So many of us try and play our padel shots with power and a degree of spin too. The idea is to beat your opponent’s reaction time so that they cannot get to the ball. We tend to forget about how effective a well-timed and well-placed drop shot can be.
In padel play the drop shot from nearer the net than the second post of the side fence. Play the drop shot off a medium-speed ball that is between knee and chest height. Aim your drop shot so that the second bounce is against or near the base of the fence.
Let’s take a closer look at the drop shot and how you can use it to win more points.
What Are The Risks Of The Drop Shot
A padel court is shorter than a tennis court. Therefore your opponents will almost always be closer to the net than they would be on a tennis court.
For this reason, it will be relatively easier for your opponents to cover the distance to the net and pick up your drop shot. When you play a drop shot the ball will be traveling slower through the air, again giving your opponents the time to get to the ball.
Luckily there are ways to reduce this risk and win more points with your drop shot.
Never Play A Drop Shot From Behind The Second Post
If you attempt to play a drop shot from behind the second post, away from the net, you will give your opponents the chance to react and come forward to the net.
Playing your drop shot from behind the second post also makes it a progressively more difficult shot to play.
When you are further from the net you will need to play your shot harder to ensure that it carries over the net. This means that your drop shot will land deeper into your opponents’ court and again make it easier to return.
Force Your Opponents Back Before Trying A Drop Shot
If your opponents are standing slightly forward nearer to the service line then there is a very real chance that they will be able to get to the ball when you play a drop shot. That is not a great idea as you will simply be giving away the advantage of having the at-net position on the court.
A better approach will be to play a series of shots that are deep and force your opponents back and closer to the back of the court. If you are able to force your opponents back into the corners of the court that would be even better.
With your opponents forced back, it will give your drop shot a greater chance of success with a slightly greater margin for error.
What Is The Ideal Height Of Ball For A Drop Shot
Before we look at the best height to play the ball for your ideal drop shot, we should examine what doesn’t work well for a drop shot.
If the ball is coming to you at higher than chest height it is near impossible to play a good drop shot. Firstly, you will be playing the ball down from that height and as such will make the ball bounce up higher than you would want. Secondly, if you try to play through under the ball as you would for a drop shot above chest height you end up with a convoluted, cramped arm position that makes it difficult to control the ball.
Similarly, if you are playing the ball down at your ankles you will be playing the ball up to get it over the net and it is difficult to get enough control and spin for a good drop shot.
The ideal height to play your drop shot will be in the range between knee and chest height. For me, that comes out at just below waist height, similar to the height I play the service in padel.
What Is The Ideal Speed Of Ball For A Drop Shot
If the ball is coming at you too fast it is difficult to scrub enough speed off the ball to play your drop shot with much control.
On the opposite end of the spectrum if the ball is coming at you slowly then it becomes possible for your opponents to move a bit forward while the ball is coming to you, making it possible for them to run to the net and return your drop shot.
Ideally, you will want to play your drop shot off a medium speed ball where you have full control over the ball and your opponents don’t have the time to be able to get into position to return your drop shot.
Where To Aim Your Drop Shot
You will want your drop shot to be slightly cross-court rather than straight so that it can’t go too far down the court after the bounce.
If you watch the professionals on the world padel tour play their drop shots you will see that the ideal area to aim for is where the second bounce of the ball is either just before the fence or against the fence right at the bottom. This gives your opponents even less chance at returning your drop shot.