Padel glossary

The words of padel

Glass walls, bandeja, víbora, bajada, x3: the words you hear on court, explained simply.

The court

Glass panels 1 to 5

A way to name the glass from your half of the court. Each player has a panel 1, on the side near the net, and a panel 2, on the side in the corner. Then come panels 3 and 4 at the back, from the corner towards the middle. Panel 5, in the middle of the back wall, is shared by both partners.

See also : Back glass, Side glass, Double wall

Back glass

The glass wall behind each team, across the full width of the court (10 m). A ball that bounces on the ground and then off the back glass is still in play: that is the whole idea of playing off the glass.

Side glass

The glass on each side, over the first four metres from the back (panels 1 and 2). Further towards the net, the side is closed by the fence.

Fence

Also : Malla

The metal mesh that closes the sides in the middle of the court and tops the glass. After the bounce, a ball that hits it is still in play, but its bounce is unpredictable.

The T

Where the service line meets the centre line. Serving to the T means aiming at that point, into the receiver’s body: the return often comes back through the middle.

The shots

Serve

Always underarm: the ball bounces behind the service line, then is hit at waist height or below, diagonally, into the opponents’ service box.

Volley

A shot before the bounce, usually at the net. Short and with little swing: you place the ball more than you hit it.

Lob

Also : Globo

A high, deep ball played over the players at the net. The basic defensive shot: it forces them back and hands the net to the team that lobs.

Chiquita

A slow, low ball played from the back at the feet of the players at the net. They have to volley upwards, which gives you time to move up. The alternative to the lob when the ball is too low.

Bandeja

A controlled overhead, hit with a little slice, to answer a lob without giving up the net. Aim for depth rather than speed: the ball should keep the opponents at the back.

Víbora

The attacking version of the bandeja: a flatter swing, with more sidespin and pace. Played well, the ball skids off the side glass.

Smash

Also : Remate

An overhead to finish the point. In an enclosed court, an average smash often comes back off the glass: without a really easy ball, the bandeja or the víbora are safer.

Smash x3

Also : Por tres

A smash so powerful that, after the bounce, the ball leaves the court over the side wall, about 3 m high. The point is won, unless the opponent runs outside to play it.

Smash x4

Also : Por cuatro

A flat, very hard smash whose ball, after the bounce, leaves the court over the back, about 4 m high. Rarer than the x3.

Playing off the glass

Also : Salida de pared

Letting the ball bounce on the ground and then off the glass, and playing it as it comes off. Follow the ball, do not stand against the glass, and hit as it drops.

See also : Bajada, Double wall, Back glass

Bajada

Also : Bajada de pared

A smash played off the glass, after an opponent’s lob has bounced on the ground and then off the back glass. You hit the ball as it drops, from high to low: an attacking shot from a defensive position.

Double wall

Also : Doble pared

A ball that hits two glass walls before being played, the back then the side or the other way round, often in the corner (panels 2 and 3). Its path changes at each wall: wait for the second one before setting up.

Back-wall shot

Also : Contrapared

An emergency shot: the ball is hit against your own glass so that it goes back over the net. Use it when you are beaten, for want of anything better: the ball comes back slow and high.

Playing as a pair

Drive and backhand sides

The two positions in a team. The drive player plays on the right, the backhand player on the left: often the one with the better smash, since most high balls come through the middle, onto their forehand if they are right-handed.

Taking the net

Moving up together, side by side, about two metres from the net. That is where most points are won: most of the game is about taking the net, then keeping it.

Australian formation

A serving position: the server’s partner stands at the net on the same side as the server, not diagonally. The usual cross-court return then goes to them; the server covers the other side.

Golden point

Also : Punto de oro

A scoring variant: at deuce (40-40), a single point decides the game, with no advantage. The receiving team chooses which player returns.

Time to play

Now you have the words: see them in action, step by step, in our padel plays.

See the plays