Padel · Improver Plan · Week 3

Chiquita and advance

A short, slow ball dipping at their feet, followed by two steps forward. They volley up — and then you volley down.

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.

Padel doubles strategy→

What it is

A slow, low ball played from the back of the court at the feet of the net players — usually the volleyer on your diagonal. It isn’t a winner; it’s a question they can only answer upwards.

When to use it

When you’re balanced at the back and want to move up but the lob isn’t on. A good chiquita forces a lifted volley, and the two steps you take behind it are how your pair turns defence into the net.

When not to

When you’re stretched or off balance. A chiquita hit under pressure sits up, and a sitting chiquita is their smash. Stretched means lob; balanced means chiquita.

How to do it

1From the back of the court, play a slow, low ball that dips at the feet of the net player on your diagonal.
2Follow it in two steps and split-step as they make contact.
3They volley up; you or your partner volley the reply down. Play the point out.
4Ten repetitions each, then play points where you may only score after taking the net with a lob or chiquita.

Coaching cues

Short backswing, open face, and no pace at all.
Aim at the feet of the player on your diagonal — the middle player has to move.
Hit it, then go: two steps forward before they’ve played their volley.
It’s a push, not a hit — the ball should be dying as it crosses the net.

Common errors

Adding pace. A fast chiquita is just a drive that arrives at a comfortable volley height.
Playing it and staying put — a chiquita you don’t follow in wins you nothing.
Aiming at the body instead of the feet. Chest height is a ball they attack.
Using it when stretched. That ball is the lob’s job.

This is the Week 3 drill from the RacketRise Padel Improver Plan. Go deeper with padel doubles strategy, or see all drill guides.