Padel

What are the padel strokes?

Padel is a mix of technique, tactics and strategy. The better you master the different padel strokes, the smarter you can play and the more pressure you can put on your opponent. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player: knowing the right strokes and knowing when to use them makes all the difference in a rally.

In this article, we list the most important padel strokes for you and explain when and how best to use them.

Forehand
The forehand is the most common and simplest stroke in padel. This is the stroke with which you hit the ball from your dominant side (right-handed players).

This is how you hit a good forehand:

Keep your racket low
Bring your weight forward when hitting
Strike short, controlled and in front of your body

By repeating this stroke consistently, it becomes a natural movement and you can easily keep a lot of control.

Backhand
Of course, the opponent does not always play to your forehand. Therefore, a solid backhand is indispensable. Whereas the forehand is often more powerful, the backhand is more about control and precision.

Tip: Stand sideways, hit the ball close to your body and aim at a fixed spot. This makes your game less predictable and easier to vary.

Volley
Close to the net? Then play a volley - a quick, direct hit without the ball bouncing first.

That's how you avoid mistakes:

Hold your racket in front of your chest
Use short, quick movements
Play low and controlled, not too high (otherwise you will get a smash around your ears)

Smash
You use a smash to win the point, but there are different variants:

Flat smash: Hard and direct, low over the net.
Kick-smash: With upward spin so the ball bounces out of the court.
Topspin smash: With extra topspin, making the ball bounce high and awkward.
Gancho: A defensive but attacking overhand strike from the corner.

Each smash requires timing and technology. Choose the right variant depending on your position and that of your opponent.

Bandeja
De bandeja (Spanish for tray) is a controlled variation of the smash. You play it more calmly and diagonally to keep your opponent in the back and keep the net yourself. It is mainly about control instead of power.

Víbora
The víbora is similar to the bandeja, but with extra effect. You make a sharp diagonal movement that makes the ball unpredictable and difficult to return. This is a real advanced stroke To force your opponent on the defensive.

Chiquita
With the chiquita, you play soft and short over the net, forcing your opponent to come forward and get out of position. Perfect for surprising someone who keeps playing at the back.

Lob
A lob is a clever defensive as well as tactical stroke. You play the ball high and deep, forcing your opponent behind and giving you time to recover your position.

Return
The return is your first stroke after the serve. Play variably - low and deep, sometimes short, occasionally a lob - so as not to let the serving side get into the attack right away.

Slice
With a slice, you give the ball a downward spin, making it low and difficult to retrieve. You use this stroke to pressure your opponent and make the ball less predictable.

Rebote
Unique to padel: you can use the walls. The rebote is the stroke after the back wall. This requires timing and focus. Let the ball come just in front of you after the bounce, and use the wall smartly to stay in the rally.

How do you learn these padel strokes?
Want to improve your technique? Practice regularly and take lessons from an experienced trainer. At Allesvoorpadel, we work with clubs and trainers who will help you achieve all these strokes mastered step by step get.

Tip: start with the basics (forehand, backhand and volley), then gradually add advanced strokes such as the bandeja, víbora and lob.