The Bandeja: The One Padel Shot That Keeps You at the Net

You've finally fought your way to the net with your partner. You're in control of the point. Then the lob goes up over your head, and instinct takes over — you turn and chase it back to the glass. Just like that, you've handed the net back to the other team and you're on defence again.

I see this every single week at the Park. The lob isn't the problem. The problem is that nobody's taught you the shot that answers it. That shot is the bandeja, and learning it is probably the single biggest jump you'll make from "beginner who rallies" to "player who actually wins points."

What the bandeja actually is

The bandeja — Spanish for "tray," because of the serving-a-tray motion — is a controlled overhead you play when the ball is lobbed over you. It is not a smash. You're not trying to win the point with it. You're trying to keep it: hit a controlled, slicey overhead that lands deep, buys you time, and lets you and your partner stay up at the net where you want to be.

That's the mental shift. Beginners see a ball above their head and think "attack." The bandeja is the opposite — it's a holding shot. Placement and control over power, every time. Get it and you stop getting pushed off the net. That's the whole game right there.

Why retreating is the trap

When you turn and run back to the glass to let the lob bounce, two things happen, both bad. You give up the net — the team at the net wins most padel points, so you've just handed over your biggest advantage. And you've turned a neutral ball into a defensive scramble off the back wall, which is exactly what your opponents wanted when they lobbed you.

The bandeja lets you deal with that same lob without surrendering an inch of court. You stay forward, you reset the point on your terms, and the pressure stays on them.

How to hit it — the plain-English version

Hold a continental grip — the "shake hands with the racket" grip, the same one you'd use to serve. This is what lets you slice the ball rather than slap at it.

The moment you see the lob, turn side-on and point your non-hitting hand up at the ball. That turn is half the shot — it sets your body and stops you reaching backwards off balance. Then meet the ball out in front of you and a little to your side, about one o'clock if you're right-handed, not directly overhead. Contact in front is what keeps you balanced and facing forward.

Brush down and through the back of the ball with a slicing action — like you're gently slapping a high shelf, or serving a tray out in front of you. You'll feel the ball grip the strings and float rather than fly. Aim deep, ideally down the side toward your opponents' backhand, so the ball dies low off the side glass and gives them nothing to attack. Then recover your net position straight away.

The mistakes I see most

Trying to smash it. Nine times out of ten the ball is too deep or too high to put away, and going for power just sprays it long or into the net. Slice and place instead.

Letting the ball get behind your head. If you don't turn and move early, you end up reaching backwards, and from there you can only flick it up weakly. Move your feet the instant the lob goes up.

Standing tall and flat. Stay side-on through the shot. Facing the net square with your shoulders open is how the ball ends up floating short and sitting up for them.

A drill you can do this week

Get your partner or coach to feed you lobs — nothing fancy, just balls up over your head while you stand at the net. Your only job: turn side-on, slice, and land the ball in the back third of the court. Don't try to win the point. Hit twenty in a row aiming deep and cross-court, and you'll start to feel the float and the control. Then play a set where you're banned from smashing any lob — bandeja only. It feels strange for ten minutes and then it clicks, and you'll wonder how you ever played without it.

None of this needs new gear, but a manoeuvrable, forgiving racket genuinely makes the bandeja easier — you can get the head up and slice late without fighting the frame. If yours feels heavy and slow overhead, the team at shop.padelpark.nz can point you at something more nimble, or you can demo a couple at the Park.

Read next: Move as a Pair: The Padel Positioning Habit That Wins More Points — the bandeja keeps you at the net; good positioning is how you got there in the first place.

FAQ

What is a bandeja in padel?

A controlled, slicing overhead you play when the ball is lobbed over you. It's a holding shot, not a smash — the goal is to land it deep, keep the pressure on, and stay at the net rather than retreating.

What's the difference between a bandeja and a smash?

A smash is an attacking shot you try to win the point with. A bandeja is a controlled, placement-first shot you use to neutralise a lob and keep your net position. Most lobs should be answered with a bandeja, not a smash.

What grip should I use for the bandeja?

A continental grip — the same "shake hands with the racket" grip you'd serve with. It lets you slice across the ball for control instead of slapping flat at it.

Why do I keep hitting my bandeja too short?

Usually because the ball gets behind your head or you face the net square. Turn side-on early, take the ball out in front, and slice through aiming for the back third of the court.

Do I need a special racket to play a bandeja?

No, but a lighter, more manoeuvrable racket makes getting the head up and slicing late noticeably easier. If your racket feels slow overhead, it may be worth trying something more nimble.

Written by Nicholas Woods — owner of Padel Park Hamilton & accredited padel coach.