How to Defend a Point: Groundstrokes in Padel
Álvaro Cepero, with Wingpadel Air Force, performing a baseline shot.[/caption]
BASELINE SHOTS IN PADEL
Padel is a booming sport. Nowadays, it continues to grow due to its easy accessibility, fun, and low physical demands. But it is still a sport where if we improve our technique, physical condition, and strategy, our performance on the court can increase surprisingly.
Something that is easy to learn and doesn't require much training time is knowing how to position ourselves on the court and what shots we should use at each moment. We simply need to be clear about certain issues and evaluate the options. Today we want to offer you some simple but effective tips.
TIPS TO FOLLOW
Let's start with a padel maxim. It is always advisable to play with the crossed player. Why? Because if we hit the ball diagonally, we will always have more court and more chances for the ball to go in.
Furthermore, whenever we play cross-court and pressure the opponent, we will only give them the option to return naturally, that is, to play cross-court with us, and thus we can take the initiative of the point more easily. We will switch to parallel play when we want our partner to get involved.
Baseline shots must follow the rule of 10. Let's suppose that the force of each shot can be rated from 1 to 10. If the opponent sends us a shot with force 6, our shot must complement it by adding up to 10. Therefore, we should return a shot with force 4. If they hit us with 3, we return with 7.
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This helps us control the speed of the ball and avoid over-risking when we are at the baseline. We must always remember that padel is a sport of control, and the one who makes fewer mistakes wins.
WHAT ARE BASELINE SHOTS?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47-Jx-aWJw0The star shot from the baseline is, as you all know, the lob. The lob is a very common shot that many people don't give the importance it deserves. But I can assure you it's a lot.
We must play many lobs but always with certain guarantees. That is, we will play a lob when the ball is not too fast. We have to ensure that the lob will be high and deep, as it is dangerous to leave short lobs because they will finish us off without mercy.
Therefore, we will play the lob when the ball comes to us with relative ease, allowing the opponents to lose the net and giving us the option to go up and finish the point with a volley or a smash.
A great control racket for defending with lobs is the Siux Optimus Pro or the Star Vie R 9.1 DRS Carbon.
'LA CHIQUITA'
And to finish this 'mini-lesson' on baseline shots, we have 'la chiquita'. It is a very soft, slow shot, usually played off a wall return. It is played between the opponents and the net with the idea of aiming for their feet and forcing them to lift the ball.
At that moment, we will take advantage to go to the net and attack. It is the perfect complement to the barrage of lobs we will be sending to seek the decisive point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTKe9l6b1w0
