Certainly one of shots of the padel the most aesthetic but also one of the more difficult to achieve, la vibora can make you shine like put you in trouble.

It's nice to see high-level players loosely release a vibora fast that bounces in the angle with little height, incapacitating the defense of the opponents. But the problem is that before reaching this level, you have to spend time understanding how it works.

Am I able or not?

This is the very first question that every player should ask themselves. When I am forced to play a high ball so as not to lose the net, what comes naturally: a bandeja or an vibora ?

If this is the bandeja which comes naturally to you, in all sincerity, work on it so that it is as effective as possible, and postpone the date of learning the vibora.

If naturally you brush the ball, then yes, it's a vibora, and you will need to understand a few tricks to make it as efficient as possible.

The preparation

This is the very first step. When opponents are shooting their lob, if you spend too long staring at the ball without moving, you will be behind. So first of all, stand in profile, non-dominant hand pointing at the side rail, palate placed behind your head and elbow dominant at 90 degrees with your body. From there you can move to get that ball.

The impact

In front of me or behind me? During our movement and adjustment in relation to the high ball sent by our opponents, we will have to detect and above all know if we can hit, have a place of impact in front of us or behind us. For what ? Because that way we will know if we can play an attack or defense move. To make a mistake in the choice of the move will certainly cause the fault.

Technically what is it?

La vibora is a sideways brush shot that will spin the ball towards the side walls after bouncing off the back glass. So after moving in profile with the pala behind the head and the non-dominant hand pointing at the side grid, you will adjust and stretch that non-dominant hand towards the ball to cause the body to rise. The pala should not be held tightly but on the contrary in a relaxed, relaxed way, which will give a superior brushed effect. The most effective impact will be at eye level but may vary depending on the quality of the lob. For the strike, it will be the arm that will work with a rotational movement: starting point behind the head, impact with outstretched arm with the head of the pala upwards, end of the gesture with the arm wrapped around the neck like a scarf. 

Paquito Navarro vibora WPT Santander Open 2022

Warning !

A vibora attack will be made with both feet on the ground, an impact at eye level and the end of the gesture wrapped around the neck, all this on the same line, parallel to the ground.

For a vibora defence, impacted higher up and slightly behind us, we'll come brushing up to roll up below the non-dominant shoulder.

Slight variation for those who would start to impact in suspension. By jumping, you can choose to attack or defend. Jumping can allow you to impact in front of you and knock the ball down, but not always. This can allow you to get the ball further, higher so you don't lose the net.

La vibora, hard to handle

It's really a magnificent stroke that needs a lot of relaxation to be effective. The more relaxed you will be and understand the difference between vibora attack and defense, the better your game will be because the next ball will be easier to negotiate. But if the vibora is not part of your natural arsenal, tweak it bandeja and keep it vibora for later. 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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