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A lob is going to your forehand corner, deep. Bandeja from there: where to?
Bandeja from the corner goes deep cross-court. The long diagonal is where the time is.
You are on the left at the net and a lob pushes you deep into your left corner. You can reach it for a bandeja. Where does it go?
Bandeja from the corner goes deep cross-court. The long diagonal is where the time is.
Why
A bandeja hit from deep in your own corner is a defensive overhead: you have been pushed back, and the shot has to buy you the time to get to the net again. The long cross-court diagonal is the answer. It is the furthest the ball can travel, it lands in the biggest target, and it goes to the opponent who is furthest from you. Down the line from the corner is shorter, has the side glass in play, and gives the nearer opponent a ball to attack while you are still recovering. Deep cross-court, then move.
What this means at your level
Beginner
From the corner, aim the bandeja across the court to the far corner. Then get back to the net.
Intermediate
The bandeja from deep needs to be a touch higher to travel the full diagonal. Let it carry rather than driving it.
Advanced
The line from the corner is a change-up when the diagonal defender is cheating across. It has to be low and deep, and it has to be rare.
Common questions
You are on the left at the net and a lob pushes you deep into your left corner. You can reach it for a bandeja. Where does it go?
Deep cross-court: the long diagonal gives you time to recover. Bandeja from the corner goes deep cross-court. The long diagonal is where the time is. A bandeja hit from deep in your own corner is a defensive overhead: you have been pushed back, and the shot has to buy you the time to get to the net again. The long cross-court diagonal is the answer. It is the furthest the ball can travel, it lands in the biggest target, and it goes to the opponent who is furthest from you. Down the line from the corner is shorter, has the side glass in play, and gives the nearer opponent a ball to attack while you are still recovering. Deep cross-court, then move.
Why not down the line. It is the shortest distance?
Shortest distance means least time for you to recover and the side glass to worry about. The diagonal is the safe ball.
What should a beginner do here?
From the corner, aim the bandeja across the court to the far corner. Then get back to the net.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The line from the corner is a change-up when the diagonal defender is cheating across. It has to be low and deep, and it has to be rare.
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.
intermediateYour partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.
beginnerYou have served. Where do you go?
In padel you serve in order to get to the net. Serve, then go.