All levelsTechnique guide

Bandeja — Padel Drills

The bandeja (Spanish: tray) is a controlled overhead played with a flat motion. It keeps you at the net rather than going for a winner — the high-percentage choice in 80% of overhead situations.

Technique: step by step

Set your position early

As soon as you read a lob, move sideways — not straight back. Get your feet level with the ball's expected contact point before it arrives. Late positioning is the #1 cause of missed bandejas.

Racket back at shoulder height

Prepare with the racket face slightly open, arm extended but not locked. Unlike a tennis serve, you're not reaching up — contact is around shoulder height, not above your head.

Swing compact and forward

Drive the racket through the ball with a short, controlled swing. Think 'push through' rather than 'swing at'. No wrist snap — keep the face flat and the motion forward.

Target cross-court to the back glass

Aim cross-court so the ball bounces near the back glass, trapping opponents in the back corner. Avoid playing the ball directly at a player — the glass creates a second problem for them.

Recover net position

After contact, step forward and resume your net position. The bandeja should buy you time to dominate the net — never follow it back to the baseline.

Coach tip

At any level: a soft bandeja that stays in is worth 10× more than a hard smash that goes out. Treat it as a positioning reset, not a winner attempt.

Drills by level

1.Stand at the net service line. Have a partner feed lobs. Focus only on early movement — take 2 steps sideways before swinging. Hit 20 repetitions each side.
2.Wall drill: stand 3m from the back glass. Hit a soft bandeja at the glass and let it bounce back. Repeat with controlled pace — not power. Build muscle memory for the flat swing.

1.Live drill: play points from the baseline. When you transition to the net and receive a lob, execute a bandeja. If you hit a smash instead, that's a forced error for scoring purposes.
2.Target practice: hang a ball bucket on the back-corner fence. Aim every bandeja to land within 1m of it. Run 30 shots each direction.

1.Disguise drill: prepare identically for bandeja and vibora. Decision is made at the last moment based on partner's call ('B' for bandeja, 'V' for vibora). Builds deceptive overhead play.
2.Counter-lob drill: after a good bandeja lands deep, partner counters with an offensive lob. You must recover and play a second overhead — often a vibora or smash. Simulate match pressure.

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Technique: step by step

Set your position early

As soon as you read a lob, move sideways — not straight back. Get your feet level with the ball's expected contact point before it arrives. Late positioning is the #1 cause of missed bandejas.

Racket back at shoulder height

Prepare with the racket face slightly open, arm extended but not locked. Unlike a tennis serve, you're not reaching up — contact is around shoulder height, not above your head.

Swing compact and forward

Drive the racket through the ball with a short, controlled swing. Think 'push through' rather than 'swing at'. No wrist snap — keep the face flat and the motion forward.

Target cross-court to the back glass

Aim cross-court so the ball bounces near the back glass, trapping opponents in the back corner. Avoid playing the ball directly at a player — the glass creates a second problem for them.

Recover net position

After contact, step forward and resume your net position. The bandeja should buy you time to dominate the net — never follow it back to the baseline.

Drills by level

1.Stand at the net service line. Have a partner feed lobs. Focus only on early movement — take 2 steps sideways before swinging. Hit 20 repetitions each side.
2.Wall drill: stand 3m from the back glass. Hit a soft bandeja at the glass and let it bounce back. Repeat with controlled pace — not power. Build muscle memory for the flat swing.

1.Live drill: play points from the baseline. When you transition to the net and receive a lob, execute a bandeja. If you hit a smash instead, that's a forced error for scoring purposes.
2.Target practice: hang a ball bucket on the back-corner fence. Aim every bandeja to land within 1m of it. Run 30 shots each direction.

1.Disguise drill: prepare identically for bandeja and vibora. Decision is made at the last moment based on partner's call ('B' for bandeja, 'V' for vibora). Builds deceptive overhead play.
2.Counter-lob drill: after a good bandeja lands deep, partner counters with an offensive lob. You must recover and play a second overhead — often a vibora or smash. Simulate match pressure.

Bandeja — Padel Drills

Technique: step by step

Set your position early

Racket back at shoulder height

Swing compact and forward

Target cross-court to the back glass

Recover net position

Drills by level

Get SmashIQ video analysis

Related drills

Bandeja — Padel Drills

Technique: step by step

Set your position early

Racket back at shoulder height

Swing compact and forward

Target cross-court to the back glass

Recover net position

Drills by level

Get SmashIQ video analysis

Related drills