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Which spin does a padel volley use?
Padel volleys carry a little slice. It keeps the ball low, slow off the bounce, and dead on the glass.
You want your volleys to stay low and die after the bounce. What spin, if any, should be on the ball?
Padel volleys carry a little slice. It keeps the ball low, slow off the bounce, and dead on the glass.
Why
The padel volley is hit with a slightly open face and a short, firm punch, which puts a touch of backspin on the ball. That spin keeps the ball low after the bounce and makes it die when it reaches the glass. The rebound comes out low and slow instead of sitting up for the opponent. Topspin volleys need a swing and the swing is late at the net; flat volleys with pace rebound off the walls. The slice is not heavy, it is the natural result of the open face and the punch, but it is why good players' volleys seem to die where yours sit up.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Open the racket face a fraction and push forward and slightly down through the ball. The spin comes by itself.
Intermediate
The slice volley to the feet of a deep opponent stays down after the bounce. That is the ball that gets the lift you want.
Advanced
Vary it: a flatter, firmer volley for the put-away above the net, more slice on the low ones to keep them from sitting up off the glass.
Common questions
You want your volleys to stay low and die after the bounce. What spin, if any, should be on the ball?
A touch of slice: low, and dead off the glass. Padel volleys carry a little slice. It keeps the ball low, slow off the bounce, and dead on the glass. The padel volley is hit with a slightly open face and a short, firm punch, which puts a touch of backspin on the ball. That spin keeps the ball low after the bounce and makes it die when it reaches the glass. The rebound comes out low and slow instead of sitting up for the opponent. Topspin volleys need a swing and the swing is late at the net; flat volleys with pace rebound off the walls. The slice is not heavy, it is the natural result of the open face and the punch, but it is why good players' volleys seem to die where yours sit up.
Why not topspin. It makes the ball dip?
A topspin volley is a swing, and a swing at the net is late. Padel volleys are blocked with a slightly open face.
What should a beginner do here?
Open the racket face a fraction and push forward and slightly down through the ball. The spin comes by itself.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Vary it: a flatter, firmer volley for the put-away above the net, more slice on the low ones to keep them from sitting up off the glass.
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 at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
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.