Get Familiar with Padel Vocabulary: A Glossary for Beginners

If you’re new to the game of padel, you’ll quickly realize that it has its own unique vocabulary. At first, it may seem overwhelming, but it won’t take you long to get the hang of it. In this article, we’ll go over the most common padel terms so that you can start speaking the language of padel like a pro.

The Basics

Before we get into the specifics, let’s go over some basic padel vocabulary.

Padel: A racket sport that is a mix between tennis and squash.

Court: The playing area for padel. It is enclosed by walls and measures 20 meters by 10 meters.

Racket: The equipment used to hit the ball in padel.

Ball: The hollow, rubber ball used in padel. It is similar to a tennis ball but slightly smaller.

The Specifics

Here are some of the most important padel terms you should know:

Serve: The first hit of the ball to start a point.

Volley: Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces on the ground.

Smash: A powerful shot hit over the net.

Forehand: Hitting the ball with the palm of your hand facing the net.

Backhand: Hitting the ball with the palm of your hand facing away from the net.

Deuce: When the score is tied at 40-40.

Advantage: When one player wins a point after deuce.

Drive: A medium-speed shot that travels parallel to the ground.

Drop shot: A soft shot that is intended to land just over the net and bounce twice.

Lob: A high, looping shot that is hit over the opponent’s head.

Net: The barrier that divides the court in half.

Let: A serve that hits the net but lands in the correct service box.

Conclusion

These are some of the most common padel terms that you’ll come across while playing or watching the game. Don’t worry if you don’t remember them all right away. As you continue to play and watch padel, you’ll pick up the vocabulary naturally. And who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be using these terms to teach someone else about the game.

We hope this glossary has been helpful in getting you started with padel vocabulary. Now go out there and start playing like a pro!