn't an obstacle but a second chance: a player who waits for the ball to come off the glass faces a slower, easier-to-read ball. We group glass shots into three categories.

12. Bajada

The bajada is an attacking shot played when the opponent's lob comes high off the back glass. The player catches the ball coming off the glass at shoulder-to-head height and sends it flat or with light topspin at the net players' feet or between them. The bajada is a chance to go straight from defense to attack.

The hardest part of this shot is predicting how far the ball will come off the glass. On our indoor courts at Beytepe, the glass gives a consistent rebound under standard padel conditions; this consistency makes learning the bajada easier. The technique bajada technique .

13. Contrapared (Counter-wall)

In a contrapared, the ball is sent not directly into the opponent's court but first into your own back glass. It's usually used in desperate situations, when the ball comes very fast and there's no time to turn. Hit correctly, the ball bounces off your own glass, goes over the net and surprises the opponent.

This shot is an advanced defensive tool; it requires calculating power and angle. At club level it's played rarely, but at the right moment it saves the point. Details in our counter-wall (contrapared) technique guide.

14. Coming off the wall (Salida de pared)

Coming off the wall means waiting for the ball to rebound off the back or side glass and playing it with a normal groundstroke. It's the most fundamental defensive skill in padel and actually the first glass shot beginners should learn. The player sets up not right in front of the glass but one or two steps away from it, waits for the ball to come off and hits it at hip height.

Rebounds off the side glass, the back glass and the double glass (corner) each require a different read. We cover these three situations one by one in our using the walls in padel article.

Learning order and priorities by level

In what order should you learn the shots?

The most efficient learning path we see on court is to order the shots by how often you meet them in a match. The order below is the general framework the O’Padel Beytepe coaching team applies in beginner and intermediate lessons; it is adapted to each player’s pace and background.

1. Continental grip and ready position — the first lesson, before any shot.
2. Forehand and backhand groundstrokes — without the glass, with balls fed through the middle.
3. Serve and return of serve — every point starts with these.
4. Lob — the backbone of defense; learn it early.
5. Coming off the wall — back glass first, then side glass, corner last.
6. Volley — to be able to hold the net.
7. Bandeja — the gateway to level 3.0.
8. Smash types and víbora — to turn net advantage into points.
9. Chiquita, dejada and bajada — transition shots that add variety to your game.
10. Contrapared — last; a lifesaver, but risky.

This order runs parallel to progress from 1.0 to 4.0 in our level system. In our level league and Americano tournaments you'll see players grouped by which shots they can use; this is also a practical way to figure out which shot you should focus on. For tournament and league formats, see tournaments and leagues page.

Four support areas that accelerate technical progress

Shot technique doesn't develop in isolation. The differences in progress we see on court usually come not from the shot itself but from four areas that support it.

Footwork

A player who doesn't reach the right position in time can't execute the right technique even if they know it. The split step, side shuffle and recovery after the shot are prerequisites for every stroke. Our padel footwork article covers these three skills.

Spin knowledge

Knowing when to use slice, topspin and a flat hit turns the same shot into three different weapons. For example, the slice backhand keeps the ball low on defense; the topspin smash sends the ball out over the glass. For details, see spin in padel guide.

Wrist and elbow health

In padel the wrist should be fixed and the arm relaxed. Elbow and wrist complaints are common in players who try to generate power by actively using the wrist. We cover this in our article on wrist use in padel. During heavy training periods, for O’Wellness Beytepe fitness and conditioning support and O’Spa Beytepe recovery services, recovery and wellness page.

Solo practice and video analysis

The repetitions you do in between matter as much as the hours spent with a coach. For drills you can do against a wall, see our 20 padel drills article; to watch and read your own shots, see our padel video analysis article.

Common technical mistakes and quick fixes

The list below covers the mistakes we correct most often in lessons, with a one-sentence fix for each. Use it as a checklist when you watch your own game.

• A big backswing: Take the racket to the side, not back; keep the backswing below shoulder height.
• Switching grips: One grip, continental. If you're rotating your grip for the forehand, you won't get to balls coming off the wall.
• Turning your back to the glass: When you see the ball heading for the glass, don't turn your back; stay side-on and track the ball with your eyes.
• Smashing every high ball: If you're caught back and the ball is at shoulder height, play a bandeja.
• Hitting the lob hard: The lob is a depth shot, not a speed shot; extend your arm and don't use your wrist.
• Backing off at the net: After a volley, step forward, not back. A pair that gives up the net gives up the point.
• Generating power with the wrist: Power comes from hip and torso rotation; the wrist just keeps the racket face steady.

Technical priorities by level

At O’Padel Beytepe, level assessment is done on the 1.0–7.0 scale, and the technical priorities differ for each level band. The table below summarises which shots are considered “must-haves” at which level.

Level	Must-have shots	Shots to develop
1.0–2.0	Forehand, backhand, serve, basic lob	Coming off the back glass, volley
2.5–3.0	Consistent lob, volley, coming off the side glass	Bandeja, basic smash
3.5–4.0	Bandeja, chiquita, bajada	Víbora, por tres smash, dejada
4.5+	Full repertoire, timing	Contrapared, spin variety, tempo control

We cover how technique changes in the move from 4.0 to 5.0 separately in our advanced padel technique article. If you don’t know your level, padel lessons you can book a level assessment lesson on that page and clarify with your coach which shots to prioritize.

How do you combine shots in a match?

Technique is worthless if you can't use it in a match. A typical point in padel follows this chain: serve → net position → opponent's lob → bandeja → opponent comes off the wall → volley → point. Or from the defending side: return of serve → lob → opponent's bandeja → coming off the wall → chiquita → move forward → volley.

Deliberately practicing these chains on court produces faster results than isolated shot drills. Our coaches run shots inside these kinds of “point scenarios” in lessons, so you learn when to use each shot along with its technique. For the tactical side of shots, we also recommend checking out our padel tactics guide.

A practical tip: devote the last 15 minutes of every practice to a “single scenario” drill. For example, play only points that start with a lob, and have the net player answer every lob with a bandeja. At the next practice, change the scenario: the returning pair may only open with a chiquita. These constrained games teach the shot together with the moment of decision and eliminate the “which shot should I choose?” hesitation in matches. Playing with different partners in our Americano tournaments is also the most fun way to test that decision speed.

What changes technically on an indoor court?

When players used to playing outdoors in Ankara move to the indoor courts at Beytepe, they notice two things straight away: there is no wind and the ball bounces more predictably. This is an ideal environment for learning shots that demand height precision, such as the lob and bandeja; you cannot blame a wrong feel for depth on the weather, so the technical feedback is clearer.

Climate control affects technique too. At a constant temperature, the ball’s pressure and bounce height change less over a match; this makes it especially easier to read the rebound off the glass. The biggest advantage for new learners is that even lighting lets you see the ball’s height and spin clearly; on Ankara’s short winter days this difference is even more noticeable. We cover the tactical side of the indoor court in a separate article.

Result

Padel stroke techniques are not 14 independent movements; they are a single system built on the principles of one grip, a short swing and height control. Every shot, from the forehand to the contrapared, is part of this system and they feed each other when learned in sequence. At the O’Padel Beytepe courts in the O’Wellness Beytepe complex in Çankaya, you can work on these shots every day of the year in a climate-controlled indoor setting; for getting here from Çayyolu, Ümitköy and Konutkent, and to start with lessons, courts and level assessment with no membership requirement, padel courts check out the page or call us at +90 536 908 08 00.

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