How to Hit the Bandeja in Padel: Technique & Tips

By Gary, founder of RacketRise. Playing padel in the UK and tracking the sport's explosive growth.

Last Updated: March 2026

Quick Summary

• The bandeja is a defensive overhead shot — it keeps you at the net while neutralising your opponent's lob, unlike a smash which is all-out attack
• Use a continental grip and strike the ball with a high-to-low slicing motion, aiming to land the ball deep with backspin
• The bandeja is the most-used overhead in padel — professional players hit more bandejas than smashes in almost every match
• Find courts near you — use the RacketRise Court Finder to find padel and pickleball courts across the UK

Your opponents have lobbed you. The ball is above your head. Every instinct screams at you to smash it as hard as possible. You swing with full power, the ball cannons off the back glass, and your opponents casually return it while you scramble to recover your position.

This is why the bandeja exists.

Quick Answer: The bandeja is a controlled overhead shot in padel hit with a continental grip and a high-to-low slicing motion. It is not a smash — it is a defensive overhead designed to keep the ball low, deep, and difficult to return while you maintain your position at the net. You use it when a lob is too high or too deep to smash effectively. The bandeja is the single most important overhead shot in padel and the one you will use far more often than the smash.

Table of Contents

• What Is the Bandeja?
• When to Use the Bandeja
• The Grip: Continental
• Footwork and Positioning
• How to Hit the Bandeja: Step by Step
• Bandeja vs Vibora vs Smash
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Drills
• Sources & Further Reading
• Related Articles
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Bandeja?

The bandeja (Spanish for "tray") is a defensive overhead shot unique to padel. It is struck from above the head with a slicing motion that sends the ball deep into the opponents' court with backspin, keeping it low after the bounce. The name comes from the flat, tray-like racket angle at the point of contact.

Unlike a smash, the bandeja is not about power. It is about control, placement, and maintaining your net position. When your opponents lob you, the bandeja allows you to return the ball effectively without retreating from the net. You stay forward, your partner stays forward, and you keep the attacking position.

Professional padel players hit bandejas far more frequently than smashes. Watch any World Padel Tour match and you will see bandejas on nearly every other point. At club level in the UK, most players either attempt a full smash on every overhead or awkwardly pat the ball back. Learning the bandeja gives you a massive advantage over opponents who have not developed this shot.

When to Use the Bandeja

The bandeja is the right choice in the following situations:

The lob is deep. When the lob pushes you back towards the middle of the court or beyond, a full smash becomes risky. You are hitting from further away, the margin for error is smaller, and a missed smash surrenders the net position entirely. The bandeja keeps the ball in play safely.

The lob is high. A very high lob gives you time but makes timing a smash difficult. The bandeja is more forgiving on high balls because the slicing motion provides natural control. You do not need to time a full power swing on a ball dropping from a great height.

You want to stay at the net. The bandeja's controlled motion means you do not overcommit to the shot. After hitting a bandeja, you are balanced and ready to move. After a full smash, you are often off-balance and slow to recover.

Your opponents are in a good defensive position. If both opponents are behind the baseline and set up well, a smash will likely come back off the glass. A well-placed bandeja that stays low is harder for them to attack from the back of the court.

The Grip: Continental

The bandeja uses a continental grip — the same grip you would use for a volley or a serve in tennis. Hold the racket as if you are shaking hands with it, with the base knuckle of your index finger on the top bevel of the handle.

The continental grip allows you to open the racket face naturally, which is essential for the slicing motion of the bandeja. If you use a forehand grip, you will struggle to get under the ball and produce the backspin that makes the shot effective.

If you are unsure about grips, check our guide to holding a padel racket for a full breakdown.

Footwork and Positioning

Good footwork makes the bandeja feel effortless. Poor footwork makes it feel impossible.

Turn sideways. As soon as you see the lob coming, turn your body so that your non-racket shoulder faces the net. This sideways position is essential — you cannot hit an effective bandeja while facing the net square-on.

Small adjustment steps. Use short, quick steps to position yourself underneath and slightly behind the ball. You want the ball to be roughly above your racket shoulder at the point of contact. If you are directly under the ball, you will hit it straight up rather than forward.

Weight transfer. As you swing, transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot. This forward weight shift generates the depth you need without requiring a big swing. The power comes from your body, not your arm.

Stay on your toes. After hitting the bandeja, you need to recover your net position immediately. If you are flat-footed, you will be slow to move forward. Stay light on your feet throughout the shot.

How to Hit the Bandeja: Step by Step

Step 1: Read the Lob Early

Watch the ball leave your opponent's racket and judge the trajectory immediately. Is it a deep lob that will push you back, or a shorter one you could potentially smash? If the lob is deep or high, commit to the bandeja. Do not hesitate between shots.

Step 2: Turn and Prepare

Rotate your shoulders so you are side-on to the net. Bring the racket up behind your head with your elbow high and the racket face open. Your non-racket hand should point up towards the ball to help you track it and maintain balance.

Step 3: Position Under the Ball

Use small adjustment steps to get into position. The ball should be slightly in front of you and above your racket shoulder. Getting the positioning right is the single most important part of the bandeja — everything else falls into place if you are in the right spot.

Step 4: Strike with a High-to-Low Motion

Swing from high to low, cutting underneath the ball with the open racket face. The motion should feel like you are slicing the ball rather than hitting through it. Contact the ball at roughly head height or just above. Your wrist stays firm — do not flick or snap it.

Step 5: Follow Through Towards the Target

The follow-through should be short and controlled, finishing roughly at chest height in the direction you are aiming. Unlike a smash, the bandeja follow-through does not go all the way down. It stops relatively early, which helps you maintain balance.

Step 6: Recover Forward

Immediately after the shot, move forward to reassert your net position. The whole point of the bandeja is that it allows you to stay at the net. If you hit the bandeja and then stand still, you have missed the point entirely.

Want to practise your bandeja? Find padel courts near you with the RacketRise Court Finder.

Bandeja vs Vibora vs Smash

These three overhead shots serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each one separates intermediate players from beginners.

The bandeja is your default overhead. Use it when in doubt. It is the safest option and keeps you in the point.

The vibora is the aggressive cousin of the bandeja. It adds heavy sidespin to make the ball kick off the glass wall unpredictably. It requires more skill and is covered in detail in our vibora guide.

The smash is for short lobs where you have a clear opportunity to win the point or push your opponents into serious trouble. It carries the most risk because a missed smash often costs you the net position.

Common Mistakes

Trying to Hit Too Hard

The bandeja is not a power shot. If you are swinging hard, you are not hitting a bandeja — you are hitting an uncontrolled smash. Reduce the power to about 40-50% of your maximum. The effectiveness comes from placement and spin, not speed.

Facing the Net Square-On

Hitting an overhead while facing the net directly removes your ability to generate the slicing motion. Always turn sideways before striking. The sideways stance gives you the shoulder rotation needed for a clean, controlled contact.

Letting the Ball Drop Too Low

If you wait too long and the ball drops below head height, you lose the downward angle that makes the bandeja effective. Hit the ball at its highest comfortable point — head height or just above.

No Backspin

If your bandeja bounces high and sits up for your opponents, you are not cutting under the ball enough. Focus on the high-to-low swing path. The racket face should be slightly open at contact, brushing underneath the ball to create backspin. The ball should stay low after bouncing and ideally die near the back glass.

Forgetting to Recover

Hitting a good bandeja and then standing still is a waste. The whole purpose of the shot is to stay in the attacking position. Move forward immediately after every bandeja.

Practice Drills

Drill 1: Feed and Bandeja

Have a partner or coach stand at the back of the court and lob balls to you at the net. Hit 20 bandejas in a row, focusing on the slicing motion and landing the ball deep in the court. Do not worry about placement at first — just get the technique right.

Drill 2: Target Zones

Place targets (cones, towels, or ball cans) in the back corners of the court. Hit bandejas from the net position and try to land them near the targets. Aim for 5 out of 10 to each corner before moving on.

Drill 3: Bandeja and Recover

Hit a bandeja, then immediately sprint forward to touch the net with your racket before the next lob arrives. This trains the recovery habit that makes the bandeja tactically effective.

Drill 4: Alternating Overhead Selection

Have your partner vary their lobs — some short, some deep, some high. Decide on each ball whether to hit a bandeja or a smash. This trains your shot selection, which is just as important as the technique itself.

Drill 5: Match Simulation

Play points where one team starts at the net and the other starts at the back. The back team must lob on their first shot. The net team practises responding with bandejas and maintaining their position. Play first to 10 points, then switch sides.

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Sources & Further Reading

• World Padel Tour — Shot analysis — Professional overhead technique breakdowns
• LTA Padel — Coaching resources — UK padel coaching and technique guides
• FIP — Official rules — International padel governing body

Related Articles

• What Is Padel? Complete UK Beginner's Guide
• How to Play Padel: Rules & Scoring
• Padel Strategy for Beginners
• Padel Serve: How to Serve in Padel
• Padel Grip: How to Hold a Padel Racket

Frequently Asked Questions

What does bandeja mean in padel?

Bandeja is Spanish for "tray." The name refers to the flat, tray-like angle of the racket face at the point of contact. The shot is a controlled defensive overhead unique to padel, designed to keep the ball low and deep while the player maintains their net position.

Is the bandeja a beginner shot?

The bandeja is essential at every level, including beginner. While it takes practice to master, the basic motion is simpler than a full smash because it requires less power and timing. Beginners who learn the bandeja early gain a significant advantage over players who only know how to smash.

What grip do you use for the bandeja?

The continental grip. Hold the racket as if shaking hands with it, with the base knuckle of your index finger on the top bevel of the handle. This grip naturally opens the racket face, allowing you to slice under the ball and generate the backspin that defines the bandeja.

How is the bandeja different from the vibora?

The bandeja uses backspin (slice) and is primarily defensive — it keeps the ball low and deep. The vibora uses heavy sidespin and is more aggressive — the ball kicks sideways off the glass wall, making it harder to return. The bandeja is the safer shot; the vibora carries more risk but creates more pressure.

When should I hit a bandeja instead of a smash?

Use the bandeja when the lob is deep (pushing you back from the net), very high (making timing difficult), or when your opponents are in a solid defensive position. Use the smash only when the lob is short and you have a clear opportunity to win the point or create serious pressure.

Can you win points with the bandeja?

Directly, rarely. The bandeja is not designed to win points outright. It is designed to maintain your net position and keep pressure on your opponents. However, a well-placed bandeja that stays low and deep can force a weak return that you or your partner can then volley for a winner. The bandeja wins points indirectly by keeping you in control of the rally.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Technique advice is based on personal experience and widely accepted coaching principles — individual results may vary. Always warm up properly before practising overhead shots.