Le padel is a game attack as well as to the defense. What is important is good organize your attack in order to avoid getting repel in defence, hence the interest of succeeding in the first volley.

First, each player must understand which volley can be aggressive, controlling, approaching or holding. If you're not sure how to tell the difference between these nuances, then our advice would be to get the first volley done before thinking about any other tactic.

When to play it?

The first end is played after a serve, after having made a lob, after a chiquita, an offensive window exit, in short when you pass from the back to the net.

When you are at the net, too, you can make a first volley; your partner plays volleys, bandejas and other high balls, he finds himself in an awkward position and the ball comes towards you. A first volley will put your team back in the right direction. 

After playing a high ball, you have taken several steps backwards so you need to come back forwards. The first volley will help you recover the offense.

How to play this ball?

The first volley must be taken with the aim of sitting at the net. If you let the opponents come forward, you will quickly get knocked back. On the other hand, a slower, deeper, well-placed volley will play these opponents out of the window, giving you an extra amount of time to reach your net position, from which you can attempt to finish a point.

This first volley must be stroked, dropped, in a safe area for you, which will force opponents out of their "home" and therefore, thus preventing them from going on the attack. In general, this zone will be the center of the track, because it is the easiest part to find, and it forces you to discover yourself and can even generate a conflict (divorce zone).

But it's up to you to play that first end wherever you want as long as it doesn't bounce too close to the net, hit the gate or the side window, allowing opponents to put pressure on you directly. Save these areas for later.

The first end is sometimes neglected by players who want to immediately go on the attack, to win the point. But we're on a trail padel and not on a tennis court where your approach to the net must be incisive otherwise you will pass. At padel, the goal is to get you into an attacking position, so if you think about hitting a good first volley, slow enough and deep enough, it will help you play better on offense. 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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