In the channel video XtresPadel, Ale Galán, world number 3 and recognized as one of the best smashers on the professional circuit, shares with the YouTuber Tresco his knowledge and technique to execute a perfect smash.

The 10 tips of Gallant

To achieve a good smash, it's essential to control several factors. Here are his tips:

Racket

1- Have a Metalbone (Adidas) : This is the racket designed for Ale Galán for this new season, the Adidas Metalbone 3.4 2025A slightly heavier version at the head of the racket which allows you to accentuate and develop more ball power, especially for smashes.

The body

2 - Rotate the hip correctly to move the body forward.

With your feet firmly planted on the ground, your hips rotate the body to move forward and thus increase the power of your strike.

The catch

3 - Take the pala lower with the index finger on top to have more leverage.

Ale Galán has a very personal grip, with one and a half fingers extending downwards from the racket, meaning a very low grip on the racket in hand, and the placement of his index finger very high. This allows for a little strength with the index finger to apply more pressure on the ball and thus more power. This grip is designed to gain in stroke amplitude and leverage. The Spaniard holds his racket very loosely to accelerate the ball quickly.

4 - Close the plug further.

Players may have different grips on the racket. Gallant opt for a more closed grip.

Positioning

5 - Position yourself under the ball and move forward while striking.

The body should indicate where the player wants to send the ball. It is essential to position yourself correctly under the ball and move forward at the moment of impact. Avoid starting off sideways.

6 - Transfer weight and strike upwards.

Transfer your body weight forward to give more power to the ball.

7 - If the point of impact is low, we do not generate enough force.

Be careful to catch the ball at the right height at the moment of impact. to maximize the power and amplitude of your strike.

8 - It is very important to lean on the legs to transfer the weight well.

If the point of impact is too low, the player will not be able to generate enough power.

If you don't lean on your legs, you won't be able to transfer energy either. Everything must be fluid in the movement.

9 - You have to get under the ball and, once under it, come out forwards.

Adjust your footing carefully. Don't get into an unstable position by correcting mid-swing. You need to anticipate your positioning and position yourself under the ball before smashing.

10 - Don't hit the ball too close and correct when falling.

I place myself before, I stabilize myself.

When you master the technique, you make less unnecessary effort.

Discussion around the rules of padel

The possible elimination of the second service

Well, if the goal is to give more dynamism to the game to make it more attractive, that could be interesting, right? Because with the second serve, there are often time losses. Many times, when the referee announces the time, you make a first serve, then you take all the time you want for the second. So, by removing it, we could reduce these timeouts and make the game faster. Afterwards, in my case, I'm used to serving with a second serve, so it would be a real change.

Changing playing surfaces

I think that right now, we're in the midst of a major evolution in the sport, and I share this idea. It would make sense to have several types of surfaces, but it would have to be well organized, over an entire season, and not just one tournament that decides to change on its own. Whether it's grass, rubber like what was used in Argentina in 2016-2017... I remember a tournament in Mendoza where we played on carpet, with a very uniform bounce. It was different. I think we need to explore these possibilities.

Recently, I also saw tests on clay, but in padel, I don't find it very suitable because of the bounce, which is not uniform. In tennis, you have more distance to anticipate the ball, but in padel, the game is faster and based on precise bounces. And then, on clay, I noticed that it slips a lot. It's a different sport, so you have to find suitable surfaces, where you can play by adapting to different playing styles. Personally, I like to play on all kinds of courts: fast, slow, intermediate. Being complete on all surfaces is a real challenge and I find it interesting.

Alé Galan's tips for mastering the volley
Nicolas Fillaudeau

A big sports enthusiast and former tennis player, I discovered padel a few years ago without really focusing on it. Then I became addicted to this sport by practicing it and watching the premier padel matches. Looking forward to sharing the 2025 news with you!

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