Padelslag: Placering og skru

Down the line

A ball hit straight along the side wall instead of across the court. It travels a shorter distance and can catch a net player leaning to the middle.

Cross-court

A ball hit diagonally across the court. It crosses the lowest part of the net and has the longest court to land in, so it is the safe choice.

Through the middle

A ball aimed between the two opponents. It crosses the lowest part of the net, takes away their angles and can leave both players unsure who should play it.

Towards the body

A ball aimed straight at an opponent, usually around the hip or the racket-side shoulder, so they have no room to swing and must block.

Towards the feet

A low ball that dips at the feet of an opponent at the net, so they have to lift it and give you a higher ball to attack.

Towards the back corner

A deep ball into the corner where the opponents' back and side glass meet, so the rebound comes out at an awkward angle.

Towards the side wall

A ball angled so it bounces in the opponents' court and then hits their side glass, which changes its direction and makes the next shot harder to time.

Towards the back wall

A ball that bounces in the opponents' court and carries on to their back glass, so they have to wait for it to come off the wall.

Towards the fence

A ball that bounces in the opponents' court and runs into the side mesh, where the rebound dies or flies off at a strange angle.

Short angle

A sharp diagonal ball that lands near the side of the opponents' court close to the net, pulling them wide and forward.

Deep centre

A deep ball into the middle of the back of the opponents' court, between the two players, leaving them no angle and some doubt over who takes it.

Fast and flat

A direct ball with little spin and more pace, flying low over the net to rush the opponents.

Slow and low

A soft ball that stays low and lands near the net, so the opponents have to lift it.

High and deep

A high ball that lands deep, close to the opponents' back glass. In defence it buys time; in attack it pushes a net pair back.

Skidding slice

A ball with backspin that stays low after the bounce and skids, especially off the glass, so the opponents have to dig it up.

Kicking topspin

A ball with strong forward spin that dips over the net and kicks up and forward after the bounce, often coming off the glass faster than expected.

Side-spin cut

A ball cut across its side so it curves and skids sideways after the bounce, making rebounds off the side glass harder to read.

Change of pace

Deliberately playing slower or faster than the ball before, so the opponents lose their timing.

Change of direction

Sending the ball to a different part of the court from the one it came from, for example switching a cross-court rally down the line.

Counterattack

Turning a defensive position into an attack, usually by using the pace of the opponents' ball off the glass to hit low and fast, or a lob that wins the net back.