Passing Shot (Pasante)
Also known as: passing shot padel, pasante, pasante padel, when should I go down the line in padel, padel passing shot, how to pass the net player padel
Go down the line when the net player on that side has moved toward the middle or rushed forward. A passing shot, or pasante, beats a net player by going past them instead of over them. Crosscourt is the safer default, because the net is lower in the middle and the court is longer on the diagonal.
A passing shot is a low, fast ball that goes past a net player. In padel the two choices are down the line, beside the side wall, or crosscourt, through the diagonal.
Crosscourt is the safer pass. The FIP net is 0.88 m high in the middle and 0.92 m at the ends. A diagonal ball crosses the lower part and has more court to land in.
Down the line is the surprise. Use it when the net player on that side leans into the middle, steps forward to poach or is slow to cover the wall. Hit it low, so it does not bounce up for a volley.
Most passes in padel work best after a lob or a chiquita has pulled the opponents out of shape. Against a well-placed pair, a lob often wins more points.
Tips by skill level
Use crosscourt as your normal pass and keep down the line as a surprise.
Watch the net player's feet. When their weight shifts to the middle, the line is open.
Example
Rita sees the right-side net player step toward the middle to cut off her crosscourt. She drives a low pasante down the line past him.
Why it matters
Passing shots keep net players honest. If they never fear the line, they can crowd the middle and cut off everything.
Common mistakes
- Going down the line when the net player is already covering it
- Hitting the pass too high, so it sits up for a volley
- Trying to pass from deep behind the baseline
- Forgetting the lob as the higher-percentage option
Frequently asked questions
When should I go down the line in padel?
When the net player on that side has moved toward the middle or stepped in to poach. Keep the ball low, because a high pass is easy to volley.
What is a pasante in padel?
It is the Spanish name for a passing shot, a low ball that goes past a net player rather than over them.
Sources
Related terms
- Parallel ShotA Parallel Shot runs straight down the line, parallel with the side glass. It is a harder pass than the crosscourt but can catch opponents leaning toward the middle.
- CrosscourtA Crosscourt shot in padel travels diagonally across the net to the opposite side of the court — the longest available shot path, offering the most margin over the net and the widest angle.
- ChiquitaA chiquita (Spanish for "little one") is a soft, dipping ball hit at the net players' feet. It forces them to volley up, neutralizing their net position without risking a lob.
- LobA lob is a high, deep shot over the opponents at the net that pushes them back. It is padel's most important defensive weapon for winning back a losing rally.
- Down-the-Line Passing ShotA down-the-line passing shot is hit parallel to the sideline past a net player. It uses the shortest, straightest path and often the element of surprise.
Related guides & benchmarks
Have a question about this?
There is nothing here to film. Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question, or keep reading the related terms above.