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Volea (Volley)
neutralbeginneralso called Volea
The volley — your bread and butter at the net. In padel, volleys are more about placement than power.
🎯 When to use it
- \u2713Anytime you're at the net and the ball is in the air.
- \u2713First volley after a serve return is critical — set the tempo.
- \u2713Cutting off cross-court shots from the baseline.
\u26a0\ufe0f Common mistakes
- \u2717Big swings — leads to errors and slow recovery.
- \u2717Backing up to play a volley — you should be moving forward or stepping into it.
- \u2717Hitting every volley flat — the slice volley keeps the ball low and dies on the bounce.
🏆 Technique — step by step
- 1Short, compact swing. Punch, don't swing.
- 2Continental grip — same for forehand and backhand volleys.
- 3Contact in front of the body, racket face slightly open for control.
- 4Aim for the feet or open court — power is rarely the answer.
💡 Pro tip
The block volley (no swing, just absorb) is underused. Against a hard drive, just present the racket face and let the ball drop short — the chiquita volley.
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