The Chiquita King Training Drills

Recommended drills

1. 1

   Groundstroke

   all20–30 min

   Groundstrokes — forehands and backhands played after one bounce — are the baseline of padel technique. Unlike tennis, most padel groundstrokes aim to set up net play rather than win points outright.

   Why this drill

   Targets the groundstroke technique, which aligns with The Chiquita King's signature shot: Chiquita drop.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Ready position: Between shots, stand in a split step — feet shoulder-width apart, weight forward on the balls of your feet, racket held centrally. The split step loads your muscles to move in any direction.
   2. 2.Early backswing: Start your backswing the moment you read the direction of the incoming ball — not when it's arriving. In padel, early preparation is more important than in tennis because courts are smaller and balls come faster off glass.
   3. +3 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: In padel, groundstrokes are a vehicle to get to the net — not a weapon to win points. Every groundstroke should be played with the net transition in mind.
   View full drill guide →
2. 2

   Drop Shot

   intermediate20–30 min

   The padel drop shot: a softly struck ball that barely clears the net, landing near the service box. Effective against opponents anchored at the baseline.

   Why this drill

   Targets the drop shot technique, which aligns with The Chiquita King's signature shot: Chiquita drop.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Choose the right moment: Drop shots work when opponents are caught behind the baseline (after an aggressive smash pushed them back) or mid-court. Never play a drop shot when opponents are near the net.
   2. 2.Disguise with a full preparation: Take a full groundstroke backswing. The deception of a drop shot comes from mimicking a hard shot — opponents don't read it until contact. An early 'dropper' motion is easy to read.
   3. +3 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: A drop shot that lands past the service box is just a short ball — it's attackable. Keep it within 0.5m of the net for it to be a real threat.
   View full drill guide →
3. 3

   Drop Volley Finesse

   intermediate20–30 min

   Master the soft, delicate drop volley executed at the net with minimal racket motion. This touch shot lands just over the net within a few feet, creating unreturnable balls when opponents are pushed back.

   Why this drill

   Targets the drop volley finesse technique, which aligns with The Chiquita King's signature shot: Soft chiquita.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Net Position Setup: Position yourself at the net with knees bent and racket up, preparing for a quick reaction on an incoming ball.
   2. 2.Soft Grip Adjustment: Loosen your grip slightly to allow the racket to absorb the incoming ball's pace gently.
   3. +4 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: The drop volley is about feel and touch, not power. Think of catching the ball rather than hitting it.
   View full drill guide →
4. 4

   Side-Wall Lob Creative Shot

   advanced20–30 min

   Execute lobs that interact with the sidewall before landing in the opponent's court, creating difficult angles and recovery situations. Side-wall lobs demonstrate advanced spatial awareness and creative shot-making.

   Why this drill

   Targets the side-wall lob creative shot technique, which aligns with The Chiquita King's signature shot: Angle drop.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Angle Identification: Identify when a high lob can interact with the sidewall, creating a new trajectory toward the opponent's court.
   2. 2.Lob Angle Calculation: Calculate the angle needed to hit the sidewall at a height that redirects the ball over the opponent's baseline.
   3. +4 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: Side-wall lobs are creative shots; use them strategically when opponents are predictable or out of position.
   View full drill guide →
5. 5

   Chiquita

   intermediate20–30 min

   The chiquita is a low passing shot that passes below the net player's reach, usually cross-court. The primary weapon against a net-dominating pair.

   Why this drill

   Targets the chiquita technique, which aligns with The Chiquita King's signature shot: Chiquita drop.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Identify the opportunity: The chiquita works when net players are too close to the net (reaching for volleys) or out of position. A pair settled at 1m from the net with good coverage is harder to chiquita.
   2. 2.Swing low-to-high, sharp angle: Generate topspin with a low-to-high swing. The ball must dip below the net player's racket (around 0.8m from the ground as it crosses the net). Sharp cross-court angle makes the target corridor wider.
   3. +3 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: The chiquita is harder than it looks — don't attempt it under pressure until you have 30+ clean practice repetitions at medium pace. A chiquita that pops up is an easy put-away for the net pair.
   View full drill guide →
6. 6

   Wide Serve Angle Exploitation

   intermediate20–30 min

   Execute wide serves that pull the receiver off the court, opening the center for winners and setting up specific first-volley positions. Wide serves are tactically valuable for disrupting return consistency and creating imbalance.

   Why this drill

   Targets the wide serve angle exploitation technique, which aligns with The Chiquita King's signature shot: Angle drop.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Wide Target Identification: Target the widest legal service area, forcing the receiver to stretch toward the sideline.
   2. 2.Adjusted Toss Position: Position your toss wide and forward, creating a swing path that curves the serve toward the sideline.
   3. +4 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: Wide serves work best when mixed with T-serves; predictable wide serves are easily attacked.
   View full drill guide →

FAQs

Other advanced archetypes

• → The Soft Touch training drills
• → The Finisher training drills
• → The Net Rusher training drills
• → The Quick Hitter training drills