Padel grew up in Spain and Argentina, so most of the game's language is Spanish. Here is every term you'll hear on a UK court, explained in plain English. Tap a term for technique and common mistakes.
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Rules and basics
- Saque (serve): underarm, bounced behind the line, hit at or below waist height.
- Scoring: 15, 30, 40, game; six games a set.
- Wall rules: when the ball can hit the glass.
- Pista (court): 20m by 10m.
- Drive and revés: the right and left sides, and who plays where.
- Golden point (punto de oro): one deciding point at 40–40.
Shots
- Bandeja: a defensive sliced overhead that keeps you at the net.
- Víbora: an aggressive overhead with side and backspin that skids off the side glass.
- Remate: the smash.
- Rulo: a topspin smash that kicks high and forward.
- Por tres / por cuatro: a smash that bounces out over the side fence / back wall.
- Globo: the lob, the shot that takes the net.
- Chiquita: a soft, low ball at the feet of net players.
- Dejada: the drop shot.
- Bajada: attacking the ball as it comes down off the back glass.
- Contrapared: hitting into your own wall so the ball rebounds over the net.
- Volea: volley.
Formats and culture
- Americano: rotate partners, keep your own points.
- Mexicano: like an americano, paired by standings.
- Vamos: “let's go”, the shout after a big point.
- Pared: wall. Reja: the metal mesh fence.
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