here's one Thème which is not often discussed but which gives hard time and a lot of headaches when the server is impeccable : the return of service after a rebound on side window.

Here is the situation: you start a meeting and you are back. In front of you is the server who, like a machine, fires effect-laden missiles at you that hit the side window and do not allow you to return. Winning service on winning service: the points scroll and you cannot find a solution. What can we do ? Give up ? No way.

Attempt to destabilize your opponent

It is certainly not what is more, class but it is authorized in the padel and that might get you out of the situation. Before placing yourself for the return, ask for the score, discuss with your partner before placing yourself. These actions break the rhythm and possibly disrupt the server. You can try this kind of thing, but always with fair play.

Another idea would be to position yourself differently. Placing yourself on the line, glued to the side window, the back window or close to the center can create doubt in your opponent who may serve less effectively, which will allow you to return.

Change your return technique

The more stressed you are on a comeback, the more difficult it will be to get the ball in. Either you master the onslaught of the server from the start, or you will have to adapt. Tell yourself that the first technique is to wait for the ball. Often without even moving a millimeter you can defend the side window. Except that, we don't know until we try it!

Work this into practice. Let it come to you because following the ball backwards will be the basis for a good return and the basis for understanding speed, trajectory and spin. So the advice would be, during a match, on hard serves, to first step back with the ball to understand its trajectory, even if you have to lose the point a few times. The goal is to put an end to these winning services. And maybe this simple wait will bring you the solution.

It still does not work !

Bad luck, the serve is always good because it bounces very close to the window-grid joint, the ball stays close to the ground and your backward wait leaves you too far from the ball. The serve becomes unmanageable after rebounding with hyper sharp exits.

Here the problem is different because if you give the ball time to bounce quietly on the glass, you will be “cooked”. You will have two options: either you take the ball just after the bounce on the ground and before the bounce on the glass, or you will take the ball just after the bounce on the glass. The goal will really be to block the ball and not to hit it with a big gesture. You will have to be aware that there are chances for your pala to touch the glass, but that is the price to pay to put the return in because that is what we are looking for.

Return at all costs

We talked about it in a previous article, padel, the return must be, at all costs, in the field, no matter how good.

These balls so difficult from the server are necessarily possible to return, the problem is that you have not worked out all the ways to return. It is a work to be done in training or with your partner. 

First, learn to step back and read trajectory, speed and spin because players who have a very good side serve don't have two (or it's rare). Once you have understood how the ball behaves, go ahead, either wait for it or go get it, but tell yourself that if you have decided to go towards the ball, you will have to be as close as possible to the rebound, either the of the ground, or that of the glass. Let's go!

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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