Bajada (Spanish for “descent”), often called bajada de pared, is an attacking shot played after a lob or smash has bounced and come high off the back glass. You let the ball come off the wall and hit it hard on its way down, turning a defensive position into an attack.
When to play a bajada
When opponents' overheads or lobs rebound high off your back glass, you have time to set up. A bajada punishes balls that sit up instead of returning them gently.
How to hit a bajada
- Read the rebound early and move so the ball comes down beside you, not on top of you.
- Turn side-on and prepare high.
- Hit the ball as it falls, around shoulder height, driving through it like a flat smash.
- Aim low through the middle or at the feet, then move up.
Related: contrapared · remate · all padel terms