The Chiquita Is Not the Weapon in Padel: Moving With It Is

The chiquita is a low ball into the feet of the net players, and it is a genuinely good shot. But it does not win the point on its own.

What wins the point is what you and your partner do while it is travelling. Play a lovely chiquita and stay back and you have achieved almost nothing.

Padel court diagram showing a chiquita played low towards the net players' feet — The chiquita is on its way. The decision to move happens now, not later.

Move while the ball is in the air

The window opens the moment the chiquita leaves the racket. Your opponents are about to be stuck hitting up from below net height, which means they cannot hurt you as you come forward.

That is the whole point of the shot. It is not a winner, it is permission to advance.

After the bounce it is already too late

Wait to see how good the chiquita was and you have missed it. By the time it bounces, they are on the ball and looking at you.

Now your run forward is happening while they have control, and that is a completely different proposition.

Padel court diagram showing the ball bouncing before the players have started forward — It has bounced. The window closed while you were watching.

Go late and they play at your feet

Arriving in mid-court after they have taken control is the worst outcome of all. You are not at the net and you are no longer at the back.

They put the ball at your feet and you are the one hitting up from below the net.

Padel court diagram showing opponents playing at the feet of a player caught in mid-court — Caught halfway, and now it is your feet under attack.

Go together, and arrive ready

Both of you move, and you move at the same time, so you arrive as a line rather than one up and one back.

Get there while they are still hitting up and the weak reply lands in front of two players who are set and waiting for it.

Padel court diagram showing both partners arriving at the net together ready to attack a weak return — Both up, both set, and the weak return is coming.

Test it on the court

Reading is step one. Now make these choices under pressure. Solve the interactive puzzles this lesson comes from:

What's the best way to win the net on an easy ball?

Your opponents and your partner are at the net. Where should you play a difficult ball?

You're at the net and played a difficult shot for the opponent. What should you do?

You are in defense. One opponent is at the net, the other is further from it. Where should you play?

Solve more padel puzzles

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Practise gain and keep the net with interactive puzzles