Wondering which shots you should learn first to improve at padel? The short answer: for most beginners, the forehand, backhand, volley, lob, and bandeja are the most important shots. With these five, you build control, consistency, net position, and tactical insight. The smash is also important, but it usually only really comes into its own when you have a better grasp of the basics.
Padel is not primarily about power. The game is much more often decided by control, positioning, timing, and smart shot selection. Players who master the basics often win against players who hit harder but play less consistently.
Why these 5 shots are so important
These five shots form the real foundation for most players:
- forehand and backhand to build rallies
- volley to apply pressure at the net
- lob to regain the net
- bandeja to maintain your net position after an opponent's lob.
This is a stronger foundation for beginners than immediately focusing heavily on the smash. The smash remains useful, but without the other shots, you usually play too inconsistently to truly benefit from it. This is a practical conclusion based on the fundamentals emphasized by these sources.
1. Forehand
The forehand is usually one of the first shots players learn. It is the shot on the dominant side of your body and is very often used in padel to build rallies. Babolat and other padel guides explicitly call the forehand one of the game's basic technical movements.
A good forehand helps you to:
- keep the ball in play
- control tempo
- reduce errors
- build confidence from the baseline.
Tips for a better forehand
Stay low, rotate your shoulders, and hit the ball in front of your body. The movement in padel is usually more compact than in tennis, with more control and smaller swings.
2. Backhand
For many beginners, the backhand is more difficult than the forehand, but it is just as important. Padel sources describe the backhand as essential for consistency, defense, and longer rallies, especially when you are under pressure on your non-dominant side.
A stable backhand helps you to:
- make fewer errors under pressure
- defend better
- control difficult low balls
- play a more complete game from the baseline.
Tips for a better backhand
Rotate your shoulders in time, keep your racket stable, and try not to force it. Initially, a simple, controlled backhand is more valuable than a spectacular one.
3. Volley
The volley is one of the most important shots for controlling padel matches. The Padel School even has a separate technique library dedicated to the volley, and skill level descriptions also show that players only truly improve when they can play comfortably at the net.
With a good volley, you can:
- put pressure on your opponents
- dictate the pace of the rally
- force weaker balls
- build points shorter and smarter.
Tips for a better volley
Keep the movement short, keep your wrist stable, and try not to hit the ball too hard. In padel, a well-placed volley is often more valuable than a powerful one.
4. Lob
Here your original blog misses opportunities. The lob is one of the most important shots in padel, as it allows you to regain the net and force your opponent back. Babolat explicitly includes the lob as part of the technical basics, and padel glossaries describe the lob as one of the most important shots in the game.
A good lob helps you to:
- gain time in the rally
- switch from defense to offense
- push opponents away from the net
- play tactically smarter.
Tips for a better lob
Try to play the ball high and deep, preferably so that the opponent has to retreat and cannot attack comfortably. A good lob in padel is often more important than a wild winner attempt. This is a logical tactical inference from how the lob is described in the sources.
5. Bandeja
The bandeja is a typical padel shot and a logical next step after you have a better grasp of the basics. The Padel School describes the bandeja as a shot between a smash and a forehand volley, played on a deep lob with the aim of maintaining your position at the net.
This makes the bandeja so important:
- you remain offensive without forcing it
- you give away fewer free errors than with a smash
- you keep pressure on the opponent
- you maintain your net position.
Tips for a better bandeja
Play with control, not brute force. Use slice, keep working sideways, and aim deep or into difficult areas. The bandeja is primarily a tactical overhead, not a show-off shot.
Why the smash is not in this top 5
The smash remains an important shot, but for beginners, it is usually not more fundamental than the lob or bandeja. A smash is only truly useful when your position, timing, and overhead game are already good enough. Babolat also places the smash more with the attacking shots on top of the technical basics.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't learn the smash, but rather that for this blog, it works better as a next step than as one of the first 5 indispensable shots for beginners.
Which shot is the most important?
There isn't one perfect winner. For most beginners, forehand and backhand are the basics for surviving rallies, the volley is crucial for controlling the net, and the lob is indispensable for regaining the net. Therefore, it is smarter to speak of a core set of shots rather than one holy shot. This aligns better with how padel technique is built up in the sources.
Common mistakes in padel shots
Many players get stuck because they:
- want to hit hard too quickly
- pay too little attention to positioning
- use too few lobs
- try to force difficult overheads too early
- underestimate the walls and the tactical nature of padel.
Summary
For a beginner or recreational player, these are the 5 most important shots in padel:
- forehand
- backhand
- volley
- lob
- bandeja
With these five, you build the real foundation of your game. After that, you can grow to shots like the smash, vibora, bajada, and other more technical variations.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about padel shots
Which shot should you learn first in padel?
For most players, the forehand and backhand are the first shots they learn, as they form the basis of rallies and control.
What are the most important shots in padel?
For beginners, the forehand, backhand, volley, lob, and bandeja are particularly important. This aligns well with the technical basics and initial tactical development in padel.
Is the smash important in padel?
Yes, but usually only after you have a better grasp of the basics. For beginners, control and positioning are more important than pure power.
Why is the lob so important in padel?
Because a good lob allows you to regain the net and force your opponent out of their attacking position.