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A slow, high ball floats to you at the net. What do you do?
A floater above the net is your ball. Step in, take it early, hit it firmly down to the feet.
A weak, floating ball comes to you at shoulder height at the net. How should you play it?
A floater above the net is your ball. Step in, take it early, hit it firmly down to the feet.
Why
A slow, high ball at the net is the reward for good padel. The opponents have been forced to lift, and the lift is weak. It is played as a high volley: step into it, meet it in front and above the net, and hit it firmly downward toward the feet of the deeper opponent or through the middle. It does not need to be hit hard; it needs to be hit early and down. Waiting for it to drop, or pushing it back to be safe, wastes the ball the whole rally was building toward.
What this means at your level
Beginner
When a slow, high ball comes, step forward and hit it down. Do not wait for it.
Intermediate
Contact in front of your body, racket face slightly closed, hit through the ball toward their feet. A firm punch, not a swing.
Advanced
The floater to your backhand side is a high backhand volley: the same firm punch, shorter and more compact, aimed through the middle.
Common questions
A weak, floating ball comes to you at shoulder height at the net. How should you play it?
Step in, hit it firmly down at the deeper player's feet. A floater above the net is your ball. Step in, take it early, hit it firmly down to the feet. A slow, high ball at the net is the reward for good padel. The opponents have been forced to lift, and the lift is weak. It is played as a high volley: step into it, meet it in front and above the net, and hit it firmly downward toward the feet of the deeper opponent or through the middle. It does not need to be hit hard; it needs to be hit early and down. Waiting for it to drop, or pushing it back to be safe, wastes the ball the whole rally was building toward.
Why not block it back softly and wait for a better one?
This is the better one. Blocking it back gives them another chance.
What should a beginner do here?
When a slow, high ball comes, step forward and hit it down. Do not wait for it.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The floater to your backhand side is a high backhand volley: the same firm punch, shorter and more compact, aimed through the middle.
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 fired straight at your body at the net
Body balls are backhands. The racket gets in front of your chest faster on that side than on any other.