A Beginner’s Guide to Padel Terms

If you’re new to padel, you may be overwhelmed with all the terminology that’s thrown around the court. From “vibora” to “smash,” it can feel like you’re trying to learn a whole new language. But fear not, with this beginner’s guide to padel terms, you’ll be speaking the lingo in no time.

Serving Terms

Serving is the first shot of the game, so it’s important to know the key terms when it comes to serving.

Underhand Serve: This is the most common serve in padel, where the player strikes the ball with their paddle underhand.

Overhead Serve: A more advanced serve where the player throws the ball up and hits it overhead with their paddle.

Foot Fault: If a player steps on or over the baseline when serving, it’s considered a fault.

Court Terms

Understanding the different parts of the court is crucial to playing padel correctly.

Baselines: The back of the court where the serving player stands to serve.

Service Box: The rectangular area on either side of the net where the serve must land.

Volley Zone: The area around the net where players typically go to hit volleys.

Shot Terms

From volleys to smashes, there are many types of shots in padel.

Volley: When a player hits the ball before it bounces on the ground.

Smash: An overhead shot hit with force.

Drop Shot: A softly hit shot that barely crosses the net and lands just over the net on the opponent’s side.

Other Terms

There are a few other terms that are important to know when playing padel.

Fault: When a player makes an error during a point, such as hitting the ball out of bounds.

Let: When a serve hits the net and still makes it over.

Advantage: When a player wins a point after a game has reached deuce. The player must win two consecutive points to win the game.

Now that you have a basic understanding of some of the key padel terms, you’re ready to get out on the court and start playing like a pro. Remember to keep practicing your technique and learning more about the game, and soon enough, you’ll be a padel expert yourself. Happy playing!