Padel · Advanced Plan · Week 2

Choose before it drops

Deep lob, bandeja. Middle, víbora. Short, rulo or smash. The call happens before the ball begins to fall, not as you swing.

Video walkthrough

Coming soon

The on-court video for this drill is in production. The full step-by-step is below — and our in-depth guide goes deeper still.

The víbora, explained→

What it is

Not a shot — a decision. Four overheads (bandeja, víbora, rulo, smash), one lob, half a second. What separates 3.5 from 5.0 isn’t the smash; it’s picking the right overhead nine times in ten.

When to use it

On every lob, and the depth of the lob makes the call: deep means bandeja and hold your ground; middle means víbora, cut across the body; short means rulo to kick them back, or smash to finish. The call has to come before the ball reaches its peak.

When not to

There’s no lob you don’t choose on — but there are choices you don’t have yet. If you haven’t grooved the rulo, a short lob is a smash or a bandeja; a guessed overhead is worse than a modest one.

How to do it

1The same lob, four answers: bandeja, víbora, rulo, flat smash. Fifteen of each, scored on landing zone.
2Partner lobs at random depths; shout your shot before the ball reaches its peak, then play it.
3Play points started with a random lob — the wrong choice loses the point even if you win the rally.

Coaching cues

Call it out loud before the ball starts to drop — a late call is a wrong call.
Deep lob, bandeja. Middle, víbora. Short, rulo or smash.
Side-on early. Whatever you choose, the preparation looks the same.
The víbora is the set-up; the next volley is the point.

Common errors

Smashing when the lob is deep. A deep lob is a bandeja, every time.
Deciding as you swing. The choice happens on the way back, not on the way through.
One overhead for everything — if every lob gets a bandeja, a good pair will lob you all day.
Ignoring what comes next. Every overhead has a recovery position; choose the shot and the place you’ll stand after it.

This is the Week 2 drill from the RacketRise Padel Advanced Plan. Go deeper with the víbora, explained, or see all drill guides.