Let's go for an article technical which addresses a gorgeous shot du padel : the Smash. The smash can be considered in several ways but we prefer to focus on the kicked smash today.
Smash à flat, kicked, brush…there are several variants. The smash is one of the shots allowing players to evolve in their progress. The flat smash is mainly used to finish the point, the brush smash (vibora), allows you to impact the ball to the side, and the kicked smash can help you both finish the point and work on it. A nice option, isn't it?
The kicked or topspin smash consists, by placing yourself under the ball - and even slightly with the ball above your non-dominant shoulder - in lowering the pala's head behind your back to impact the ball during the ascent and thus give a forward effect, which promotes its acceleration on contact with the ground and generates an upward rebound on contact with the first window.
This is what most players are looking for in a smash, to win the point with power. Among professional players, the kicked smash is used, among other things, from a position away from the net to bring the ball back into their court. The lift accelerates the ball, and allows it to squirt past the glass to pass several meters above the net. We, amateur players, can we achieve these shots? Not necessarily because they require power, perfect technique and precision with a rebound fairly close to the bottom glass.
It is certainly in this area that amateur players will be able to use the kicked smash without fear.
At slow to moderate speed, you will seek areas in your diagonal. The most interesting will be to work for a right-hander on the left or a left-hander on the right, the other cases being much more complicated.
In your diagonal therefore, you could find:
This is the most important for a good realization of kicked smash. First, if you are released, your smashes will take effects correctly. Then we talked about placement under the ball or slightly on the non-dominant shoulder, but you have to arch your back and look for an impact slightly behind you so that the smash comes out of your pala upwards, unlike the flat smash which s impact in front.
The kicked smash cannot be invented, it has to be worked on. It's not a simple shot, it requires control, relaxation, management in space and a good technical level. Once you're comfortable with this shot, you won't be able to do without it. Let's go!