Spend an evening watching padel and you'll hear a handful of Spanish words thrown around: bandeja, vibora, chiquita, globo. It sounds like insider jargon, but each one is just a shot with a job to do.
Here's a beginner-friendly run through the shots that actually matter, what each one is, and, more importantly, when to reach for it. Learn these and you'll stop just whacking the ball and start playing padel.
Why shot choice matters more than power
Padel rewards the pair who stay calm at the net and force mistakes. Nearly every shot below exists to either keep you at the net or push your opponents back. Once you see shots as tools rather than tricks, the game clicks.
The lob (globo)
Start here, because the lob is the most useful shot in beginner padel and the most ignored.
A globo is a high, looping ball hit over your opponents' heads towards the back of their court. The point isn't to win outright. It's to push a net-controlling pair backwards, buy yourself time, and let you and your partner move up to the net.
Use it when:
- Your opponents are at the net and you're stuck at the back.
- You're under pressure and need a moment to reset.
- You want to swap positions and take control of the net yourself.
A good lob is worth more than a flashy winner, because it flips who's in charge of the point.
The bandeja
The bandeja, Spanish for "tray", is the signature padel shot and the answer to a lob coming at you.
When an opponent lobs over your head, smashing flat out is tempting but risky. The bandeja is a controlled overhead instead, hit with a slicing action at around head height, sending the ball deep with a low, skiddy bounce. The name comes from the flat, tray-like swing.
Its real purpose is defensive control. It lets you deal with a lob without giving up your position at the net. You stay forward, the ball goes deep, and your opponents are kept pinned at the back. It's the shot that lets a good pair hold the net all game.
The vibora
The vibora, meaning "viper", is the bandeja's more aggressive cousin.
It's also an overhead played off a lob, but with more of a snapping, sidespin action. That spin makes the ball kick and skid off the side glass awkwardly, which is much harder to return cleanly than a bandeja.
Think of the bandeja as the safe, keep-position shot and the vibora as the one that tries to build pressure and force a weak reply. Beginners should nail the bandeja first, then add the vibora once the overhead feels comfortable.
The chiquita
The chiquita is a soft, low shot played from the back of the court, aimed at your opponents' feet as they stand at the net.
When you're stuck at the back and don't want to lob, a chiquita is the clever alternative. Dropped low near the net players' feet, it forces them to hit up on the ball, which gives you an easier next ball and a chance to move forward.
Use it as a change of pace. Lob, lob, then a sudden low chiquita keeps opponents guessing and stops them camping on the net.
The volley
A volley is any ball you hit before it bounces, and at the net it's your bread and butter.
You don't need power here. A firm, blocked volley placed deep or into a gap is far more effective than a big swing. Keep the racquet out in front, punch through the ball, and aim to keep opponents pinned back. Solid volleying is what makes holding the net possible in the first place.
The smash: remate and por tres
The smash, or remate, is the crowd-pleaser, but it's also where beginners lose the most points by overusing it.
A smash is a full overhead hit with power, used when a lob drops short and sits up invitingly. Play it when the ball is genuinely there to be attacked, not on every overhead.
The spectacular version is the por tres, where you smash the ball down so hard it bounces up off your opponents' back glass and flies out over the fence for a winner. It looks brilliant and it's very satisfying, but it needs a high, short lob and plenty of practice. File it under "later".
Playing off the back glass (the bajada)
The bajada is the shot you play after letting a ball pass you, bounce, and rebound off your own back wall.
New players panic at deep balls and rush them. The trick is to trust the glass. Let the ball go past, watch it bounce and come off the wall, then hit it as it drops. You get a slower, more predictable ball and far more time.
Reading the back glass is one of the biggest steps a beginner takes. Once it clicks, deep balls stop being scary and become routine.
Which shots to learn first
If you're just starting out, focus your energy in this order:
- The lob, because it wins you position.
- The volley, because it keeps you at the net.
- The bandeja, because it deals with lobs against you.
- Then the vibora, chiquita and smash as your control improves.
A coach will shortcut months of guesswork here. Our coaches page lists people teaching around Manchester, and if you're still choosing gear, the first racquet guide will help. New to the whole thing? Start with the getting started guide.
FAQs
What's the difference between a bandeja and a vibora?
Both are overheads played off a lob. The bandeja is flatter and more controlled, used to keep your net position. The vibora adds sidespin to make the ball skid off the glass, so it's more aggressive.
What is the most important shot for beginners?
The lob. It pushes net players back and lets you and your partner move forward, which is how you take control of a point without needing power.
What is a chiquita in padel?
A soft, low shot played from the back of the court towards the net players' feet. It forces them to hit up on the ball and gives you a chance to move forward.
Why shouldn't I smash every ball?
Smashing needs a short, high lob to be safe. Attack balls that sit up, and use a controlled bandeja for anything deep. Over-smashing gives away easy points.
How do I play a ball off the back glass?
Let it pass you, watch it bounce and rebound off the wall, then hit it as it drops. The glass gives you a slower, more predictable ball and more time than rushing it.