Stroke attack as to the defense, the viper is both offensive and poisonous, even deadly. Knowing how to master and control it will make your master an artist on the track.

La viper (viper) is an aerial hit not given to everyone, but when overpowered it can do a lot of damage in the opponent's camp. Let us try to give you the keys to this incredible coup.

Why this name of vibora?

The vibora is a variant of the tray, this defensive shot impacted high, above the shoulder, which allows attackers not to lose their offensive position at the net. The name of the snake which has been attributed to it is for the resemblance of the body of the animal to the trajectory of the bullet, which is absolutely not straight, and above all unpredictable. Finally, the viper is a rather calm snake, discreet, but which can become aggressive or even deadly. So watch out for her.

Who can control it?

The first piece of advice to give would be not to try to make a pure and hard vibora when we are beginners. It is a fairly technical shot and therefore complicated to make. So first try to correctly impact the high defense ball, not to lose the net, and with time and practice you will discover if you are more of a bandeja or more of a vibora. Nothing obliges you to master both shots so focus on one effective shot rather than two average shots.

In “general”, tennis players find it easier to perform a vibora because technically, it could consist of hitting a topspin serve at a lower height, to the side.

Pablo Lijo vibrates

Finally, the vibora is used a lot by right-handed players on the left on the court or by left-handers posted on the right. Why? For the effect given to the ball which will tend to always come closer to the side window after bouncing on the back window. So even at slow speed, the vibora will move opponents outside their comfort zone (home).

Technically

Like the bandeja, the vibora will start from the net with the 3 in 1 technique. Profile position, dominant arm placed and non-dominant hand towards the side grid. When we detailed the bandeja, we said that the pala was placed on a plateau, that we had to go and get the ball high and that the abdominals and all the muscles of the pelvic girdle allowed, through their contraction, to achieve the rotation of the body for the strike.

In the case of the vibora it is different.

First of all, the pala will be placed behind our head, with the top of the pala if possible touching the back of our skull. Then we will not try to get the ball as high as possible, but we will wait for it at the best hitting height. And finally, it is the arm and the relaxation of the wrist that will do the strike.

Paquito Navarro vibrates

So, we have the basics: profile position with the non-dominant hand pointing to the side grid and the pala placed behind our head. The goal will be to impact the ball in a brushed manner at eye level. That is the difficulty. If we manage to find this point of impact slightly in front of us, at eye level, and with relaxation, the vibora will be more venomous than ever.

Small advice: to find this point of impact which is different for each player, you can imagine yourself throwing a stone in a body of water to make ricochets there. Focus on when you are going to drop that pebble: it will be your place of impact with the ball because your arm will be straight and outstretched, acting like a whip.

The end of the gesture should follow the movement, ending with the arm wrapped in a sling around the neck. For slower strokes, the gesture will be shorter.

Do you understand why today the vibora is breaking away from the bandeja to create its own identity? A blow at the base of defense that can be converted into an attack blow, devastating, loaded with venom, that will bewitch your opponents with its trajectories! This blow is unique, and to be used without moderation.

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