For a player positioned to the left on the field, the backhand service return can quickly become a formidable weapon. In this tutorial, we propose to work this shot in a simple way that will allow you to put pressure on your opponents. Right-handed, left-handed, it's up to you.

Making a setback requires a minimum of technique. The most important thing is to try to finish your gesture by advancing, at least, to finish ahead. In this tutorial, I do not propose to understand what a setback is but to understand what damage it can achieve in return for service.

First of all it is necessary that your technique is well posed: At the level of the legs, the two feet well in contact with the ground at the time of the strike for a maximum control. Once the shot is made, the goal will be to finish forward, either by running to the net or simply tilting your body forward.

Then the arms. The more compact you are at the moment of the shot, the more control you have over the ball. For players who perform a one-handed lapel, prepare with the elbow close to your body, arm outstretched and wrist locked. The free arm will be used during preparation to pull the pala back and then remain along the body when striking for a perfect balance.

For players using a two-handed backhand, the preparation will also be close to the body, with a short gesture.

The end of the gesture will be short with a slight lift effect, the pala will "brush" the ball passing slightly above it. The provoked effect will give a curve to the ball which will force to play a low volley to our opponents.

Although you will have several choices to play this backhand, long line, center or cross, I propose in this tutorial to play a slow ball in the feet of the server that comes to the net. In this way you will have time to put it under pressure while passing in front of the bottom line.

Attention: It is important to understand that the opponent player can achieve a medium volley allowing you to continue your pressurization, but also can make a very good volley sending you to the bottom of the field.

For this, it is essential to make its recovery support about 1 meter in front of the bottom line. Some players, after a return of service of setback, want so much to press the adversaries that they run without recovery of support towards the net. The good thing is that if the opponents play an average end, you can easily finish the point. The downside is that if your opponents play a nice volley, you end up with the ball in the back, impossible to defend.

Discover in this video the possible options following a return of service of reverse, lifted slow in the feet of the server.

 

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.

On the same subject

Tags