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Medium-height lob, both opponents back. Smash to the feet or to the glass?
A medium lob is smashed to the feet, not the glass. Force the lift, finish the next ball.
You have a medium-height lob at the net, both opponents two metres inside their glass. Where does the smash go?
A medium lob is smashed to the feet, not the glass. Force the lift, finish the next ball.
Why
The smash that goes out over the back glass needs a short, high lob. A medium lob, one you can hit downward but not steeply, is smashed at the feet of one of the opponents instead. The ball arrives fast and low, they have to lift it, and the lift is the ball you put away with the next volley. Smashing hard into the back glass from a medium lob is the most common wasted point in club padel: the ball comes back off the wall to an opponent who has recovered, and the advantage is gone. Two shots to win the point beats one shot that gives it away.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Unless the lob is really short, do not try to smash it out. Hit it firmly at their feet and get ready for the next one.
Intermediate
Aim the feet smash at the opponent who is deeper in their position, or at whoever is moving. A static, ready player blocks it better.
Advanced
The feet smash with a little slice stays down after the bounce. Flat, it rebounds up to a playable height. Add the slice.
Common questions
You have a medium-height lob at the net, both opponents two metres inside their glass. Where does the smash go?
At the feet of one opponent. A medium lob is smashed to the feet, not the glass. Force the lift, finish the next ball. The smash that goes out over the back glass needs a short, high lob. A medium lob, one you can hit downward but not steeply, is smashed at the feet of one of the opponents instead. The ball arrives fast and low, they have to lift it, and the lift is the ball you put away with the next volley. Smashing hard into the back glass from a medium lob is the most common wasted point in club padel: the ball comes back off the wall to an opponent who has recovered, and the advantage is gone. Two shots to win the point beats one shot that gives it away.
Why not hard into the back glass, to go out over it?
A medium lob does not give the height to go out over the glass. That smash comes back.
What should a beginner do here?
Unless the lob is really short, do not try to smash it out. Hit it firmly at their feet and get ready for the next one.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The feet smash with a little slice stays down after the bounce. Flat, it rebounds up to a playable height. Add the slice.
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.
beginnerBoth of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
intermediateWhat do you do with the return of serve?
The return lob is how the receiving pair steals the net. Aim over the player who is still moving.