Has the bandeja disappeared from modern padel? Padel Magazine

If you watch regularly Premier Padel You may have already had this impression: Is the bandeja disappearing? Smashes come thick and fast, viboras fly, and points are played at an ever-increasing pace. In this context, it's difficult to spot that shot which, for a long time, was the signature of the world's best players.

However, in an article published on the blog of All For Padel (adidas Padel) The authors remind us of a reality that is often forgotten: Bandeja hasn't disappeared, it has adapted to the evolution of the game.

Padel has changed… and with it, the aerial game

Just ten years ago, the tray was one of the most used shots on the professional circuit.

Players like Fernando Belasteguín , Pablo Lima , Cristian Gutiérrez or, Maxi Grabiel They built their dominance thanks to extremely precise bandeja. The goal was not to finish the point, but to keep the net to wear down the opponent and wait for the right opportunity to accelerate.

At that time, padel was slower, the rallies were longer and the playing conditions were more favourable to building up the point.

Today, the context is completely different.

Players are more explosive, rackets are more powerful, and balls come off the glass much faster. As soon as a lob falls even slightly short, the priority is now to inflict immediate damage.

Result: The víbora gradually took over.

The bandeja remains essential… but only in the right situations.

The article of All For Padel He rightly emphasizes this point: the best players have not removed the bandeja from their arsenal.

They simply learned to choose between several options.

On a deep lob, hit while moving backwards or from an uncomfortable position, the bandeja is often the best option. It allows you to keep the ball in the net without taking unnecessary risks.

Conversely, when a player receives a shorter lob and can hit while moving forward, the viper It logically becomes the preferred weapon to immediately put the opponent under pressure.

So it's not the shot that changes, but reading the situation .

Are there still any “real” bandeja players?

On the current circuit, specialists in pure bandeja have become rare.

Even Arturo Coello , who possesses an excellent bandeja, ultimately uses it rather little. His very offensive playing style naturally leads him towards the víbora or the smash whenever the opportunity arises.

The most striking case is undoubtedly Coki Nieto .

The Spaniard is probably the last top-level player to regularly use the bandeja as a true tactical weapon. His game relies more on patience, precision, and point building than on pure power.

Among most of the other players in the world's top tier, we are now seeing a different evolution.

The move played is often neither a traditional bandeja, nor a classic víbora .

We are witnessing rather a form of hybrid shot with an intermediate trajectory, more rotation, and a speed adapted to the situation. An evolution that perfectly reflects modern padel.

The trap for amateur players

This is also one of the most interesting messages in the article. All For Padel .

By watching Premier Padel Many amateurs seek to systematically reproduce the most spectacular víboras or shots.

However, in a club match, this strategy is often counterproductive.

A well-executed bandeja will in most cases allow you to keep the net, limit unforced errors and wait for a more favorable ball to accelerate.

In other words, what works Playing with the best players in the world is not necessarily the best solution for an amateur player.

The bandeja isn't dead, it's become smarter

The conclusion of the analysis of All For Padel It is ultimately simple: the bandeja remains a fundamental shot in padel.

It simply appears less often than before, because the game has become faster and there are more opportunities to attack.

Modern players haven't abandoned the bandeja. They use it more judiciously, only when the situation demands it. At the highest level, it's no longer the player with the most spectacular move who is rewarded, but the one who takes the initiative. the right decision at the right time .

This may be the biggest development in professional padel: The bandeja has not disappeared, it has learned to coexist with the víbora… and, increasingly, with a mixture of the two.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !