Letting the Ball Go
Also known as: dejar pasar, letting it through
Letting the Ball Go means intentionally allowing a fast or deep ball to pass you and rebound off the back glass rather than volleying or striking it in the air, turning a potential winner into a manageable rebound shot.
In padel, not every ball needs to be intercepted. A fast, flat drive aimed at the back glass is often best left to rebound: intercepting it at pace is high-risk and usually produces an error. By stepping aside and letting the ball travel to the glass, you reset the exchange on your own terms from a stable, balanced position. This is counterintuitive for players arriving from tennis, where allowing a ball to pass is always a lost point. The decision "volley or let go?" is one of the most repeated micro-decisions in padel and is a key marker of tactical intelligence.
Example
An attacker rips a flat drive low and hard at the back glass; the defender steps aside, allows it to pass, and plays a controlled lob off the rebound.
Why it matters
New padel players often volley balls that should be let go, then scramble to cope with pace they created themselves. Recognising this pattern early saves huge numbers of unforced errors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know when to volley versus let it go?
If the ball is below net height and travelling fast toward the back glass, let it go. If you can take it comfortably at waist height or above with control, volley.
Related terms
- Back GlassThe Back Glass is the tall transparent wall at each end of a padel court, which players use intentionally to extend rallies by letting shots rebound back into play.
- Glass ReadingGlass Reading is the skill of predicting how fast and at what angle a ball will rebound off the back or side glass so you can position yourself early and play the shot cleanly.
- Wall PlayWall 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.
- Defensive Back PositionThe Defensive Back Position is where a pair retreats when they have lost net control — playing from behind the service line near the back glass, focusing on lobbing quality and glass reading until they can regain the net.
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