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Every return is a chiquita to the server's feet. Your job at the net?
The chiquita produces a soft volley from the server. The partner closes in to finish the returner's reply before they take the net.
You are the server's partner. The returner keeps answering the serve with a low chiquita to the incoming server's feet, then advancing. How do you help?
The chiquita produces a soft volley from the server. The partner closes in to finish the returner's reply before they take the net.
Why
The chiquita return puts the incoming server in a bad spot, a low ball at the feet in no man's land, and the returner advances behind it. The server's partner cannot help with that ball, but they can control what happens next: by closing in on their side, they take the returner's follow-up early, before the returning pair have completed their advance. It converts the point from "server's weak volley, then the returners attack" into "server's weak volley, then the partner attacks the attackers." It also tells the server to volley deep and central, toward the partner, rather than trying to be clever from a bad position.
What this means at your level
Beginner
When the return lands at your partner's feet, move a step closer to the net and get ready. The next ball is coming to you.
Intermediate
Talk to the server: "deep middle" tells them to volley the chiquita long and central, where you can take the next one.
Advanced
The counter to the chiquita return is also on the serve: a wide serve into the glass makes the chiquita very hard to play. Ask your server for it.
Common questions
You are the server's partner. The returner keeps answering the serve with a low chiquita to the incoming server's feet, then advancing. How do you help?
Close in and take the returner's next ball early. The chiquita produces a soft volley from the server. The partner closes in to finish the returner's reply before they take the net. The chiquita return puts the incoming server in a bad spot, a low ball at the feet in no man's land, and the returner advances behind it. The server's partner cannot help with that ball, but they can control what happens next: by closing in on their side, they take the returner's follow-up early, before the returning pair have completed their advance. It converts the point from "server's weak volley, then the returners attack" into "server's weak volley, then the partner attacks the attackers." It also tells the server to volley deep and central, toward the partner, rather than trying to be clever from a bad position.
Why not drop back to help the server with the low ball?
The server has to play their own ball. Your job is the reply to it, and that is at the net.
What should a beginner do here?
When the return lands at your partner's feet, move a step closer to the net and get ready. The next ball is coming to you.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The counter to the chiquita return is also on the serve: a wide serve into the glass makes the chiquita very hard to play. Ask your server for it.
Puzzles like this one
Your 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.
advancedThey are camped at the net and you cannot lob. What now?
If you cannot lift it over them, make them lift it for you. The chiquita is a slow ball at their feet.