In short
- More than 50 padel terms explained simply: shots, equipment, rules and the pro tour.
- Listed alphabetically: use the index to jump to each letter.
- With links to our guides to dig deeper into each concept.
Has someone mentioned a víbora, a por 3 or a golden point and left you baffled? In this padel dictionary we gather the terms you hear most on court, at the club and on TV broadcasts, each explained in one sentence.
A B C D E F G K L M N O P R S T V W Z
A
- Ace
- A serve the opponent fails to touch.
- Vibration dampener
- An accessory fitted to the racket to reduce the vibrations that reach the arm.
- Australian formation
- A serving formation in which the server and their partner stand on the same side of the court to surprise the opponents.
B
- Bajada de pared (off-the-wall smash)
- An attacking shot played after the ball bounces off the back wall, taking advantage of its drop.
- Balance
- How the racket's weight is distributed. It can be high (towards the head, more power), medium or low (towards the handle, more control).
- Bandeja
- An overhead shot with slice, used to hold your position at the net without taking risks.
- Bicicleta (double bagel)
- Winning a match 6-0, 6-0.
- Botepronto (half-volley)
- A shot played just after the ball bounces, without letting it rise.
C
- Carbon
- The face material of many rackets: stiffer and more precise than fibreglass. We explain it in fibreglass or carbon.
- Chiquita
- A soft, low shot aimed at the opponents' feet when they are at the net, forcing them to lift the ball.
- Contrapared
- A shot in which the player hits the ball against their own wall so it reaches the other side.
- Slice
- Spin that makes the ball rotate backwards and bounce lower and slower.
D
- Diamond
- A racket shape with the sweet spot high up and a high balance. Designed for power. See diamond-shaped rackets.
- Drop shot
- A soft shot that leaves the ball dead near the opponent's net.
- Drive (forehand side)
- The right-hand side of the court, and also the player who plays there.
E
- EVA
- Rubber used in the core of many rackets. It can be soft or hard. Compare it with foam in foam or EVA rubber.
- Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)
- An elbow injury, also known as «tennis elbow». A softer, lighter racket helps prevent it.
- Herringbone
- The sole pattern of padel shoes, the most common for artificial grass courts. More in types of sole.
F
- FIP
- International Padel Federation, which manages the world ranking together with the professional tour.
- Fibreglass
- A more flexible material than carbon that adds comfort and ball exit.
- Foam
- A core material in some rackets, softer and with good ball exit.
Rackets to get off to a good start
G
- Lob
- A high shot that goes over the opponents to force them away from the net.
- Grip
- Tape covering the racket handle. Learn how to change it in how to put on an overgrip.
K
- K
- The number of thousands of filaments per thread in the carbon weave (3K, 12K, 18K). A higher K usually means a stiffer face.
L
- Teardrop
- A racket shape between round and diamond: a balance of control and power. See teardrop-shaped rackets.
- Let
- A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box. It is replayed.
M
- Fence (malla)
- The metal fence that closes off part of the sides of the court.
N
- Core
- The inside of the racket, usually EVA rubber or foam. It defines the feel and ball exit.
O
- Overgrip
- A thin tape fitted over the grip to improve hold and absorb sweat.
P
- Racket bag (paletero)
- A bag designed to carry rackets and the rest of your gear. See padel bags.
- Racket (pala)
- The stringless, perforated racket used to play padel. Find yours in padel rackets.
- Por 3
- A smash that sends the ball out of the court over the side wall.
- Por 4
- A smash so powerful that the ball goes out over the back wall and returns to the smasher's side.
- Premier Padel
- The leading professional tour. We explain how it works.
- Golden point
- A deciding point played at deuce (40-40) instead of advantage.
- Sweet spot
- The area of the racket where the shot comes off with the most control and power.
R
- Round
- A racket shape with a centred sweet spot and low balance. The easiest to handle. See round rackets.
- Smash
- A powerful overhead shot to finish the point.
- Return
- The return of serve.
- Backhand
- The left-hand side of the court, and the player in that position.
- Rosco (bagel)
- Losing a set without winning a game (6-0).
S
- Serve
- The shot that starts every point. It is played after a bounce and below the waist.
- Ball output
- How easily the racket sends the ball back without having to hit hard.
- Super tie-break
- A first-to-10-points tie-break that replaces the third set in some tournaments.
T
- Feel
- How the racket feels on impact: soft (more comfort) or hard (more control and power on big shots).
- Tie-break
- A tie-break played when a set reaches 6-6.
V
- Víbora
- An overhead shot with side slice, more aggressive than the bandeja.
- Volley
- A shot played before the ball bounces, usually close to the net.
W
- World Padel Tour
- The professional padel tour between 2013 and 2023. Its place is now taken by Premier Padel.
Z
- Padel shoes
- Specific footwear with a herringbone or omni sole to avoid slipping. See our size guides for Nox, Bullpadel y Babolat.
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FAQs
What is a víbora in padel?
It is an overhead shot with side slice, more aggressive than the bandeja.
What do por 3 and por 4 mean?
Por 3 is a smash that sends the ball out over the side of the court; por 4 sends it out over the back and makes it return to the smasher's side.
What is the golden point?
It is a deciding point played at deuce (40-40) instead of playing advantage.
