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A very deep lob hits the back glass before the floor. Do you play it?
Their lob into your back glass on the full is out. Leave it and take the point.
The opponents' lob goes over you and hits your back glass on the full, before touching the floor. What do you do?
Their lob into your back glass on the full is out. Leave it and take the point.
Why
The most satisfying point in padel is the one you win by doing nothing. A lob that is too long hits the back glass before the floor and is out; the moment it touches the glass the point is yours. The skill is reading it early enough to leave it: a lob that is still rising as it passes over you at the net will hit the glass on the full, and having the discipline not to play a ball you could reach. Players who chase every lob back and hit it off the glass give away free points every match.
What this means at your level
Beginner
If the lob is high and going long, watch it and let it go. If it hits the glass before the floor, it is your point.
Intermediate
A lob passing over your head at the net position that is still going up is long. Say "out" and stop.
Advanced
Against a pair that lobs long under pressure, show them you will leave it. They will lob shorter, and shorter lobs are smashes.
Common questions
The opponents' lob goes over you and hits your back glass on the full, before touching the floor. What do you do?
Leave it: glass first is out. Their lob into your back glass on the full is out. Leave it and take the point. The most satisfying point in padel is the one you win by doing nothing. A lob that is too long hits the back glass before the floor and is out; the moment it touches the glass the point is yours. The skill is reading it early enough to leave it: a lob that is still rising as it passes over you at the net will hit the glass on the full, and having the discipline not to play a ball you could reach. Players who chase every lob back and hit it off the glass give away free points every match.
Why not play it off the glass as normal and keep the rally going?
Playing it off the glass is for a ball that bounced on the floor first. This one hit the glass before the floor, so it is already out and playing it makes it live again.
What should a beginner do here?
If the lob is high and going long, watch it and let it go. If it hits the glass before the floor, it is your point.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Against a pair that lobs long under pressure, show them you will leave it. They will lob shorter, and shorter lobs are smashes.
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.
beginnerThe 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 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.