Padel glossary: master every term in the sport!

Welcome to the Court: Discover the Essential Padel Glossary

As padel continues to grow in popularity, more and more enthusiasts are joining the community. This fast-paced sport, with its unique dynamics and strategies, has its own specific jargon that can sometimes confuse newcomers. Once you understand the basics of padel, it is time to tackle the vocabulary!

That is why we decided to create a padel dictionary for you, helping all enthusiasts, from beginners to experienced players, master the vocabulary of this thrilling sport. 

Here is a guide to the most commonly used terms in the padel world.

A

Ace: A serve so well executed that the opponent cannot return it, winning a point directly.

Drop shot: A delicate shot where the padel ball is hit softly just over the net to die quickly, making it difficult for the opponent to reach.

B

Break point: An opportunity for the receiving player/team to win the current game and break the opponent's serve.

Bandeja: From the Spanish word meaning "tray", it is a defensive or neutral overhead shot hit with slice. It allows players to maintain net position. 

 

Bagel: Informal term for a 6-0 scoreline, due to the round shape of the zero.

C

Chiquita: A soft, precise shot hit low near the net, often aimed at the opponent's feet to take the initiative.

Forehand: A shot hit on the racket side of the body by the hand holding the pala, usually the right side for a right-handed player.

D

Half-volée: Hitting the ball immediately after it bounces, usually near the net.

Double fault: Two consecutive missed serves, resulting in the loss of the point.

Double glass: A situation where the ball hits two different glass walls, a tactic often used to make the opponent's return more difficult.

E

Deuce: When both teams have the same score at 40-40, also known as "égalité" in French.

Balance: Refers to the player's stability and posture, crucial for executing accurate and powerful shots.

F

Service fault: An error made during a serve attempt, such as hitting the ball into the net or outside the limits of the opponent's service box. 2 consecutive faults award the point to the opponent. 

Carbon fibre: Lightweight and resistant material often used to make high-quality rackets, offering durability and great manoeuvrability.

Fibreglass: Another material used for palas, generally more flexible and offering good ball control.

G

Grip: Specific tape wrapped around the handle of the pala to absorb sweat and improve hold. An overgrip can be added over it.

L

Let: A serve that clips the net cord but lands in the correct service box. The serve is usually replayed.

Lob: A strategic shot where the ball is hit high into the air over the opponent, usually to gain time to move up to the net or push the opponent back to the baseline.

M

Mini break: Term used during a tiebreak to indicate that a player has won a point on their opponent's serve.

EVA foam: Material often used inside palas to provide good shock absorption and responsive ball output.

N

Nevera: Strategy consisting in "putting a player in the fridge" (freezing them out), usually the strongest player of the opposing team, by avoiding hitting balls to them to keep them out of the game.

 

P

Pala: The Spanish term for the specific racket used in padel.

Paletero: Name for the padel bag specifically designed to carry palas and other padel gear.

Par 4 (Por cuatro): A powerful smash that bounces in the opponent's court and clears the 4-metre back wall.

Par 3 (Por tres): A smash similar to the par four, but where the ball bounces out of the court over the 3-metre side walls.

Passing shot: A shot used to get the ball past an opponent who has moved up to the net, generally hit down the line or cross-court.

Padel court: The padel court, enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh.

Punto de oro: Special padel rule (golden point) where, at deuce, the next point determines the winner of the game.

 

Puntaco: A rally, often long and filled with spectacular shots. 

Punto dulce (or sweet spot in English): Term referring to the area of the pala where shots are most effective and accurate.

Premier Padel: Professional padel tour created in 2022 under the leadership of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). Initially launched alongside the WPT, Premier Padel acquired it at the end of 2023 to become the unified main circuit from 2024.

R

Return: The reply to the opponent's serve. A good return can immediately put pressure on the server.

 

Off-the-wall return: The action of playing the ball after it has bounced off the glass wall, a common technique in padel.

Backhand: A shot hit from the opposite side to the hand holding the pala, usually the left side for a right-handed player.

S

Serve: The shot that starts every point, where the server hits the ball diagonally into the opposite service box.

Set: A scoring unit in padel, usually played as the best of six or seven games.

Smash: A powerful overhead shot, often used to finish the point with a decisive hit.

Out of court (por fuera): Spectacular action where a player runs out through the door of the court to retrieve and play a ball.

Super tiebreak: A variation of the tiebreak used to decide the winner of a match when players are tied after regular sets, usually played to 10 points with a 2-point lead. 

Overgrip: A grip tape to wrap around the grip for better sweat absorption or increased comfort.

T

Tiebreak: Deciding game played when players are tied in a set, usually at 6-6, to determine the winner of the set, typically first to 7 points with a 2-point lead. 

Toss: The coin toss conducted before the match to decide who serves first or chooses the side of the court.

Seed: A pair is said to be seeded when they are among the highest-ranked in the tournament. This protects them during the draw and prevents them from facing other seeds before a later stage of the competition. For example, the number 1 seed cannot face the number 2 seed before the final. 

V

Víbora: A shot similar to the bandeja, but hit with more pace and spin, making the ball harder to return.

Volée: A shot hit before the ball bounces on the ground, usually near the net to take time away from the opponent.

W

W-O (Walkover): Victory awarded to a player or team when their opponents are unable to play the match for any reason.

WPT (World Padel Tour): Main professional padel circuit that started in 2013, succeeding the Pro Padel Tour. The WPT played a key role in the international rise and growing popularity of padel through extensively broadcast global events. It was acquired by Premier Padel in 2023.