Padel Glossary
Learn the language of Padel — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
11 terms
- BajadaAdvancedA bajada — Spanish for "descent" — is an attacking shot played after the ball rebounds off your own back glass, taking it on the way down to drive it back hard and reclaim the net.
- BandejaIntermediateA bandeja is a controlled defensive overhead — Spanish for "tray" — hit with slice to keep the point neutral and hold the net position, rather than to win the point outright.
- ChiquitaIntermediateA chiquita — Spanish for "little one" — is a soft, low ball played from the back of the court to the net players’ feet, forcing them to hit up and surrender their attack.
- ContraparedAdvancedA contrapared is a defensive shot played off your own side glass — letting a ball that has passed you rebound off the wall so you can keep the point alive.
- LobBeginnerA lob is a high, deep shot hit over the opponents at the net to push them back off their attacking position — one of the most important tactical shots in padel.
- Net ControlBeginnerNet control is occupying the net as a team — the dominant attacking position in padel. The pair at the net dictates points; the pair at the back defends and tries to lob them off it.
- Por TresAdvancedA "por tres" (or "por cuatro") is a smash hit so the ball bounces on your side, rebounds high off the back glass, and flies out over the court fence — an unreturnable, crowd-pleasing winner.
- ServeBeginnerThe padel serve is an underarm delivery: the ball must be bounced once and struck at or below waist height into the diagonal service box. Power matters far less than placement and net advancement.
- SmashIntermediateA smash is a powerful overhead hit downward to finish a point. In padel it is often played to bounce the ball off the glass and out of the court (a "por tres" or "por cuatro").
- VíboraAdvancedA víbora is an aggressive sliced overhead — Spanish for "viper" — hit with sidespin so it stays low and kicks awkwardly off the side glass, more attacking than a bandeja but more controlled than a smash.
- Wall PlayBeginnerWall play is using the glass walls that enclose a padel court — letting a ball rebound off the back or side glass and playing it on the bounce, which keeps points alive far longer than in tennis.
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Padel Swing Free