When I first started playing padel there was a particular type of shot that I struggled to figure out how to play. My opponents would play a high lob over my head that bounced near the back glass and then bounced up high off the glass staying within a few feet of the glass.
Watching the professionals play, they seem to produce an attacking shot out of nowhere. I heard the commentator use the word Bajada so I set about learning what I could about this spectacular-looking shot.
The word bajada means descent or drop and in padel it refers to the hard, attacking shot that is played from high against the back glass and travels downward over the net, aiming to bounce in line with the feet of your opponents. The low, fast-moving ball will be difficult for your opponents to control.
Let’s unpack the details of how the bajada shot works so that you can add it to your game.
What Exactly Is The Bajada In Padel
The bajada in padel is a shot played from near the back glass after the ball has rebounded off the glass. Most bajadas are played above head height and are similar in nature to a traditional tennis service. It is also possible to play a bajada from head height but you need to have the space to contact the ball with a relatively straight arm so that you can generate enough racket head speed.
Your bajada will travel in a downward direction to bounce somewhere near the service line. On a padel court, this will mean that the ball will bounce near to level with your opponents’ feet.
The bajada is an attacking shot that will force your opponents to either sprint forward to try and block the ball before it bounces or to try and get into position to deal with a fast-moving rebound off the back glass.
It Is Important To Learn The Bajada Because You Can Use It Often
The bajada is one of the few attacking options that you have at your disposal if your opponents play a good lob over your head that forces you to retreat from your dominant net position to the back of the court.
Playing at the net is a strategically strong position to hold on a padel court. As a result, your opponents will try and lob often to try and drive you away from the net.
Because you will face many lobs during a game of padel, learning to play the bajada is vital for your overall improvement as a padel player.
Using Your More Dominant Shot When Learning The Bajada In Padel
Although it is physically possible to play the bajada on both the forehand and the backhand like we see the professionals do, it is better to use your more dominant shot when learning the bajada. For me, and probably most of you as well, that is my forehand. The reason is that you need to play with both power and control to get the ball to go down, travel fast, yet still clear the net.
Play The Bajada From Behind The Ball And Use Forward Momentum
The most effective way to hit a hard, attacking bajada is if you can be behind the ball at the point of contact. That way you can hit the ball slightly in front of you with your weight over your front foot.
By using this powerful stance while playing your bajada will mean that your body will have forward momentum during the follow-through after playing the shot.
You can use this forward momentum to take a few steps after playing the shot and get back into your ready position in case your opponents are able to block the ball back quickly.
Reduce Risk In Your Bajada By Playing Down The Center Or Open Angle
Let me start by explaining what I mean by an open-angle versus a closed-angle.
When you are playing a forehand shot you should be standing side-on with your non-dominant shoulder pointing at where you intend to hit the ball. You play a closed-angle when the ball goes behind the line where your shoulder is pointing, slightly behind you. An open angle is forward of that line.
It is possible to play a bajada with a closed angle and it is a shot we often see used by professionals on the World Padel Tour. The truth is that it is much more difficult to play a bajada with a closed angle and your chances of making an error are much higher.
So, when you first start learning to play the bajada, use the open-angle or straight down the center.
By this, I mean that if you are right-handed and you are playing from the left side of the court then your best options for a lower-risk bajada will be to play down the center or cross-court to the right. Playing down the line on the left will be more difficult and hence riskier.
On the other hand, if you are right-handed and you are playing from the right side of the court then your better options will be to play your bajada down the center or down the line on the right. This time it will be the cross-court shot to the left that will have the closed-angle and be riskier.
Conversely, everything will be reversed for left-handed players.
In both instances playing down the center is the common option and is the option you see the most often in tournaments as it is the most low-risk.
Padel Tactic: Use The Bajada To Lure Your Opponents Forward
When it comes to defending against a bajada the most effective option is to play the ball on the volley, blocking it back from as close to the net as possible. When you start to use the bajada regularly there is a clever tactic that you can employ that will help you win more points.
As you play more bajadas you will begin to notice your opponents begin to rush forward to be close to the net even before you have hit the ball. This leaves a very large gap behind your opponents for you to exploit with a well-placed lob.
Because your opponents are rushing at the net their momentum is forward. This makes it more difficult for them to get back in time to be in a good position to deal with your lob. It also gives you the chance to regain your net position.
Padel Communication: Listen To Your Partner While Preparing Your Bajada
To get the most out of your bajada it is essential that you and your partner have clear communication.
While you are getting into position to play your bajada your full attention will be on the ball, as it should be. This is where communication from your padel partner becomes critical. Your partner needs to be telling you where your opponents are on the court. Are they both staying back or are both or one of them rushing to the net. If only one is rushing in, which one.
Knowing how your opponents are moving on the court behind your back will allow you to plan where you will hit your bajada to take advantage of any spaces that your opponents may have left open.
Now that you have a clear idea of how to play a bajada you can start practicing and implementing the shot to win more points.