Ace
A serve that wins the point without the receiver touching the ball.
Padel Glossary
Common padel terms explained in plain language, grouped by first letter for quick lookup.
A
Advantage
The point after deuce that puts one team one point from winning the game.
Approach shot
A shot played while moving forward to take or recover the net.
B
Bajada
A shot played after the ball drops from the back glass, often with controlled pace.
Balance
How the racket's weight feels: head-heavy for power, lower balance for maneuverability, or balanced in between.
Bandeja
A controlled overhead used to keep the pair high on court without taking smash-level risk.
C
Chiquita
A soft short ball into the front court to move opponents and open the next shot.
Continental grip
A neutral grip used for serves, volleys, bandejas and many defensive shots.
Counter smash
A smash or overhead response played after defending an opponent's attacking ball.
D
Deuce
A tied game score at 40-40, where a team must win the deciding sequence.
Drive
A forehand shot, often used for controlled balls from the side wall or open court.
Drop shot
A soft shot designed to land short and make opponents move forward.
F
Fault
An illegal serve or shot that does not meet the rules.
Flat shot
A shot with little spin, usually hit with a direct racket path.
G
Gancho
A compact hook-style overhead used when the ball is slightly behind the hitting shoulder.
Glass
The back and side walls that keep the ball in play after a legal bounce.
Golden point
A deciding point used in some formats instead of advantage scoring.
L
Let
A point or serve that must be replayed under the rules.
Lob
A high shot used to push opponents away from the net and reset court position.
N
Net game
Attacking play from the volley zone, where teams usually control the point.
O
Overgrip
A thin grip layer wrapped over the handle to adjust feel, tack and thickness.
P
Poach
A move where one player crosses into a partner's side to attack a ball.
R
Rally
The sequence of shots played after the serve until the point ends.
Rulo
A lifted attacking shot aimed over a defender toward the back corner.
S
Second serve
The backup serve after a first-serve fault.
Side wall
The glass or wall on the side of the court, used in many rebounds.
Smash
An overhead power shot that can finish the point, force a bad return or bring the ball back over the net.
Spin
Rotation on the ball that changes bounce, skid and control.
Split step
A small timing hop used to get balanced before reacting to the next ball.
Sweet spot
The most forgiving hitting zone of the racket face.
T
Tiebreak
A game used to decide a set when the score reaches the tournament's tied-set rule.
V
Vibora
A sharper, sidespin overhead that skids after the bounce and glass.
Volley
A shot hit before the ball bounces, normally from the net area.
W
Wall rebound
The ball's bounce from the glass after it has bounced legally on court.