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The ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
A deep ball bounces behind you and rebounds off the back wall. When is the right moment to hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
Why
The glass is the friendliest thing on a padel court once you stop fighting it. The ball bounces, hits the wall, comes back out towards the net, and the only place you can hit it properly is out in front, where your arm can extend and your weight can move forwards. So you retreat early, keep the ball on your racket side, let it come past, and then push through it. Beginners do the opposite: they wait flat-footed, get jammed, and scoop.
What this means at your level
Beginner
The moment you see it going past you, turn and walk back towards the corner. You want to end up further back than the ball will be, not level with it.
Intermediate
Give yourself about an arm and a half of space between you and the glass. Then hit the ball high, deep and cross: a wall exit is a defensive shot, not an opportunity.
Advanced
Read the double wall early. If it is going back glass then side glass, your feet need to be a metre further into the corner than instinct says, and the shot is usually a lob because your body is turned away from the court.
Common questions
A deep ball bounces behind you and rebounds off the back wall. When is the right moment to hit it?
Once it has come past you and is in front of your body. Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body. The glass is the friendliest thing on a padel court once you stop fighting it. The ball bounces, hits the wall, comes back out towards the net, and the only place you can hit it properly is out in front, where your arm can extend and your weight can move forwards. So you retreat early, keep the ball on your racket side, let it come past, and then push through it. Beginners do the opposite: they wait flat-footed, get jammed, and scoop.
Why not as late as possible, right by the glass?
Too close and you have no room to swing at all. The wall stops being help and becomes a wall.
What should a beginner do here?
The moment you see it going past you, turn and walk back towards the corner. You want to end up further back than the ball will be, not level with it.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Read the double wall early. If it is going back glass then side glass, your feet need to be a metre further into the corner than instinct says, and the shot is usually a lob because your body is turned away from the court.
What do the rules say?
On your own side, the ball may bounce once and then hit any number of walls and still be in play. Only a second bounce on the floor ends the point.
Puzzles like this one
The ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerThe ball bounced then hit your own back glass. Still in play?
One bounce on the floor, then any number of walls. Only a second floor bounce ends the point.
advancedThe smash sent the ball out through the side opening. Chase it?
If the court has an opening, you may leave through it and play the ball back, before it bounces a second time.