Apr 12, 2026

Every Padel Shot Explained: The Complete Guide

Most racket sports have four or five core shots. Padel has twelve — each with its own Spanish name, its own spin profile, and its own tactical purpose. That depth is what makes padel so addictive, and why most newcomers feel overwhelmed at first.

This guide breaks down every padel shot from beginner to advanced. You’ll learn the technique, the most common mistakes, and — just as important — when to use each one. If you’re brand new to the sport, start with our What Is Padel? overview first. Otherwise, let’s get into it.

Quick Overview: All 12 Padel Shots by Difficulty

Before we dive deep, here’s a bird’s-eye view so you know what you’re working toward.

Shot	Spanish Name	Difficulty	Primary Purpose
Serve	Saque	Beginner	Start the point, move to net
Return	Resto	Beginner	Neutralize serve, advance
Volley	Volea	Beginner-Int	Control rallies at the net
Lob	Globo	Beginner-Int	Reset or attack from baseline
Chiquita	Chiquita	Intermediate	Disrupt net players, advance
Bandeja	Bandeja	Intermediate	Maintain net after a lob
Vibora	Vibora	Advanced	Aggressive overhead, pressure
Smash	Remate	Int-Advanced	Finishing shot
Bajada	Bajada	Advanced	Attack off the back glass
Wall Shots	Pared / Contrapared	Int-Advanced	Use the glass strategically
Rulo	Rulo	Int-Advanced	Topspin overhead to side fence
Gancho	Gancho	Advanced	Hook shot over weak shoulder

Now let’s break each one down.

Serve (Saque)

The padel serve is the most misunderstood shot in the sport. Players coming from tennis instinctively try to blast it. In padel, that’s a mistake — the ball must be struck below waist height after bouncing once, so raw power is severely limited.

Technique: Use a continental grip. Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball, and strike underhand into the diagonal service box. Keep the motion smooth and compact.

Tactical purpose: The serve is not a weapon in padel — it’s a setup. Your goal is to place the ball deep and awkward, then immediately advance to the net. A well-placed serve to the side glass forces a weak return. A poorly placed serve, even a fast one, gives your opponents an easy attack.

Common mistakes:

Trying to hit too hard (you lose control and stay back)
Not advancing to the net immediately after serving
Serving to the center instead of targeting the glass or the body

Pro tip: Watch how the top WPT players serve. Almost every serve is followed by three quick steps forward. The serve-and-volley approach is not optional in padel — it’s the foundation.

Return (Resto)

The return is where many beginners lose points silently. They block the ball back without a plan, stay at the baseline, and hand the initiative to the serving team permanently.

Technique: You have two primary strategies. First, the low return — hit a soft, dipping ball at the feet of the net player (chiquita-style). This forces them to volley up, giving you time to advance. Second, the deep lob — send a high ball to the back of the court, pushing the serving team off the net entirely.

Tactical purpose: Both strategies share the same objective: get yourself to the net. Padel points are won at the net. Your return should either neutralize the opponents’ net advantage or create your own.

Common mistakes:

Returning passively to the middle with no plan
Staying planted at the baseline after the return
Ignoring the lob option when both opponents are tight to the net

Volley (Volea)

Here’s a stat that surprises most beginners: the volley is the most frequently played shot in padel. If you only practice one shot this week, make it this one.

Technique: Continental grip, always. Keep your racket up at chest height, elbows slightly in front of your body. The motion is a short punch — not a swing. Think of catching a ball in a baseball glove and redirecting it. For low volleys, bend your knees to get down to the ball. Never drop the racket head.

Tactical purpose: Volleys are how you control the rally from the net. Depth and placement beat power every time. A volley to the feet forces your opponent to hit up. A volley into the side glass creates chaos.

Common mistakes:

Swinging instead of punching (the wrist breaks and the ball flies long)
Standing too upright for low balls (drop the knees, not the racket)
Lack of split step before each volley

A control-oriented racket makes a huge difference for volley consistency — check our top 5 picks for beginners if you’re still playing with whatever the club handed you.

Lob (Globo)

The lob is padel’s great equalizer. When you’re pinned at the back of the court and the opponents own the net, a good lob resets the entire point.

Technique: Open the racket face, get under the ball, and lift it high and deep. The defensive lob is high with backspin — it buys time and forces the opponents to retreat. The offensive lob uses topspin, flies lower, and forces the opponents to backpedal quickly or attempt a difficult overhead.

Tactical purpose: Depth is everything. A lob that lands short is an invitation for a smash. A lob that pushes the opponents behind the service line gives you time to advance and take the net yourself.

Common mistakes:

Lobbing too short (the number one error — aim deeper than you think)
Only using defensive lobs (the topspin lob is a genuine weapon once you develop it)
Lobbing when a low passing shot would be more effective

Chiquita

If you don’t know what a chiquita is, you’re probably losing points you shouldn’t be.

Technique: From the baseline or mid-court, hit a low, soft shot that dips at the feet of the net player. The ball should cross the net with minimal height and land in the no-man’s zone between the service line and the net. Use a slightly open racket face and a gentle, controlled swing.

Tactical purpose: The chiquita disrupts aggressive net play. When both opponents are camped at the net hitting confident volleys, a ball at their shoelaces forces them to volley up — and that upward volley is your chance to move forward and take the net.

Common mistakes:

Hitting the chiquita too hard (it needs to dip, not fly)
Not moving forward immediately after hitting it
Telegraphing it with a big backswing

Key insight: The chiquita is not a winner. It’s a transition shot. Hit it, then move forward. The point is to change the dynamic, not end the rally.

Bandeja

The bandeja is the most important intermediate shot in padel and arguably the hardest to learn properly. It’s an overhead slice hit after the opponents lob you, and its purpose is to maintain your net position — not to finish the point.

Technique: Position yourself under the ball with your non-dominant shoulder pointing toward the net. Use a continental grip. The swing path goes from high to low with a slicing motion, imparting backspin. The contact point is slightly in front of and above your head. Crucially, you don’t jump — you stay grounded and balanced.

Tactical purpose: After you hit a bandeja, you should still be at the net. That’s the entire point. The backspin keeps the ball low after the bounce, making it difficult for opponents to attack. It’s a control shot disguised as an overhead.

Common mistakes:

Trying to hit it too hard (the bandeja is about placement and spin, not power)
Hitting flat instead of slicing (no backspin means the ball sits up)
Falling backward after contact instead of staying balanced at the net

A control racket helps enormously with the bandeja. If you’re working on this shot and your racket is a power-focused diamond shape, you might be fighting your own equipment. See our racket buying guide for better options.

Vibora

If the bandeja is control, the vibora is its aggressive cousin. This is the shot that makes highlight reels — and the one that takes the longest to master.

Technique: Similar starting position to the bandeja, but with more wrist action and a different spin axis. The vibora imparts sidespin (and some topspin) rather than pure backspin. The swing path is more lateral, almost like swiping across the ball. The result is a shot that skids low, curves into the side wall, and bounces unpredictably.

Tactical purpose: The vibora puts serious pressure on the returning team. The sidespin makes the ball kick off the glass at awkward angles, and the lower trajectory gives opponents less time to react. It’s an attacking shot that still lets you maintain net position.

Common mistakes:

Using the vibora when a bandeja would be safer (know the difference in context)
Not enough wrist pronation (you end up hitting a bad bandeja instead)
Trying it on every overhead instead of reading the lob quality first

When to use vibora vs. bandeja: If the lob is deep and you’re stretching back, play the bandeja — it’s safer. If the lob is short or you have time to set up, that’s your vibora opportunity.

Smash (Remate)

The smash is padel’s finishing move. When the opponents pop up a short lob and you have time and positioning, this is how you end the point.

Technique: There are several types:

Flat smash — pure power, aimed at the floor for a clean winner
Topspin smash (por tres) — hit with heavy topspin so the ball bounces over the back glass and out of play. This is the signature padel winner.
Por cuatro — the smash directed over the side glass. Rare, spectacular, and very difficult to execute.

Tactical purpose: Unlike the bandeja and vibora, the smash is meant to end the point. If it doesn’t produce a winner, it should at least generate such a weak return that the next shot finishes it.

Common mistakes:

Smashing when the ball doesn’t warrant it (a deep lob should be a bandeja, not a smash)
Not enough topspin on the por tres (the ball hits the back glass and comes back into play)
Poor timing on the jump (contact should be at the highest point)

Bajada

The bajada is one of the highest risk-reward shots in padel. Professional match data shows it produces a winner 7.94% of the time but also results in an error 8.47% of the time. That razor-thin margin tells you everything about this shot.

Technique: When the ball hits the back glass and comes off at a hittable height, you attack it with a drive or topspin shot. The key is lateral positioning — you need to let the ball come off the glass far enough to give yourself room to swing, but not so far that it drops below the ideal contact height.

Tactical purpose: The bajada punishes weak lobs that hit the back glass at a comfortable height. It transitions you from a defensive baseline position to an attacking one, often catching the opponents off guard since they expect a defensive return.

Common mistakes:

Not reading the ball off the glass early enough (footwork is everything)
Standing too close to the glass (you need space to swing)
Attempting the bajada on low, tight balls that should be lobbed instead

Wall Shots (Pared, Contrapared, Doble Pared)

Wall shots are what make padel unique among racket sports. The glass is not an obstacle — it’s a tool. Learning to use it transforms your defensive game.

Pared (Back Glass Exit)

The ball hits the back glass, bounces, and you play it on its way out. This is the most common wall shot and a fundamental skill. Position yourself sideways, let the ball come to you, and redirect it with a lob or low shot.

Contrapared (Hit Your Own Wall)

When you’re under extreme pressure, you can hit the ball into your own back glass so it bounces over the net. This is a desperation shot that works more often than you would expect. The key is angle and touch — too hard and it flies out, too soft and it doesn’t clear the net.

Doble Pared (Double Wall Bounce)

The ball hits the back glass, then the side glass (or vice versa), and you play it after the second bounce off the walls. Reading the angle is the hard part. Experienced players instinctively know where the ball will end up; beginners are still turning their heads.

Common mistakes across all wall shots:

Standing too close to the glass (give yourself room)
Trying to hit hard off the glass instead of redirecting with control
Not watching the ball all the way off the wall

Rulo

The rulo is the shot that separates club players from advanced competitors. It’s a soft, brushing overhead with topspin and sidespin that sends the ball curving toward the side fence, where it dies after bouncing.

Technique: Think of it as a gentler vibora with more wrist roll. The contact is almost like brushing the top of the ball with a windshield-wiper motion. The ball should arc toward the side glass at a tight angle, bounce, and then kick into the fence with enough spin to kill its momentum.

Tactical purpose: The rulo is devastating because the sidespin makes the ball hug the side wall after bouncing, making it nearly impossible to return cleanly. It forces opponents into awkward, cramped positions.

Agustin Stupaczuk is widely considered the master of this shot. If you want to see it executed at the highest level, watch any of his Premier Padel matches — he uses the rulo as a primary weapon rather than a novelty.

Common mistakes:

Not enough spin (you end up hitting a slow bandeja that sits up)
Wrong direction (the rulo should target the side fence, not the back)
Inconsistent contact point (practice the wrist motion off-court first)

Gancho

The gancho — literally “hook” — is padel’s most awkward-looking shot and one of its most useful in specific situations.

Technique: When a ball comes over your non-dominant shoulder (left shoulder for right-handed players), you can’t set up for a normal overhead. Instead, you reach across your body and hook the racket over, striking the ball with a scooping, over-the-shoulder motion. It looks ugly. It works.

Tactical purpose: The gancho is a positional recovery shot. You are not trying to hit a winner — you’re trying to stay in the point when the ball catches you in an impossible position. A well-executed gancho sends the ball back with enough depth to buy time for you and your partner to reset.

Common mistakes:

Trying to hit a winner with the gancho (just get it back in play)
Not turning your body enough (you need rotation to generate any pace)
Avoiding it entirely and letting the ball go when a gancho would have kept you in the point

Summary Table: Every Padel Shot at a Glance

Shot	Difficulty	Grip	Spin	Goal	Key Tip
Serve	Beginner	Continental	Varies	Place + advance	Placement over power
Return	Beginner	Continental	Flat/slice	Neutralize + advance	Always have a plan
Volley	Beginner-Int	Continental	Flat	Control the net	Punch, don’t swing
Lob	Beginner-Int	Open face	Back/topspin	Reset or attack	Depth is everything
Chiquita	Intermediate	Open face	Flat/slice	Disrupt net play	Move forward after
Bandeja	Intermediate	Continental	Backspin	Hold the net	Stay balanced, don’t jump
Vibora	Advanced	Continental	Sidespin	Pressure from net	More wrist than bandeja
Smash	Int-Advanced	Continental	Flat/topspin	Finish the point	Only on short lobs
Bajada	Advanced	Eastern/semi	Topspin/flat	Attack off glass	Lateral positioning
Wall Shots	Int-Advanced	Varies	Varies	Use the glass	Give yourself space
Rulo	Int-Advanced	Continental	Top + sidespin	Kill at side fence	Wrist roll is key
Gancho	Advanced	Modified	Varies	Positional recovery	Just get it back

FAQ

How many shots are there in padel?

Padel has at least 12 distinct shots, each with its own technique and tactical purpose. The core shots — serve, return, volley, and lob — will carry you through beginner-level play. As you progress, shots like the bandeja, vibora, and chiquita become essential. Advanced players add the bajada, rulo, and gancho to their arsenal.

What is the most important shot in padel?

The volley. It’s the most frequently played shot in the sport, and net dominance wins points in padel. If you can only practice one shot, work on your volley technique — continental grip, short punch motion, and consistent split steps.

What is the difference between a bandeja and a vibora?

Both are overhead shots hit after a lob, but they differ in spin and intent. The bandeja uses backspin and prioritizes control — you hit it to maintain your net position safely. The vibora uses sidespin, is more aggressive, and pressures the opponents with awkward bounces off the glass. The bandeja is the safer choice; the vibora is the attacking one.

What is a chiquita in padel?

A chiquita is a low, soft shot aimed at the feet of the net player. It’s not a winner — it’s a transition shot. By forcing the net player to volley upward, you create an opportunity to advance to the net yourself. Think of it as the key that unlocks the net position.

Do I need a special racket for different padel shots?

Not exactly, but your racket shape does affect certain shots. Round, control-focused rackets make volleys, bandejas, and touch shots easier. Diamond-shaped power rackets help with smashes and viboras but sacrifice control. For most players — especially those still developing their shot repertoire — a control or hybrid racket is the better choice. Check our complete racket guide for specific recommendations.

What to Read Next

If you’re just getting into padel, start with our What Is Padel? beginner guide to understand the rules, court layout, and scoring. And if you’re shopping for your first (or next) racket, our best padel rackets for beginners in 2026 guide breaks down exactly what to look for based on your playing style.

The shots above are not just a checklist to memorize. They are a progression. Master the serve, return, volley, and lob first. Then add the chiquita and bandeja. By the time you’re comfortable with those six, the vibora and wall shots will come naturally. And one day, you’ll pull off a rulo that makes your opponents just stand and stare — and that’s when you’ll know you’re hooked.