The Smash in Padel — Remate Technique and When to Use It

The smash is the most powerful shot in padel — but also the most misused. Unlike tennis, where a good smash almost always ends the point, padel’s enclosed court means the ball can come back off the back glass, sometimes even harder than it left. Knowing when to smash — and when to choose the bandeja or vibora — is what separates experienced players from beginners.

What Is the Smash?

The smash (called the remate in Spanish) is a full overhead swing aimed at driving the ball hard into the opponent’s half of the court. The goal is to:

• Angle the ball down at the opponents’ feet, or
• Hit the ball so hard it passes them before they can react, or
• Execute an exit smash (por 3 or por 4) that leaves the court entirely

Unlike in tennis, you rarely hit a pure winner from the back of the court in padel. The smash is almost always used at the net, when an opponent’s lob is short enough to angle steeply downward.

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When to Smash — and When Not To

Smash when:

• The lob is short — the ball bounces in the service box area or lands shallow
• You can angle the ball steeply downward — below the height of the net post
• The ball is at a comfortable contact height — you are not reaching up or jumping awkwardly
• You are confident of executing an exit smash with enough precision

Do NOT smash when:

• The ball is deep and heading toward the back glass — a hard smash will rebound off the glass and come back
• The ball is very high — contact is inconsistent and the angle is poor
• You are off-balance — a mis-hit smash often gives opponents a put-away
• When in doubt — choose the bandeja or vibora to stay in control

The single biggest beginner mistake in padel is smashing deep lobs. A ball that is heading for the back glass should almost always be played with a bandeja.

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Technique

Grip

Use a continental grip for control and ability to generate angles. Some players use a slight eastern backhand grip for more power, but this reduces precision.

Preparation

1. Turn sideways immediately when you identify the short lob
2. Position yourself under and behind the ball — slightly behind the contact point so you swing forward into it
3. Raise your non-hitting arm to point at the ball for balance and timing

The Swing

4. Take the racket back in a full backswing — elbow bent, racket head behind your shoulder
5. Drive the racket forward, leading with the elbow, then the wrist
6. Strike the ball at full extension — slightly in front of your body
7. Follow through downward and across your body

Contact

Hit the ball at the highest comfortable contact point — full arm extension above your head. The steeper the angle you can create, the harder the ball is to return.

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Exit Smashes: Por 3 and Por 4

In padel, two specialist smash techniques are used to hit the ball out of the court — so opponents cannot retrieve it:

Por 3 (Exit Through the Side)

The ball is aimed at the side glass at an angle that sends it out through the side door. The ball exits the court and is unplayable.

• Requires precise direction — the ball must hit the side glass at the right angle
• Most effective when opponents are positioned centrally and cannot reach the side
• Usually played from near the centreline toward one side

Por 4 (Exit Through the Back)

The ball is aimed over or past the opponents so it exits through the back of the court (over the back glass or fence).

• Requires power and height — the ball must clear the back glass or fence
• More difficult to execute than por 3
• Often used against opponents who are retreating

Both exit smashes are advanced techniques. At beginner and intermediate level, focus on standard angled smashes first.

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Smash vs Bandeja vs Vibora

Shot	Use case	Ball position	Net retention
Smash	End the point, exit shot	Short lob, below fence	You may need to stay back briefly
Bandeja	Maintain net, keep control	High, deep lob	Yes — stay at net
Vibora	Attack with pace and spin	Medium-high, comfortable	Yes — stay at net

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Common Mistakes

Smashing deep lobs. The most common beginner error. A deep lob is not a smash opportunity — it is a bandeja or vibora situation. Practise identifying the difference.

Hitting flat. A flat smash that does not angle steeply downward is easy to handle. Aim to hit down at the opponents’ feet, not horizontally.

Not preparing early. The smash requires a full backswing. If you are late, the swing is cramped and the ball goes long or wide. Turn and raise the racket as soon as you read the lob.

Smashing too close to the back glass. If you are near the back, you have no angle. Move forward to find the angle, or play the bandeja.

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Useful Links

• How to Play Padel — beginner fundamentals
• Padel Doubles Tactics — tactical overhead selection
• The Bandeja — the defensive overhead
• The Vibora — the attacking overhead
• The Lob — the shot that sets up overhead situations
• Wall Play — rules for the ball hitting walls and exits