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Bandejas going long or into the net. First thing to check?
Bandeja errors are feet errors. Turn sideways, move back, and hit the ball slightly in front at shoulder height.
Your bandeja technique looks right in the swing, but the ball goes long or into the net. What is most often wrong?
Bandeja errors are feet errors. Turn sideways, move back, and hit the ball slightly in front at shoulder height.
Why
The bandeja is hit from a sideways position with the ball slightly in front of the leading shoulder, at about shoulder height, with the racket travelling forward and a little down. Almost every long or short bandeja comes from the ball being in the wrong place: behind the head, because the player did not move back enough, or too far in front, because they moved too much. The swing itself is simple. The footwork that puts the ball in the right spot is the skill, and it is why coaches say the bandeja is played with the legs.
What this means at your level
Beginner
The moment you see the lob, turn sideways and shuffle back. Get behind the ball, then swing.
Intermediate
The contact point is slightly in front of your leading shoulder, at about shoulder height, with your weight moving forward into the shot.
Advanced
A bandeja hit from balance goes deep and low. One hit off the back foot floats. Watch your own weight at contact before you change the swing.
Common questions
Your bandeja technique looks right in the swing, but the ball goes long or into the net. What is most often wrong?
Your feet. You are not getting behind the ball. Bandeja errors are feet errors. Turn sideways, move back, and hit the ball slightly in front at shoulder height. The bandeja is hit from a sideways position with the ball slightly in front of the leading shoulder, at about shoulder height, with the racket travelling forward and a little down. Almost every long or short bandeja comes from the ball being in the wrong place: behind the head, because the player did not move back enough, or too far in front, because they moved too much. The swing itself is simple. The footwork that puts the ball in the right spot is the skill, and it is why coaches say the bandeja is played with the legs.
Why not your grip. It should be a forehand grip?
The bandeja uses a continental grip. But the grip is rarely the cause of long and short; the contact point is.
What should a beginner do here?
The moment you see the lob, turn sideways and shuffle back. Get behind the ball, then swing.
How does this change for an advanced player?
A bandeja hit from balance goes deep and low. One hit off the back foot floats. Watch your own weight at contact before you change the swing.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerThe ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
intermediateShort, high and yours. Bandeja or smash?
Deep ball, bandeja. Short ball with your weight going forward, smash.