The shot or smash is one of the hits that require the most explosive force in paddle tennis. Due to its attractiveness, when the player manages to bring it back to his field, it is a highly applauded coup. In addition to its well-deserved recognition, the smash is the guarantee of a direct point on the scoreboard. However, executing the smash in paddle tennis is not only a matter of power but also of placement.
What is smash in padel?
The smash is a power shot that is made in the part close to the net. This hit can only be made if the ball comes high, for example, as a result of a lob return. The result of the smash is very high hits, difficult to block and that in the best of cases returns to the side from which it is made or even goes off the court.
With the smash, the ball is thrown with such force that when it bounces in the rival field, the height of the bounce is unattainable for it.
Although for the vast majority of players this shot is only possible near the net, in the WPT professional padel circuit it is already common to see players of the stature of Juan Lebron or Agustín Tapia do it from the back of the court. On the contrary, if you are still starting to get excited about this kind of shots, here are a couple of tips for performing the smash in paddle tennis.
How to improve the smash in padel
Flat Smash
If you are not yet confident enough to add some spin to the smash, we will start with a flat finish.
The first premise for performing a smash is that whatever the desired effect is, the point of impact should always occur at the top of the racket.
In this case, as the smash will not have spin, the hit will occur at head height or, failing that, the shoulder. Before hitting, we must turn our body slightly and bend our legs enough to achieve all possible strength in the jump. With the body slightly arched and the feet parallel to the side glass, we will take all the momentum to impact the ball at the highest point possible.
At the moment of impact, the padel racket The ball is hit with the face completely flat.
The ball is directed against the ground and depending on the force it has received, it will come out with more or less violence. The objective is to accelerate the impact against the ground in the shortest time possible.
To finish the blow, the body always ends forward, as a result of the previous impulse.
Topspin Smash
Unlike the flat smash, the topspin smash provides an effect to the ball that makes the ball fly higher.
Whether the ball is thrown upwards more or less will depend, to a large extent, on the spin of the ball. In the topspin shot it is much easier that when the ball hits the glass it comes out higher.
To provide a little more effect to the smash, the hit occurs at head height and is accompanied by a slight gesture of the wrist.
Whether you opt for one or another type of smash, every time you play with a parallel shot, the chances of success will be greater than if you do it diagonally. The reason is because the opponent's response capacity in diagonal blows is much greater.
Achieving a powerful smash in padel is a matter of practice and confidence. But also remember that as soon as you master this shot you will have a high chance of securing many points.
