From Tenerife, Julien Bondia presents a tutorial on how to play balls according to their place of impact relative to the boundaries of the field. Sometimes left out, this tactical part of the game allows all players of all levels to take more or less risk depending on the ball played. Let's shell out these 3 areas: red, orange and green.

Have a good technique at padel is part of learning. To be more efficient every day, you have to "polish" your game with details. Playing with the limits of the field, the windows or the gates makes it difficult, especially when we are defending close to these limits, in our camp. One of the “tips” is to understand how to play depending on the distance from the glass or the floor.

We will detail 3 zones: a red zone where it is difficult to play balls, an orange zone where we have to return the ball without making a mistake, and a green zone where we can be more aggressive.

Side window

Let's define as red zone the length of the sieve of our pala. On a space of 30 40 centimeters, it is complicated to play a ball, often our racket will touch the glass or grid. The advice would be to go under the ball to avoid making the mistake. Since it's a complicated area to play, just try to pass the ball. You make the mistake? It does not matter it was a red zone.

The orange zone corresponds to the space between the end of the red zone that is to say the handle of our pala until the end of our arm, approximately between 40 centimeters and 1 meter of the glass. This area is easier to play. You will have more facilities to defend but the place where you will have to hit the ball will be outside your comfort zone. The idea will be to make a blow to your opponents and especially not to make mistakes. Do not try to make the winning shot, perfect, in this area, it would be too risky, you could leave the field to your opponents. Play a lob, a slow ball or a ball on their body to allow you to recover your position.

The green zone is beyond the meter. In this zone it is you who will be able to take the game to your account by making shots difficult to recover by your opponents. Bullets hit hard, slow in the feet or offensive lobs, here, do not hesitate to take more risks.

The bottom window

The red zone is characterized by the same distance as on the side window. A ball you have to play here will be very difficult. It will be a lob of your opponents dying against the glass or balls coming with little speed. Try to bring them back as best you can. If you can not do it does not matter because the area was hard to defend.

The orange zone is a step forward from the bottom window. You have room to go behind the ball but not enough to take risks. Try to get your opponents to play with a counterpane or a ball on the volleyball players' bodies. Slow balls are also effective. Beware of lobs because if they are not controlled you may be corrected.

The green zone will be beyond. Here you will be comfortable to play shots directly or out of window. Free to your imagination to organize the game to come and take the net to your opponents.

The height

There are also zones to take into account according to the striking height. The red zone will be the length of the sieve of your pala. An area very difficult to defend especially when it comes out of glass. Getting to "rake" a ball to 30 centimeters from the ground requires technique and good physical condition. Do not try to play the pros. Try to pass the ball, it will be very good.

The orange zone is between the middle of the shin and the belt. I consider this area as the base of the defense in the ground. You will very often have to play balls in this area. The more mistakes you make by hitting balls in this orange zone, the sooner you will lose your games. Be careful. Make the effort physically and work the defense of balls played at this height. The difference in a match is often about the ability to keep balls in the field on this type of shot.

The green zone is beyond the belt. This is where we usually attack balls. Attack window exits, stolen, bandejas and smashes are the most played shots at this height. Take advantage of the green zone to make a difference by taking more risks.

In short

In the red zone I have to try to bring back the ball. I'm getting there, perfect. I can not do it, it does not matter, nothing serves to frustrate me for this ball played very well from my opponents.

In the orange zone I would first try not to make the mistake. Then I would take the least risk possible by playing one more shot to my opponents. Since most certainly I would be out of my comfort zone, I will have to play one or more shots to get it back.

Finally the green zone is the space of all my desires. Here I could try all types of shots because I will be in a position that will allow me to take over my opponents. Of course if you send all the balls played from the green zone in the middle of the window, calm your ardor a little, your partner may make you head.

Do not hesitate to ask us questions.

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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