The difference between Bandeja and Vibora: how to make the most of high balls

As we know, in padel, the vocabulary is often Spanish, the sport's original language. We therefore often talk about Bandeja and Vibora, but what are they? And how can you perform them properly? Our team of specialists (with the welcome help of François Authier, French top 10 player) has looked into these shots which, when mastered, can help you take your game to the next level. 

High balls in padel are very often used, particularly to lob an opponent and send them back to the back of the court. But when the lob is too short, several options are available to avoid losing your position at the net. The first: the smash. It is often the first solution we choose, especially when we come from tennis, but it is not necessarily the most effective. A well-placed shot, with more or less spin, can be much more troublesome for the opponent and put them under pressure. And that is where the Bandeja and Vibora come in.  

The Bandeja: ideal for pushing your opponents back. 

The Bandeja (tray in Spanish) is a rather defensive shot, used to hold your position at the net and disrupt your opponent's return. With preparation at head height, the Bandeja is a flat or sliced shot, but the racket must be positioned like a tray to ensure maximum safety in the shot. You then need to follow through with the ball as effectively as possible to gain precision and place the ball where you want, finishing the stroke across the body. Here, the wrist is locked and does not move.

To illustrate all this, here is a video to better understand how to perform this shot with Sanyo Guiterrez, world number 5: 

 

The Vibora: putting your opponents under pressure. 

Unlike the Bandeja, the Vibora is an attacking shot, used to finish points or at least create opportunities to do so. This shot requires different preparation, with the racket coming behind the head to put maximum spin on the ball in order to surprise your opponents with a rebound that shoots off the glass. For the Vibora (viper in Spanish), you need to take the ball later, when it is on its way down, to make it skim the net and thus limit the height of the rebound. The wrist movement is accentuated at the end of the stroke to add spin that will prevent the ball from rising again after the rebound. 

To perform your best Viboras, we offer you an explanatory video with Sanyo Guiterrez, who has one of the best Vibora in the world: 

Thanks to this article, you now know everything about the Bandeja and Vibora. These two shots are among the essentials of padel. To progress to a certain level, you need to know how to master them, and a racket that suits your style will help you improve your game! To do so, do not hesitate to contact one of our experts.

 

Discover other articles on the different padel shots, such as the Par 3 smash, on our Padel Blog.