Padel World Press .- It is another of the questions that fans of this sport usually ask themselves and about which there are numerous theories ... How high should the ball pass over the net? The truth is that we should say there are as many answers as situations lead us to ask this question. That is why in this article we will try to answer as many cases as possible or, at least, give you the idea to be able to answer yourselves.
It is very likely that we have all said or heard "but I have given it lazy and it has gone away" ... We will also have wondered how it is possible that professionals can play at that speed without the ball going to the wall ... In this sense, it must be clear that everything is a matter of direction, speed and effect.
Next, we are going to analyze this issue from a defense and attack perspective:
- Defense
In this situation, we are at the bottom of the track and we are being pressured by the opponent with their volleys or trays. His pressure does not leave us any clear option to launch a balloon or a counter with guarantee of success and, therefore, our main objective will be to stay 'alive'.
When this happens, the best thing to do would be to look for the furthest diagonal with flat shots or with some top (topspin effect that we generate when hitting the ball from the bottom up, making it roll forward on itself) and with a wide margin away with the net.
I'm going to provide a piece of information that you may never have stopped to think or calculate. We all know that the total length of the track measures 20 meters but… Do you know how long the diagonal is? Well, he measures 22,36 meters, a considerable difference that we must take advantage of to play defensive shots with a margin above the net.
- Attack
When we are in the network volleyball, and the ball brings enough height to be hit above the imaginary line of the net, we will have to execute blows to pressure the rival, always avoiding that the ball 'floats' a lot and does not generate much rebound to avoid counterattack.
In this case, we will look for deep shots by hitting with a slice effect (a cut effect that we generate when we hit the ball from top to bottom, making it spin back on itself). Here, the margin of height when passing the ball over the net will be smaller and will be determined both by the height at which we hit and by the place where we want the ball to bounce.
On occasion, I have been asked if there is a difference between the paddle male and female. Although the answer would be yes, the truth is that there are no general terms that serve to ensure that one is played with a greater margin than another ... It is something that depends on the situations since, of the three variables that we have given previously (speed, spin and direction), in women's padel the speed of the ball is usually lower and it is played with less spin than in men's.
My advice on this subject, which is very subjective, would be that you play with a sufficient and logical margin to avoid unforced errors, which are decisive in the result of a match, from triggering. especially in the key points. It would be necessary to try always to be correct in the election of the blow, having very clear what we intend with him and the variables that the ball and the rivals offer me.
As a summary, I show you a game situation so you can see how the same action should be played in a very different way:
Situation of game: I am in the network and the rival plays me a little girl at the feet making me fly below the tape.
1 Option: I see that the rivals go up reducing the spaces to play, so I have to look for a ball with little margin above the net to, in this way, avoid leaving a 'gift' ball to the opponents.
Option 2: I see that some of the rivals are lagging behind, so I can volley into their zone with a wide margin above the net, also maintaining my attacking position.
Enjoy of paddle, think and analyze what? How? When? For what? Sometimes, it is only necessary to be clear about the concept of our sport to give order to our game and obtain good results.
Until the next article.
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