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Off the back glass: forehand

Let the ball go past you, read the rebound off the back glass, then play it back over the net. The skill that makes padel different from tennis.

Low wall exit

A ball that comes off the back glass low: bend your knees and lift it safely over the net.

High wall exit

A ball that comes off the back glass high, which can give you time to attack with a bajada.

Wall-exit chiquita

A soft, low ball to the net players' feet after the ball comes off the back glass.

Wall-exit drop shot

A short, soft ball after the rebound off the back glass, played when both opponents are deep.

Corner recovery

Playing out of the tight corner where the back and side glass meet, where the ball can come off two walls.

Off the back glass: backhand

The same skill on the backhand: let the ball pass, turn with it off the back glass, and play it back as it drops.

Off the side glass

Playing a ball that has bounced and come off the side glass, which sends it across the court towards you rather than straight back.

Forehand off the side glass

A ball that hits the side glass on your forehand side and comes back towards you; let it come off the glass and play it with your forehand.

Backhand off the side glass

A ball that hits the side glass on your backhand side; let it come off the glass and play it with your backhand.

Off two walls: back then side

A ball that hits the back glass then the side glass, or the other way round, before you play it. Stand further away than you think and let it come out to you.

Off two walls: backhand

The back-then-side double wall played on the backhand, which is harder because the ball comes out close to the body.

Off two walls: side then back

A ball that hits the side glass first and then the back glass before you play it. It comes out of the corner slowly and close to the back wall.

Bajada: forehand

An attacking shot on a ball that has bounced high off your back glass: you hit it in the air on its way down, like an overhead from the back.

Flat bajada

A forceful bajada with little spin, hit after a high rebound off the back glass to push the opponents back or win the point.

Sliced bajada

A bajada with backspin, which stays low after the bounce and comes off the opponents' back glass low.

Bajada: backhand

The attacking shot on a ball that rebounds high off the back glass, played on the backhand side. Harder than the forehand, and a real weapon at higher levels.

Contrapared off the back wall

Hitting the ball into your own back or side glass so it rebounds over the net. Legal, difficult and nearly always a last resort.

Emergency contrapared

The rescue version of the contrapared: you hit the ball into your own back wall only to get it back over the net.

Contrapared off the side wall

Hitting the ball into your own side glass so it rebounds across and over the net. A last resort when the ball has got past you near the side.

Off the mesh

Playing a ball that has bounced and hit the side mesh. The mesh kills the pace and the ball drops short and unpredictably, so you must move in quickly.

Bajada off the side glass

The attacking bajada played on a ball that rises high off the side glass rather than the back glass, struck in the air on its way down.

Forehand back-wall return

Playing a ball on your forehand after it has come off your own back glass. It is the forehand version of the salida de pared, and usually the first wall shot players learn.

Double wall that opens

The common name for a ball that hits your side glass and then your back glass, so it comes out of the corner towards the middle of the court. Our page on side then back covers the same shot in more detail.

Forehand off two walls

Returning a ball on your forehand after it has hit two of your walls, usually the back glass and then the side glass. The forehand is the easier side, because you can let the ball come out in front of you.

Back-glass contrapared

Hitting the ball backwards into your own back glass so it rebounds forward over the net. This is the classic contrapared, and a last resort when the ball has got behind you.

Forehand bajada

An attacking forehand off a ball that has come high off your back glass, hit on its way down like an overhead from the back of the court.

Wall-exit lob

A lob played after the ball has come off your own glass. It is the safest way out of the back of the court when the other pair hold the net.

Reverse wall recovery

A description of an improvised moment, not a technique coaches teach: getting a difficult rebound back with an unusual body or racket position, such as facing the glass or reaching behind you.

Back-wall flick

An informal name for a short, quick forearm and wrist movement used to get a ball back when it comes off the back glass low, late or close to your body, with no room for a full swing.

Defensive wall reset

A safe ball after the glass whose only job is to win you time to get back into position, usually a high lob or a slow, deep ball through the middle.

Double wall that closes

The name for a ball that hits your back glass and then your side glass, so it comes out of the corner along the side wall towards you. It is harder to read than the side-then-back ball because it comes out close to the wall.