One of the things that amazed me when started watching professional padel tournaments was the seemingly crazy aspect of the game where players smash the ball so that it rebounds over the side fencing of the court and an opponent runs out of the court to play the ball back in and continue the point.
I set about trying to emulate that cool-looking smash in my casual games and discovered that it wasn’t as easy as it looked. I seemed to be hitting the ball way harder than I had seen the professionals doing but with no results. So I set about finding out the hacks to the technique.
To play an effective kick smash in padel, topspin is more important than power as it causes the ball to kick up high off the back glass. Aim your kicks mash to land on or just before the service line and hit the back glass 2 meters in from the back corner at the first join between glass panels.
Let’s look at each of these aspects so that you can put them together and start smashing the ball out over the 3m side fence of the court.
How To Play The Kick-Smash Out Of The Court In Padel?
Every point counts in Padel but being able to do a Kick-Smash out of the court to get a point or finish a game is infinitely satisfying. However, there are many things to consider before you can even begin to perform this move.
From making sure you have proper form, to taking into account where on the ball your racquet contacts. Being able to properly perform the movements while choosing when to utilize the Kick-Smash greatly affects your success rate though you do have to take into consideration other factors such as rain or cold temperatures.
Contact Point Between Racket And Ball
Topspin on the ball is very important as it allows the ball to bounce higher than if you were to hit the ball flat. When you smash the ball, make sure that your racquet brushes forward towards the ball to get as much topspin as possible.
You also have to know where on the ball does your racquet makes contact, hit the left side of the ball if you’re right-handed and the right if you’re left-handed to get a kick and not a slice. This allows the ball to bounce out of the court easier. You can start practicing by getting consistent about hitting the ball with topspin.
Target Location Where To Aim The Padel Ball
Where on the court or the back glass the ball bounces will determine if the ball makes it over of the fence. For starters, the ball should be in the middle between the service line and the net. Hitting the ball too close to the net will have it lose momentum before hitting the back glass while hitting it further back prevents the ball from getting enough height.
Speaking of the back glass, the ball should bounce off it around 2 meters away from the side glass. A good estimate here is if you aim for the separation between the 2 most left or right back panels.
Correct Posture And Form For A Better Kick-Smash
Every part of your body plays a role when you attempt a kick-smash, First off, your legs should be close to each other while your body is sideways with your dominant or hitting hand facing away from your opponents.
Secondly, before hitting the ball, ensure that your elbow is relaxed at a 90-degree angle from your arm, this gives you a higher range of motion that does not sacrifice power. Lastly, make sure that your non-dominant hand is raised up as if you are catching the ball. this allows your chest to generate more power when you swing.
The Way You Grip Your Racket Affects Your Kick-Smash
The most commonly used grip is the Continental or handshake grip and this is the one you should use whenever you attempt a kick-smash. Other grips like the backhand grip may also work as it places your hand lower but grips like the forehand grip place your hand too close to the face of the racquet, preventing you from getting enough movement from your wrists.
Having a loose wrist and allowing it to snap is what gives the smash its power so always be certain that you’re using the proper grip.