The bandeja is the overhead you see good players hit when they're lobbed at the net. It looks soft. It's meant to. You're not trying to end the rally with it. It's how you stay at the net while your opponents are still stuck at the back.
I'm not a coach. I make clothes and I play. So everything below is built on what the LTA and coaching sites say, laid out in the order the shot happens, with the faults and drills that go with each part.
What a bandeja is (and isn't)
The name is Spanish for tray. The LTA's glossary explains why: the racket face is held open at head height, like a waiter carrying a tray. It defines the shot as a defensive volley with slice, hit deep so it stays low off the glass.
Why not just smash it? Under the FIP rules, a ball that bounces and then hits the glass is still a good return, so the rally goes on and your opponents can play it off the wall. Hit it hard, miss your spot, and you've given them a ball to counter with while you're off balance. The LTA calls the bandeja "the antidote to the lob" and says it makes up 69% of overheads in the women's game.
Quick comparison, using the LTA's definitions:
| Shot | Spin | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Smash | Flat, plenty of pace | Finish the point |
| Bandeja | Underspin (slice) | Keep the net, keep control |
| Víbora | Side-spin | Attack; kicks low and sideways off floor and walls |
The víbora has its own guide, and if a coach throws other Spanish shot names at you, the padel shots list translates them.
The grip
Padel Browser's grip guide lists the bandeja among the shots played with the continental grip, the default grip for most of padel, volleys and serves included. If you're not sure you've got it, my guide to holding a padel racket finds it by feel, without needing a photo.
The bandeja in five phases
1. Turn
As soon as you see the lob going up, turn side-on so your chest faces the side wall, not the net. The Padel School puts it first in its list of steps: turn your body early. Turn late and everything after it is rushed.
2. Prep
Racket up above your head with the face open. The LTA's picture is holding a plate. Then move your feet so the ball will drop in front of you, not over or behind your head. The prep and the footwork happen together. You're getting under the ball while it's still in the air.
3. Contact
Hit the ball when it has dropped to about eye height. The LTA says to picture it in line with your glasses. The Padel School puts it at forehead height. Either way, it's lower than a smash and out in front of your body.
4. Slice
Swing high to low, but don't come all the way down like a tennis serve. The racket finishes across your body, and the LTA says your arm should end up wrapped round you like a scarf. That cutting path is what puts the underspin on, which keeps the bounce low. Pace is medium at most. Aim for big targets: the LTA's drill asks for the ball to land beyond the service line, and The Padel School suggests the front panel of the side glass or the back of the side fence.
5. Recovery
This is the bit the shot exists for. Use the forward momentum of the swing to walk back in, level with your partner at the net. The LTA is clear that hitting too hard leaves you no time to get back. A slower ball you recover from beats a faster one you don't.
Common bandeja faults
| Fault | What you'll notice | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Late turn | You're square to the net, reaching up and back | Turn the moment you see the lob go up (The Padel School) |
| Contact behind your head | You lose your forward momentum and lean back | Get there early so the ball drops in front (The Padel School) |
| Watching your last shot | You're still admiring it when the lob goes over you | Turn and move back as soon as they play the high ball (The Padel School) |
| Tennis-smash finish | Racket finishes down by your legs | Finish across your body, arm wrapped like a scarf (LTA) |
| Too much pace | Good shot, but you're stuck halfway back for the reply | Take speed off; land it beyond the service line and walk in (LTA) |
| Aiming for lines | Errors into the net or out | Aim for big targets: deep, or the side glass (The Padel School) |
The Padel School also suggests filming yourself. It says video makes it easier to see whether you're getting back quickly enough or making contact too far behind your body. A phone propped against the side glass will do.
Three drills, from feed to live play
Drill 1: the static feed
You stand at the net. A friend at the back hits easy lobs that drop around the service line. Don't move your feet much. Just turn, prep, hit at eye height and finish across your body. The Padel School says you can practise with a friend or coach feeding, and that you shouldn't expect to use the shot in a match until you've done the reps. Twenty balls, then swap.
Drill 2: touch, back, hit, back
Same set-up, but you start with your racket touching the net. Your feeder lobs deeper, so you have to move back to get under it. Hit the bandeja deep, then walk back in and touch the net again before the next feed. Count only the balls that land beyond the service line. This joins phases 1 to 5 together and makes recovery part of every rep.
Drill 3: Defend the net
This one is the LTA's own. Two players at the net, two at the back. The back pair starts each rally with a lob. The net pair has to hit a bandeja that lands beyond the service line, then you play the point out. Swap roles every two points. First team to 10 wins. Now the bandeja has to hold up against someone trying to beat you.
If you're new and these feel far off, that's normal. My padel tips for beginners explain why it can wait until the basics and the lob are habits. If you've come over from tennis, the urge to flatten every overhead is one of the tennis habits that lose padel points. And when the cold takes the bounce out of the ball, my winter padel guide covers why you'll lean on this shot more.
Two small things for the kit bag
An open-face overhead needs a racket that doesn't twist in your hand. Total Padel lists a slippery or less tacky feel among the signs an overgrip needs changing. Our overgrips are sweat-absorbing and come in a 3 pack for £7 or a 6 pack for £12. If you've never fitted one, here's how to fit a padel overgrip.
And for after the drills, there's what I actually make. Our heavyweight tees are 100% cotton, 305 g/m2 and cut oversized, so size down if you want a regular fit. Any two £48 tees are £90 at checkout, which also clears free UK delivery at £75.
See you at the net.
FAQ
Why is it called a bandeja? Bandeja is Spanish for tray. The LTA says the name comes from the racket face being held open at head height, like a waiter carrying a tray.
Where should I aim a bandeja? Deep. The LTA's drill asks for the ball to land beyond the service line, and its glossary says a good bandeja stays low off the glass. The Padel School suggests the front panel of the side glass or the back of the side fence as bigger, safer targets.
Is the bandeja hard to learn? The sources split on this. The LTA says it's easy to learn and perfect over time, at any level. The Padel School calls it one of the more difficult shots to learn and says it needs practice before it shows up in a match. Both put early preparation first, and both expect it to take practice.
Can I just smash every lob instead? You can, but a smash that bounces and then hits the glass is still in play under the FIP rules, so it can come back. The LTA's point is that the bandeja keeps control and your position at the net. Save the full smash for a short, easy lob you're sure of finishing.
