Complete Guide to Padel Shots: Master Every Shot on the Court

Essential Padel Shots Every Player Should Know

Understanding and mastering the different padel shots is crucial for improving your game. Here's a comprehensive list of all the key shots you'll use on the padel court.

Groundstrokes

• Forehand Drive - The most common shot, hit with power and control from your dominant side
• Backhand Drive - A fundamental shot played from your non-dominant side
• Slice - A defensive shot with backspin that keeps the ball low

Volleys

• Forehand Volley - An attacking shot hit before the ball bounces, played at the net
• Backhand Volley - A volley from your non-dominant side, essential for net play
• Tray Volley (Bandeja) - A signature padel shot, a defensive overhead hit with slice

Overhead Shots

• Smash (Remate) - An aggressive overhead shot aimed to win the point
• Vibora - A side-spin overhead shot that bounces away from opponents
• Chiquita - A soft, low shot hit at the net to push opponents back

Wall Shots

• Bajada de Pared - Playing the ball after it bounces off the back wall
• Contra Pared - Hitting the ball against the side wall to create difficult angles
• Doble Pared - A shot that uses two walls before crossing to the opponent's side

Specialty Shots

• Lob - A high, arcing shot to push opponents away from the net
• Drop Shot - A soft shot that barely clears the net, catching opponents off guard
• Globo - A defensive lob used when under pressure
• Salida de Pared - Exiting the court to play a ball that's gone over the back wall

Service Shots

• Flat Serve - A powerful, direct serve with minimal spin
• Slice Serve - A serve with sidespin that curves away from the receiver
• Kick Serve - A serve with topspin that bounces high off the back wall

Tips for Practicing Padel Shots

Start by mastering the basic groundstrokes and volleys before moving on to more advanced shots like the vibora and bandeja. Practice wall shots regularly, as they're unique to padel and essential for competitive play. Remember, shot selection is just as important as execution - knowing when to use each shot will elevate your game significantly.

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