Padel Lingo: A Glossary of 25 Terms Every Player Should Know

Padel grew up in Spanish-speaking countries (Mexico, Argentina, Spain), so the technical vocabulary of the sport is mostly Spanish. American players who started playing recently often learn the terms on the court, badly, by overhearing them. This is a clean reference for the 25 you'll actually hear.

Listed alphabetically.

The 25 terms

1. Ad side / Left side

The left half of the court, from the baseline view. The "ad side" name comes from tennis (advantage points are typically played from this side). In padel, the ad-side player is usually the more aggressive partner — most points are finished with forehands across the body from this side.

2. Bajada

A defensive shot played off the back glass, after the ball has bounced on the floor and come off the wall. Bajada means "descent" in Spanish — you're playing a ball that's descending after the wall bounce. The shot is usually hit cross-court to neutralize the rally.

3. Bandeja

The defensive overhead with slice. The most important shot in padel above beginner level. See Bandeja Shot Explained for the full breakdown.

4. Bola

Spanish for "ball." If someone yells "¡bola!" in your direction, a stray ball from another court is heading your way. Stop the point, reset.

5. Chiquita

A short, low cross-court ball played from the back of the court, intended to land at the feet of the net player. Chiquita means "little one" — it's a small, controlled shot. Used to disrupt aggressive net players and set up your next shot.

6. Contrapared

Hitting the ball off your own back wall intentionally to send it back over the net. Rare but legal. Used when a ball has rebounded too aggressively for a normal return.

7. Deuce side / Right side

The right half of the court. The deuce-side player is usually the steadier partner — the player whose backhand will face most of the team's lobs.

8. Dropshot / Dejada

A short, soft shot that just clears the net and dies on the opponent's side. Hard to execute well; most amateur dropshots either go into the net or sit up for an easy putaway.

9. Gancho

A backhand bandeja, hit when the lob comes over the backhand shoulder and you can't move around the ball. Gancho means "hook." More awkward than the standard bandeja and harder to control.

10. Globo

Spanish for "balloon" — a lob. A high, deep ball over the head of the net team. Globo is the term you'll hear partners call out when they want their teammate to hit a lob.

11. Golden Point / Punto de oro

The sudden-death point at deuce in some scoring formats. The receiving team picks the side. See Padel Scoring Explained.

12. Killer / Remate

A smash. Remate means "finish" — it's the shot intended to end the point. Used sparingly by good players, who understand that a missed remate gives away the point.

13. Let

A serve that nicks the net but otherwise lands legally in the service box. Replayed without penalty. Same rule as tennis. (No relation to pickleball, where lets count as in.)

14. Lob

The English term for globo. Most American clubs use the English word, though "lob" and "globo" are interchangeable.

15. Mano de Oro

"Golden hand" — slang for a player with exceptional touch and feel, especially around the net. Compliment to use sparingly; reserve for someone whose volley game is genuinely elegant.

16. Net

The 88cm-tall barrier across the middle of the court. Same as tennis usage. A "net cord" is a ball that nicks the top and changes trajectory — frustrating but in play.

17. No-Ad / Punto Decisivo

Same as golden point. Different names, same rule: at deuce, the next point wins the game.

18. Padel / Pádel

The sport. In Spanish, "pádel" with the accent. In English usage, both spellings are accepted; American media is settling on "padel" without the accent.

19. Por Tres / Through Three

A ball that hits three walls in sequence after bouncing on the floor — usually back wall, side wall, opposite side wall. Rare and impressive when returned.

20. Punch volley / Volea de bloqueo

A short, controlled volley with no backswing. The default volley at the net. Beginners take too much backswing on volleys; the punch volley is the fix.

21. Reverse / Reverso

Hitting a forehand on what would normally be a backhand position. Used when a ball comes to your backhand side but you have time to step around it. Higher pace, more accuracy than a backhand for most right-handers.

22. T

The intersection where the center service line meets the service line. The "T" is the most important target on the receiver's court — a serve hit toward the T limits the receiver's angles.

23. Tanto / Punto

"Point." If you hear "tanto a favor" the serving team won the point; "tanto en contra" the receiving team won.

24. Tijera / Scissor

A specialty shot, hit while jumping with your legs scissoring in mid-air. Used when you have to get extra height on a defensive overhead. Looks dramatic; rare in recreational play.

25. Vibora

A topspin overhead, the more aggressive cousin of the bandeja. Faster ball, lower percentage. Used by advanced players who want to threaten a winner without going for a full smash.

Bonus: terms you'll hear but shouldn't worry about

• Bajada con efecto: a bajada with spin. Rare to call out; just hit the bajada.
• Salida de pared: "exit from the wall" — the angle a ball takes after hitting a wall. Coaches use this term in lessons.
• Ojo: "eye" — slang for "watch out." Yelled when a ball is heading at you or your partner unexpectedly.

How to use these terms

You don't need to use any of these terms to play padel. You can call a bandeja a "slice overhead" and everyone will know what you mean. The vocabulary is useful when:

• You're taking lessons from a Spanish-speaking coach
• You're playing in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, or any major padel-speaking country
• You're watching pro coverage where commentators use Spanish terms

The two terms most worth memorizing for any American player: bandeja and chiquita. Those are the shots you'll add to your game first, and the terms come up constantly in lessons and clinics.

The rest is nice to know.