To put an end to that sunny late winter weekend, here are three important tips if you want to improve your low ball defense. Defending is not an easy thing in padel, but if we do not accept to defend, it will be difficult for us to turn the situation around and then take the net and go on the attack.

Here are three tips for defending low balls played by our opponents:

  • Racket height

When the ball of our opponents has little rebound, it is important to make a preparation of adapted blow. When I play a smash-type high ball, I am able to lift my racket over the shoulders, so for low ball defense, I must be able to lower my racquet's head as low as possible.

  • Short preparation

The bigger will be my preparation more power I would have. Are we looking for power? No. Great preparation makes us lose control and that's what we're looking for. We defend a low ball, complicated to play. A short preparation will allow us to have control over the ball and provide it back to our opponents.

  • The angle of the racket

Third point very important for the defense, and not less the simplest, the angle of the racket. It will take a long time to understand, depending on the speed of the ball and its rebound, how to orient your racket so that the ball goes in the desired direction. Remember that a ball with a lot of speed will not necessarily need a lot of power from you to be defended properly but just a good racket angle.

Do not hesitate to ask us questions

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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