After knowing of the most “common” strokes in racket sports, let's look at a specific gesture that is only used in padel: the tray.

Posted to the net you refuse to lose position when your opponents try to lob you. These tall balls can be played in different ways; with a smash, with a curled arm (gancho) or with a bandeja. The bandeja itself can be separated into 2 parts; the bandeja and the vibora. What is the difference ? The effect and the technique.

So in the padel manuals, these two shots are called bandeja, but little by little people are distinguishing and separating the bandeja from the vibora. Today, let's talk about the first one: the bandeja.

Understand first of all that the bandeja that you are going to play is not an attack shot but a defense shot that will allow you not to lose the attack position, close to the net. Of course, in some cases you will have the possibility of putting more speed into this bandeja and perhaps you will succeed in making the difference, but as long as you are not comfortable with this shot and you do not know how to detect a position allowing you to attack, keep this idea of ​​​​a defense shot that will give you time to return to the net while keeping and pushing your opponents to the back of the court.

 

Bandeja ? Quésaco?

Bandeja comes from the Spanish word for “plate”. The goal is to prepare and hit the ball with the pala pointing towards the sky as a waiter would do. If you want to copy the gesture of professionals, take a look at the bandeja of Fernando Belasteguin, an expert in this area of ​​the game.

White Bandeja wpt

What's the point ?

As we have just explained, the bandeja serves to give us time to return to the net. So if you opt for a violent strike, be sure that the ball will bounce on one or even two windows before the opponent returns it to you, otherwise opt for slowness which will allow you to come forward.

The bandeja, thanks to its cut effect, from top to bottom, will reduce the bounce of the ball in the opponent's camp which will complicate the defense. Also, and in the case where the opponents press you coming to the net, the bandeja will allow you to make the ball dive directly into their feet.

Finally, if you are looking for the center, the bandeja will be perfect if played slowly, because the ball will tend to die at the bottom of the court.

Technically

You are posted to the net, in a waiting position identical to that of the volley, and your opponents try to lob you.

First of all you have to put yourself in profile. There is a technique to facilitate this profile position, it is called the “3 in 1”:

1- the dominant leg moves backwards
2- the dominant arm is placed back with the pala facing the sky
3- the non-dominant hand in the direction of the side grid

This 3 in 1 movement, with practice, will become automated and you will therefore always be ready to play the bandeja correctly.

Please note: remember to raise the elbow of the dominant arm to face height to facilitate the plateau position.

Following the 3 in 1 you will adjust your position with chased steps.

Just before the strike we will try to stretch upwards to “catch” the ball and throw it down. It is important not to wait for it but to make this effort to rise to catch the ball as high as possible and then descend with it and give it a direction. Our dominant arm will be extended, pala oriented towards the sky and it will be our abdominals that will work to achieve the rotation of the body necessary to allow the ball to be deposited in the desired place, at the opponent's home.

Once the ball is impacted, we will resume our pressure forward to recover the position at the net and play a nice volley.

The bandeja is a shot that requires great physical effort when it is hit high. Among the girls, Léa Godallier is an expert in this area. Look at how the preparation is done, very early, a nice suspension that aims to get the ball as high as possible to accompany it down, then finally the rotation of the body thanks to the strength of the abdominals.

 

 

The final word will be the end of the gesture which will vary according to the players between the arm in a sling around the neck or at the level of the belt like a knight who puts his sword back in the scabbard, it will depend on whether your ball tends to finish its stroke in the net or in the bottom window.

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a padel teacher in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and articles on padel tactics/techniques.

On the same subject

Tags