Padel technique · 9 minutes
Improve your padel backhand: compact, in front and under control
The backhand is first of all a control and rally shot in padel. It relies not on pace but on an early shoulder turn, a compact swing and a contact point in front of the body line – often with a touch of slice that keeps the ball low and hard to attack.
PadelLens.AI editorial team
Published 27 July 2026
Training guidance for recreational players. Not a substitute for individual coaching.
The essentials in 20 seconds
- • Turn the shoulders early and stand side-on to the ball
- • Prepare compactly at chest height – no tennis loop
- • Hit the ball in front of the front hip with a quiet wrist
- • Depth and safety first, then change direction or add pace
Groundstroke
What should a good padel backhand really achieve?
The backhand keeps you in the rally and prepares your way to the net. A deep, well-placed ball pushes opponents behind the service line and opens the chance for a lob or a controlled approach. The outright winner is rarely the right goal from the back of the court.
The glass walls change the task compared with tennis: many balls should only be played after the back wall, and a light slice keeps the trajectory flat and the bounce low. Contact quality and length beat raw power.
| Variant | Best for | Risk | Technical focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat backhand | mid-height balls in front of the body | medium | compact path, contact in front |
| Backhand slice | control and a low trajectory | low | slightly open face, long path to the target |
| Backhand off the back glass | fast balls into the back wall | medium | wait until the ball comes off the glass |
Technique
The padel backhand in five steps
- 1
Read early and turn
Split step as your opponent hits. As soon as the ball comes to your backhand side, shoulders and hips turn and both hands take the racket back early.
- 2
Get side-on with spacing
Stand sideways and keep the ball to the side and in front of you with small adjustment steps. Too little space jams the arm, too much overstretches it.
- 3
Prepare compactly
The racket head stays roughly at chest height and the free hand supports the throat. A big tennis loop costs time and control.
- 4
Hit in front of the body line
Contact the ball between knee and hip height in front of the front hip. The face is stable and slightly open for slice; the wrist stays quiet.
- 5
Swing to the target and recover
Let the movement finish flat towards the target with the weight on the front foot, then return straight to a neutral ready position.
Movement sequence
Turn, hit in front, hold the middle
- 01
Turn early
Take shoulders and racket back together, keep the ball to the side.
- 02
Hit in front
Contact in front of the front hip with a stable face.
- 03
Find the middle
Finish towards the target and return to ready.
Contact point
IN FRONT + HIP HIGH
To your left and in front – not beside or behind you
For right-handers the contact point sits to the left of and in front of the front hip, roughly between knee and hip height. From there the racket can work flat through the ball towards the target and the slice stays controlled instead of chopped.
- Free hand supports the throat until the forward move starts
- Slightly open face for a flat, deep slice
- Weight moves onto the front foot at contact
Self-diagnosis
Five common backhand mistakes
You swing like in tennis
The big loop makes you late under time pressure and after the wall.
Correction: Start the preparation compactly at chest height and shorten the path to the ball.
Contact is beside or behind you
The arm jams, the face opens uncontrolled and the ball drops short.
Correction: Move your feet earlier and hit the ball clearly in front of the front hip.
You face the net square-on
Without a shoulder turn the swing has no length and the ball no weight.
Correction: Turn shoulders and hips side-on before the ball bounces.
You hit low balls at full pace
Forced winners from defence end in the net or rebound nicely off the back wall.
Correction: Play deep with slice, stay in the rally and wait for a better ball.
You take the ball before the back wall when it is going in
The rushed contact behind the body is the most common padel backhand mistake.
Correction: Let the ball reach the glass, turn with it and hit it only once it comes back off the wall.
Training
Three drills for a stable backhand
Depth corridor with slice
Play backhand slices into a two-metre zone in front of the opposite back wall. Keep pace at 60 percent; only depth counts.
Read the back wall
A partner feeds with pace into the back wall on your backhand side. Let every ball reach the glass and hit it after the rebound, in front of the body line.
Line or cross
Before each feed your partner calls “line” or “cross”. Judge direction and depth – not whether the ball is a winner.
Video analysis
How to film your backhand
A side view level with your backhand side shows the swing path, the contact point and the weight transfer. For balls off the back wall, the glass behind you must also be in frame so the rebound timing is visible.
Position
Side-on, level with the hitting side, safely outside the glass.
Height
Between hip and chest so contact height and racket face stay readable.
Frame
Full body, the bounce point and the back wall; keep the camera still.
FAQ
Common questions about the padel backhand
One hand or two hands?
The one-handed backhand is the padel standard: more reach and a better feel for slice. A two-handed backhand is fine for beginners or players coming from tennis – contact in front and a compact path matter more than the number of hands.
Slice or flat?
A light slice is the default: it keeps the ball low, slows the game down and makes attacking harder. Flat is worth it on mid-height balls when you are stable and want to build pressure.
How do I play the backhand off the back glass?
Turn early with the ball, move towards the glass with it and wait until it comes back. The contact point is still in front of the body line – the most common mistake is hitting too early and therefore behind the body.
Why does my backhand end up in the net?
Usually the contact is late or the wrist chops down. Hit further in front, lengthen the swing towards the target and give the ball some net clearance with a slightly open face.
Which grip should I use?
The continental grip is the standard recommendation: it allows slice, blocks and fast changes between forehand and backhand without regripping.
Sources and technical note
The FIP syllabus and PadelMBA underpin the technique and training logic of this guide. Grip, swing length and footwork adapt to body type, level and ball speed.