Like all racket sports, the padel takes place through offensive and defensive phases to be able to win the point. In this article we are interested to postmen which will earn the point during an offensive phase.

When to attack padel ?

It is quite common to see a pair attacking the net in a fierce manner to be able to win the point. The main attacks are made when you are at the net, however these shots are repeated frequently and occasionally result in a foul or a counterattack by the opposing team. What would be the best times to carry out an attack?

  • It is in a way the expression “the best defense is the attack”: if the pair achieves for example a high and deep lob this will undoubtedly make it possible to go up to the net to organize future attacks
  • It is also possible to counter-attack by performing a bajada after a lob hitting the back window
  • After one "Chiquita", a small ball in the feet of the volleyball players, which will give us time to get to the net
  • After a long rally and a good adrenaline rush due to the intense exchange, it is quite common to want to end with a smash that comes back from our side. However, we forget that the opponents are already glued to the net which allows them to bring the ball out directly from the court by counter-attacking. In this situation, it would be a question of faking your opponents by pretending to make a smash but in the end hitting the ball more gently to make die the ball near the ice on the second bounce.

Where to attack?

There are a multitude of tactical places to lead an offensive. Having the best technical shots and the best physical condition is not always enough to lead to butt against a rock defense.

  • Target the opponent: sad to say but sometimes it turns out to be the right solution! When we say “aim at the opponent” it is not a question of going dead hand to give them the advantage on a counter attack. In this situation we are talking about smash, volley, off bajada and even vibora for intimidate et surprise but also to deprive a future tactical counterattack of time. Opponents will have no choice but to block the bullet in the face of such blows, or have a new tattoo on their body ...
  • Aim for free space: as in all sports, free space is a fundamental tactical notion to destabilize the defense. Several situations can be performed to play in free space such as: smashing by, bouncing when opponents are both at the back of the court, creating uncertainty by playing very crossed balls in the wire mesh, faking smash to kill the ball on the second bounce ...
  • Aiming at the feet of his opponents : it is not only in tennis where we play in the feet when our opponent is on the fly. It is also a very interesting area for destabilizing opponents and disrupting their offensive phase at the net or even defensive when they are at the baseline. A “chiquita” in the feet will seldom have a definitive impact on winning the point but it will certainly allow an even more offensive ball to be exploited to gain the point later.
  • Play the Divorce Zone: cThis strategy often pays off as again we will create uncertainty on the opposing team by playing exactly in the middle of the players' separation distance. This will force them to make a quick decision and communication will be fundamental for them to pursue the point.

Photo: Mauri Andrini / Hello Padel Academy

Alexandre Cifuentes

Alexandre Cifuentes studies economics. He decided to intervene on the business of padel and in the sports market in general. It allows us to know about the padel in its entirety.

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