Padel shots and strokes, explained simply
The names you'll hear shouted across the court — bandeja, víbora, chiquita, bajada — decoded, plus the shots actually worth focusing on first. Brand new to padel? Start with what padel is or the basic rules.
A quick note before you read on
I'm still learning most of these shots myself. My first instinct on any overhead used to be to smash it like a tennis ball — which mostly just sent it straight into the back glass. What's below comes from my coach's advice plus research checked against real coaching resources, including the LTA's own guide to overheads and HEAD's beginner's guide to padel shots (full sources at the bottom) — but nothing beats an actual coach watching you hit the ball in person.
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Before the Spanish names, master the core three
Every coach says the same thing: don't chase the flashy shots yet. Get comfortable with these three first — the serve, the lob, and the volley — since everything else in this guide builds on them.
The serve
What it is: underarm, contact at or below waist height, off a single bounce, into the diagonal box opposite you.
Why it matters: unlike tennis, the serve isn't a weapon here — it's just your ticket into the point. Prioritise placement over power. Every rule in full is in our complete serve guide.
The lob
What it is: a high, deep shot hit over your opponents' heads when they're standing at the net.
Why it matters: a lot of coaches call it the single most important shot in padel. Points are won and lost at the net, and a good lob is how you take that position back. See it in the glossary.
The block volley
What it is: hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces, usually right at the net.
Why it matters: padel is won at the net, and beginners often swing far too big at volleys. Keep the motion short and firm — block the pace rather than add to it. More in the glossary.
What is a bandeja?
Play for a few weeks and opponents will start lobbing you. Smash every single one and you'll eventually catch a lob that isn't short enough — smash that anyway and it usually flies long, or sets your opponents up with an easy counter-attack. That's where the bandeja comes in.
What it is: a controlled, sliced overhead — Spanish for "tray", since you hold the racket flatter, like carrying one. You meet the ball around shoulder height rather than fully overhead.
What it's for: not winning the point outright. The goal is to keep the ball low and deep off the opponents' back glass, buying yourself time to hold your net position rather than gamble on ending the rally.
Beginner focus
Learn a basic bandeja before anything flashier — of all the overheads, it's the one you'll actually use most, week to week. Read more in the glossary.
The rest of the shot names you'll hear
You don't need to master these on day one — but knowing the names helps you follow coaching tips and match chat.
| Shot | Type | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Víbora ("viper") | Aggressive overhead | Like a bandeja, but hit with heavy side-spin and more pace — the ball skids sideways off the back glass. |
| Chiquita ("little one") | Soft tactical shot | A low, soft shot dropped at the net players' feet, forcing them to volley awkwardly upwards. |
| Bajada ("coming down") | Off-the-glass attack | Letting a lob rebound off your own back glass, then meeting it on the way down to turn defence into attack. |
| Smash | Power finisher | A hard, flat overhead hit to end the point outright — the one shot here that's actually about power. |
Shot questions beginners ask most
Should I take lessons right away, or wait until I'm better?
As early as possible, if you can. Self-taught players often pick up habits that are hard to undo later — like a big tennis-style backswing, or smashing every lob instead of learning a controlled bandeja. Fixing that after a year of muscle memory is much harder than learning it properly in your first month.
Which shot should a complete beginner focus on first?
The lob and the volley. Padel is a tactical game about controlling the net — a good lob is how you win it back, and a solid volley is how you hold it. Everything else, including the bandeja, builds on those two.
What's the difference between a bandeja and a smash?
A smash prioritises power and tries to end the point outright. A bandeja prioritises control — you take the pace off the ball and hit it deep and low, keeping your net position rather than gambling on a winner. Coaches reach for a bandeja when a lob isn't short enough to smash safely.
Nobody arrives knowing these shots
Every single one of these takes repetition to feel natural — mine still don't always land where I mean them to. A beginner group lesson at your local club is the fastest way to actually feel the difference. Our match organiser (handles the scoring, so you can focus on the shots) is free to use — give it a go.
Where this guide's advice comes from
Checked against these coaching resources. Worth reading yourself for the full detail behind the short version above.
- 1. LTA Padel — Overheads, Bandeja and the Smash. The UK's national tennis and padel body's own breakdown of exactly this comparison.
- 2. LTA Padel — How to Get Started in Padel. Their wider beginner's guide, useful for the basics around these shots.
- 3. HEAD — A Beginner's Guide to Padel Shots. An equipment brand's coaching-style breakdown of the core strokes.
Coaching advice and terminology can vary a little by club, country and coach — I've tried to stick to the most common, widely-agreed versions, but always defer to your own coach on technique specifics.
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