Padel has shots of its own that do not exist in tennis, almost all because of the walls. Here is the full list, from the back of the court to the net, with when to use each.
Shots from the back
| Shot | What it is | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Forehand and backhand | Groundstrokes on each side | To keep the point going and aim at the opponents’ feet |
| Lob | A high ball over the opponents | To take the net from them: padel’s most important shot |
| Off the back glass | Returning the ball after it comes off your glass | When the ball passes you and rebounds off the back |
| Contrapared | Hitting the ball against your own wall | As a last resort, when you cannot reach it any other way |
| Chiquita | A slow, low ball at the net player’s feet | To win the net back from the baseline |
Shots at the net
| Shot | What it is | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Volley | Hit before the bounce, near the net | To control the point from the net |
| Drop shot | A short ball that dies by the net | When the opponents are at the back |
| Bandeja | A controlled overhead with slice | To answer a lob without losing the net |
| Víbora | An aggressive bandeja with sidespin | To punish a short lob |
| Smash | Full-power overhead | On a short lob, to win the point or hit it x3 |
Padel’s logic in one sentence
Whoever holds the net calls the shots. From the back, shots aim to win the net back (lob, chiquita). At the net, they aim to keep it (volley, bandeja) or finish the point (víbora, smash). Understand this and you will know which shot to play. More in padel doubles tactics.
The shots in Padelbang
In Padelbang, the padel game for your phone, every shot is a gesture: swipe up for a lob, down and soft for a chiquita or a drop shot, to one side to attack, and on a high ball hold your finger to smash. Wait for the ball to come off the glass and you play your shot off the back wall.