Padelsanasto: kaikki termit selitettynä
Sanat, joita kuulet kentällä, enimmäkseen espanjaa, sekä miten ne lausutaan ja mitä ne oikeasti tarkoittavat rallissa.
Bajada
An attacking shot played on a ball that has rebounded high off the back glass, struck in the air on its way down. It turns a defensive position into an attack.
Bandeja
A controlled, sliced overhead played from the net area in response to a lob. Its aim is to land the ball deep and low so your team keeps the net, not to win the point outright.
Cambio
A call to switch sides with your partner, usually when one player has been pulled across by a lob and the other covers the vacated side.
Cambio de lado
The change of ends, made after the first game of each set and then every two games, and every six points in a tie-break.
Chiquita
A soft, low ball played from the back of the court that dips at the feet of opponents at the net. It forces them to volley upwards and gives your team the chance to take the net.
Contrapared
A shot hit against your own back or side wall so that it rebounds over the net. Legal but difficult, it is usually a last resort when the ball has got behind you.
Cristal
The glass walls at the back and partly along the sides of the court. The ball rebounds predictably off cristal, which makes it central to defence.
Cruzado
A cross-court ball, hit diagonally across the court. Safer than the paralelo because the ball crosses the lowest part of the net and has more court to land in.
Dejada
A drop shot or drop volley that dies just over the net. Most effective when both opponents are deep behind the service line.
Doble pared
A ball that hits two walls, usually the back glass then the side glass, before you play it. Stand further from the corner and wait for it to come out to you.
Falta
A fault. On the serve this includes landing outside the box, hitting the mesh after the bounce or a foot fault; two in a row lose the point.
Ganar la red
Winning the net: moving forward as a pair after a good lob or chiquita to take the attacking position. The central aim of most padel tactics.
Gancho
A hooked overhead played from the middle of the court, usually by the left-side player, struck flat or with topspin towards the opponents' centre or side glass.
Globo
The lob, padel's most important defensive shot. A high, deep globo pushes the net team back and gives your pair time to move forward.
Let
A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box without then hitting the mesh. The serve is replayed with no penalty.
Malla
The metal mesh fencing along the sides of the court. It is part of the wall in open play, but a serve that bounces and then hits the malla is a fault.
Núcleo
The core of a padel racket, usually EVA rubber or foam. Softer cores give comfort and easy power at low speeds; harder cores give control and power at high speeds.
Overgrip
A thin, replaceable wrap applied over the racket's base grip for tack and sweat absorption. Most regular players change it every few sessions.
Pala
The padel racket: solid, stringless and perforated, with a maximum length of 45.5 centimetres. Shapes range from round for control to diamond for power.
Paralelo
A ball hit straight down the line, parallel to the side wall. It travels a shorter distance than a cross-court shot and can catch a defender leaning to the middle.
Por cuatro
A smash hit so hard that it bounces and leaves the court over the 4 m back fence. A smash that comes back over the net to the hitter's own side is called traerla. Opponents rarely have any reply to either.
Por tres
A smash that bounces in the opponents' court and leaves over the side or back walls. It is a winner unless the defenders are allowed to chase it outside the court.
Punto de oro
The golden point. At 40-all a single deciding point is played, and the receiving team chooses which player receives the serve.
Remate
The general term for an attacking overhead or smash. Flat, topspin and sliced variations all fall under the remate family.
Resto
The return of serve. The receiver must let the serve bounce before striking it, and a low return to the server's feet is often the safest choice.
Rulo
A topspin smash that bounces high and kicks off the back glass, often used to push the ball out of the court por tres.
Salida de pared
Coming off the wall: the technique of letting the ball rebound off the glass, moving with it and striking it on its way down. The foundation of good defence.
Saque
The serve. It must be bounced behind the service line, struck at or below waist height and played diagonally into the opponents' service box.
Volea
A volley, striking the ball before it bounces, usually from the net position. In padel volleys are compact, controlled and aimed low.
Víbora
A faster, more aggressive overhead than the bandeja, struck to the side of the body with heavy sidespin. A good víbora skids low off the side glass and forces a weak reply.