Training Padel

Taught by Paquito Navarro, the sliced volley is a highly technical and difficult shot, but when executed correctly, it can give you a clear advantage. It’s a volley played with extreme underspin, aiming to drop sharply after bouncing off the back glass, making it nearly impossible for the opponent to return comfortably.

This drill focuses on building the technical foundation for this shot, so it can be used effectively in match play. An advanced variation is also provided, allowing you to follow up and finish the point.

Mastering the Technique

The goal of the sliced volley is to hit a deep, heavily sliced ball that bounces just before the back glass, then dies quickly after the rebound, making it very difficult to retrieve.

A successful sliced volley must meet two main criteria:

Extreme underspin:

• To generate this, the player opens the racket face and uses a movement from top to bottom.

• Two common risks with this shot are:
  • The ball floating too much and going long.
  • Mishitting the edge of the racket due to the open face.

This makes the sliced volley technically demanding, requiring precision and control.

Depth – bounce just before the back glass:

• For maximum effectiveness, the ball should bounce just in front of the back wall, then die right after it rebounds off the glass.
• This positioning ensures the opponent has almost no time or space to react.

Watch Paquito Navarro’s technique carefully:

• The racket is prepared high, at head height or slightly above, with an open face.
• The arm descends steeply as the ball is struck, generating heavy underspin.
• The swing then follows through upward, finishing above the left shoulder to complete the motion smoothly.

This shot is considered very difficult, even at advanced levels, but it becomes a lethal weapon when executed correctly.

Technique demonstration by Paquito Navarro

Video credits: Aprende con Paquito Navarro 4×02 | Volea Canina – DaleCandela TV – YouTube

Practical Drill

The player positions himself on his usual side at the net.

The coach stands at the back of the court with a basket of balls.

The coach feeds a series of volleys toward the player’s position.

The player attempts to execute the sliced volley with the correct form:

• racket prepared high.
• Sharp downward motion to strike.
• Deep placement with bounce just before the glass.

The objective is to develop consistency and control over this difficult but effective shot.

Advanced Variation

Following Up with a “Par 4” Smash

When executed well, the sliced volley puts the opponent in serious trouble. Even if they manage to return the ball, it will likely be short or weak.

That’s why a great follow-up tactic is to:

• Step forward immediately after hitting the sliced volley, closing in on the net.
• Be ready to finish the point with a flat, downward smash that sends the ball out of the court through the back wall – known as a “par 4”.

This sequence allows you to capitalize on the pressure created by your sliced volley and end the rally decisively.

Here is the video demonstration of this variation: