Forehand and Backhand Lob

Normally the team that stays more time at the net is the team that has more options of winning the game. For that reason the lob is one of the most determinant shots in Padel. It can be effective offensively or defensively. 

A good lob makes you:

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Basic skills: Volleys

Basic Skills: Volley (Forehand & Backhand)

A volley in padel is a shot in which the ball is struck before it bounces on the ground. Generally a player hits a volley while standing near the net, although it can be executed farther back.

To be a successful volleyer you need to have quick reflexes and you need to have perfect hand-eye coordination.

Grip

The Continental grip is the most commonly used grip by professional padel players. This grip can be used both in a forehand volley and in a backhand volley. This means that you don’t have to change your grip if you use a forehand and a backhand volley alternately. This makes this grip more popular than the other grips.

Some players use the Eastern forehand grip to hit a forehand volley, but the disadvantage of this padel volley grip is the fact that if you want to hit a backhand volley stroke in your next shot, you need to change your grip to a continental grip. This can be very confusing and time consuming especially for beginners.

Footwork

There are several ways to practice the proper padel volley footwork preparation. Another essential padel volley tip is to perform a timely split step and focus your balance as early as possible. For best results, you have to execute the split step as soon as your opponent makes contact with the ball. This is for you to establish your base of support.

In fact, most professional players are able to execute their split step in such a way that the execution is perfectly timed just after the opponent’s ball contact. The split step is also important for you to be able to move quickly and react to your opponents return flawlessly. A timely split step also gives you the proper balance your need to execute your return properly. In this type of footwork preparation, timing is essential.

Preparation

Volleys are normally played on the net, thus its shot preparation is basically shorter compared to other shots such as groundstrokes. This makes an appropriate tennis volley preparation crucial. Late preparation can lead to a rushed shot resulting to poor executions. One of the most important volley tips is to be well prepared by anticipating your opponent’s shots.

The split step is the most important footwork preparation in padel volley shots.

Proper weight transfer also varies between a low volley and a high volley shot. In a low volley shot, the weight transfer should happen before contact while in a high volley shot, weight transfer should happen during contact. This weight transfer signifies your timely weight transfer from your back foot to your front foot.

At contact, the paddle face must be in a slightly open position. This means that the paddle face that comes in contact with the ball must be slightly facing upwards or towards the sky. This paddle face position at contact can be used either in a forehand or in a backhand volley.

A common problem among club players is late reaction time. This causes their paddle face to be positioned is a "dish" manner (racket face facing upwards fully).

Termination

The termination of a volley is accompanying the ball, and ends pointing with the tip of the paddle to the place where I want to hit the ball. A typical mistake is to finish down, that’s the reason the ball goes to the net. The ending of the stroke is well forward and pointing to the target.

Basic Skills (Backhand)

Basic Skills: Backhand

Prepare Position

Get in proper position to play the ball. Proper positioning enables you to move quickly on the ball and then return to a comfortable position during the intervals between shots. As you get ready to return your opponent's shot, your initial movement should be a split step. The split step is performed by jumping an inch or 2 as your opponent prepares to make his shot, and landing on your toes. This keeps you off your heels and able to make an explosive movement to the ball. After making your shot, move to an advantageous spot on the court and return to the proper ready stance.

·      Bend slightly at the knees with your feet shoulder width apart.

·      Lean forward slightly with your weight on the pads of your feet.

·      Hold your paddle out in front so you can return shots on either side of your body.

·      Keep your head straight and your shoulders parallel to the net.

·      Feet Parallel in line with the shoulders, paddle resting on your left hand, aligned with the chest (avoid lowering the paddle).

·      Turn shoulders, pointing your right shoulder towards the ball, both hands are in contact with the paddle, bringing the paddle back without changing the position of it (the edge of the paddle should point to the back wall). The feet are placed sideways, the right foot forward and your weight slightly on the back foot.

Impact

·      After being in the ready position, we need to transfer the balance from the back leg to the front leg and hit the ball in front of your body,(the face of the paddle will tell you the direction of the ball). The left arm is moving backwards to get a better balance of your body.

Termination

·      You need to finish the stroke with the paddle in the same high as the opposite shoulder, pointing with the paddle border to the net and the left arm or non dominant hand is pointing back to the wall.

Most comment mistakes

1.   Not hitting the ball sideways.

If we hit the ball facing the net, we wont control the contact point, and the ball will go higher, making an easy return to the opponent.

2.   Having the right shoulder up.

3.   Do not bend your knees

4.   Hitting too late (pay attention to the contact point)

5.   Getting too close to the ball.

6.   Hitting the ball with loose wrist

7.   Do not follow the movement with the body.

8.   Don’t stop before you hit.

9.   Finishing too low or too high

Basic Skills: Forehand

Basic Skills: Forehand

Prepare Position

Get in proper position to play the ball. Proper positioning enables you to move quickly on the ball and then return to a comfortable position during the intervals between shots. As you get ready to return your opponent's shot, your initial movement should be a split step. The split step is performed by jumping an inch or 2 as your opponent prepares to make his shot, and landing on your toes. This keeps you off your heels and able to make an explosive movement to the ball. After making your shot, move to an advantageous spot on the court and return to the proper ready stance.

·      Bend slightly at the knees with your feet shoulder width apart.

·      Lean forward slightly with your weight on the pads of your feet.

·      Hold your paddle out in front so you can return shots on either side of your body.

·      Keep your head straight and your shoulders parallel to the net.

·      Now turn your shoulders, pointing with the non-dominant hand the bounce of the ball, put the paddle up. The top of the paddle pointing to the back wall.

Impact

·      After being in the ready position, we need to transfer the balance from the back leg to the front leg and hit the ball in front of your body, just in an imaginary in front of your left waist (the face of the paddle will tell you the direction of the ball).

Termination

·      You need to finish the stroke with the paddle in the same high as the opposite shoulder, pointing with the paddle border to the net.

Most comment mistakes

1.   Not hitting the ball sideways.

If we hit the ball facing the net, we wont control the contact point, and the ball will go higher, making an easy return to the opponent.

2.   Having an extreme finishing. If you are sideways now is important to finish holding the paddle with the left hand in front of your eyes. If there’s an extreme finishing of the stroke, is going to generate a deep stroke and high that is going to make it easier for your opponent.

3.   Finishing with your elbow higher.

4.   Don’t stop before you hit the ball.

5.   No bending your legs.

6.   Contact point to far or to far back.

7.   Hit the ball too low or too high.

8.   Have your wrist too lose.