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You have a free smash. Where do you aim it?
Aim the free smash low into the side glass, short of their service line. That is the ball that leaves the court.
A short weak lob has given you a comfortable smash with your weight moving forward. What is the best target?
Aim the free smash low into the side glass, short of their service line. That is the ball that leaves the court.
Why
A smash aimed low at the side glass, roughly halfway between the net and their service line, bounces once and then hits the wall at an angle that sends it up and out through the side opening. That ends the point outright: the famous por tres. Hit flat at the back wall instead and the glass simply returns the ball to a waiting defender. The target is not where the opponent is not standing; it is the place where the geometry does the work for you.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Get the smash in first. Aim into the open court, hit down and through, and worry about exits once the basic shot is reliable.
Intermediate
The height at the glass matters more than the power. Low and angled beats hard and high every time.
Advanced
On a fully enclosed court, change the target: flat at the body, or high over the back fence for the por cuatro. And add the topspin smash from deeper: heavy spin so the ball kicks up off their back glass and over the fence, which is the only way to attack a deep lob without giving up the net.
Common questions
A short weak lob has given you a comfortable smash with your weight moving forward. What is the best target?
Low into the side glass, short of their service line. Aim the free smash low into the side glass, short of their service line. That is the ball that leaves the court. A smash aimed low at the side glass, roughly halfway between the net and their service line, bounces once and then hits the wall at an angle that sends it up and out through the side opening. That ends the point outright: the famous por tres. Hit flat at the back wall instead and the glass simply returns the ball to a waiting defender. The target is not where the opponent is not standing; it is the place where the geometry does the work for you.
Why not straight down at their feet, with pace?
A decent pressure ball, but it stays in the court and a good defender blocks it back. You had a free point available and settled for a rally.
What should a beginner do here?
Get the smash in first. Aim into the open court, hit down and through, and worry about exits once the basic shot is reliable.
How does this change for an advanced player?
On a fully enclosed court, change the target: flat at the body, or high over the back fence for the por cuatro. And add the topspin smash from deeper: heavy spin so the ball kicks up off their back glass and over the fence, which is the only way to attack a deep lob without giving up the net.
What do the rules say?
A smash that bounces and then leaves the court through the side opening wins the point outright. On courts without openings, that same ball is simply still in play.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
intermediateShort, high and yours. Bandeja or smash?
Deep ball, bandeja. Short ball with your weight going forward, smash.
intermediateYou are hitting a bandeja. Cross-court or down the line?
Bandeja cross-court and deep by default. It buys margin, and it keeps you covered while you recover.