New to padel and confused by the terms? This glossary explains the most common words you will hear on court.
Shots
- Bandeja: a controlled overhead shot hit with slice, designed to keep the opponents back.
- Vibora: a more aggressive overhead with sidespin.
- Smash: a powerful overhead shot.
- Lob: a high shot sent over opponents to push them back.
- Chiquita: a soft, low shot played at the opponents’ feet.
- Bajada: a shot taken after the ball rebounds off the back wall, hit downward.
Court terms
- Back wall: the glass wall behind the baseline.
- Side wall: the walls along the sides of the court.
- Fence: the metal mesh above or beside the glass.
- Service box: the area where a serve must land.
- Golden point: a single deciding point played at 40-40 in some formats.
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