Unlike tennis, Padel , in addition to having a smaller court, has side and back walls . These can make it difficult to manage the balls that pass through that area, but if managed well they can allow us to transform a defensive action into an offensive action, and below we will see how.
The back glass is often underestimated, especially at intermediate or amateur levels. This can be an important ally, capable of creating support in case of difficulty, but also of being an important weapon to pass from a defensive transition to an offensive one; furthermore we must not forget that playing with the glass the rallies will become longer, making the game more fun and fought, whether it is between friends or in a FITP tournament.
As we said, the back walls allow us to transform the action from defensive to offensive, but not only that, letting the ball bounce against the glass causes the rhythm of the point to slow down. In short, they could, at first impact, create difficulties for us, but if used wisely, understanding their use we could no longer do without them.
There are different readings of the game to understand whether it is better to let the ball go on the glass or anticipate it. On a slow ball it is advisable to play a lob , which allows us to go over the opponent, accompanying the technical gesture until the end; if instead the ball is fast, the ideal is to try to hit it towards the body of the opposing player in a strong and decisive way. The third solution to exit the wall is that of the central passing shot , possibly between the two opposing players. If you receive a strong hit, with a very fast exit from the wall, the ciquita can be a solution, in fact, once the ball has bounced on the glass and is returning towards the central net, we should accompany it with impact in front of the body, and make the shot bringing it back to the opposite court, making it fall in the area of the opponent's feet; it is the most difficult, but if done well it can be the most effective, creating a sort of surprise effect.
If we suffer a lob from the opponent there are two possible solutions:
BACK SPIN : I follow the ball with my eyes as it bounces on the glass and with a strong shot, with the impact point at shoulder height, I aim for the central part of the court, positioning it in the middle of the opposing players.
FLAT OUTPUT : similar to the back spin, with the difference that the ball goes in the opposite direction to the part of the court we are occupying, therefore executing a diagonal, with the impact point above the head.
In conclusion, it can be said that the glass is an important training for players, but it must be used in the correct way, with the right countermoves, knowing which shot to choose and where to aim, otherwise it risks becoming an enemy, and one more opponent to face.
