The Chiquita
We begin with the Chiquita because it has an outstanding name and because it can be lethal when you need it to be. It’s a high-touch shot that juuuuust clears the net and dips down to your opponents’ feet, which forces them to hit it up in response. If you hit a good Chiquita, you know what’s coming back at you; be ready to pounce.
The Contrapared
Literally ‘against the wall’ in Spanish, this is a defensive shot that involves taking your opponent’s lob and hitting it against your own wall, in an attempt to get it up and out of your own court and reset the point. It’s extremely satisfying when it works.
The Bandeja
The Bandeja is a defensive smash, not too hard, that helps you avoid losing your position at the net. Your opponents have just tried to lob you; hit a Bandeja to hold your ground and send a message.
The Vibora
The Vibora is one of the most difficult strokes to execute. It’s a Bandeja-plus: more spin, more power, and inadvisable if you’re not advanced. You’ve been warned.
The Bajada
Your opponents managed to get a ball to bounce high off the wall; bring it down with a Bajada and live to fight another point.
The Dropshot
Not exactly a Chiquita, but not exactly not a Chiquita. It’s meant to drop into your opponents’ court and die there before they can get to it. There’s some serious back- or side-spin to it, which keeps it low.
The Cadete
A shot hit behind the back. In tennis it would be a trick shot; in pàdel, it’s practically mundane.
The Boast
Another shot that shouldn’t be possible, but is. A shot hit against the rear or side wall, sort of scooped along the glass and back over the net.
The Volley
Hitting a ball before it bounces in your court. Volleys help you gain, or maintain, an offensive position during a point.
The Smash
This is a point-ender, if you do it right. Hit it from above your shoulders, and hit it downward— hard—into the middle of the opposing court. It should bounce way above the heads of your opponents and be nearly impossible for them to hit.
El Diabolico
Sometimes called a kicksmash, it’s a smash but with enough added spin to send it outside of the court entirely, so your opponent has to leave the court in order to play it. In theory it won’t end the point. As if.
The Salida
You think you ended the point with El Diabolico? Not so fast, because your opponent just ran out of the court and hit a masterful Salida, sending it right back at you so buckle up.