Padel Terminology Explained: A Comprehensive Padel Glossary

Are you new to the sport of padel and find yourself confused by terms like “chiquita” and “víbora”? Fear not, for we’ve compiled a comprehensive padel glossary to help you understand the sport’s unique terminology.

Serve Related Terms

Saque – The serve

Primero – First serve

Segundo – Second serve

Falta – A fault. Occurs when the ball does not land in the correct service box, hits the net before clearing, or goes out of bounds.

Ace – A serve that cannot be returned by the opponent.

Common Shots

Bandeja – A high shot hit over the net, typically played as a defensive lob.

Volea – A volley, a shot that is taken before the ball bounces on the ground.

Smash – A hard overhead shot that drives the ball forcefully down into the opponent’s court.

Víbora – A low, diagonal shot that is hit at an angle from the backhand side.

Chiquita – A short shot that is hit with a wrist snap to avoid a full swing.

Remate – A smash or overhead shot.

Rebote – A ball that hits the side or back wall before landing on the opponent’s side.

Court Related Terms

Cancha – The court.

Pared – The walls of the court.

Malla – The wire mesh that covers the walls and ceiling of the court.

Bote/Piso – The ground of the court.

Red – The net that divides the court.

Other Useful Terms

Juego – A game.

Set – A set, typically played to six games with a difference of two.

Tie-break – A tie-breaking game played when the score is tied at 6-6 in a set.

Deuce – A tied score of 40-40, necessitating the winning of two consecutive points to win the game.

Paddle – The racquet used in padel, which is typically shorter and has no strings.

Now that you have a better understanding of some of the common padel terminology, you’ll be better equipped to understand the game. Keep practicing and soon you’ll be using these terms yourself! Watch out for more articles and updates about padel on our website.