If you’ve been active in the world of padel for a while, you’re probably familiar with most of the padel shots. Some of these shots overlap with tennis terms, such as the forehand volley, backhand volley, and smash. However, there is a difference in the way these padel shots are executed in terms of technique between tennis and padel, but we’ll get to that later. In addition to these ‘standard’ padel shots, you’ve probably also heard specific padel terms like ‘bajada,’ ‘bandeja,’ ‘vibora,’ and ‘chiquita.’ Padel, originally born in Mexico and popularized in countries like Spain and Argentina, hence features Spanish names for these shots. In a previous blog, we extensively covered the technique and tactics behind the ‘Bajada,’ one of the key types of padel shots. This week, it’s time to delve into another important padel shot known as the ‘Vibora.’

Vibora padel shot; Explanation

In the world of padel, the ‘Vibora’ shot is one of the essential types of padel shots and a powerful weapon that every player should know. When you watch professional padel matches, you’ll see that the best padel players in the world often use the ‘Vibora’ among their varied types of padel shots. The word ‘Vibora’ means ‘viper’ in Spanish, and this shot is just as cunning and deadly on the padel court. Let’s dive deeper into what the ‘Vibora’ is, when to use this shot among your arsenal of padel shots, and how to execute it technically. We’ll also explain the distinction between the ‘Vibora’ and the ‘Bandeja,’ as these two shots share many similarities.

The ‘Vibora’ is an offensive slice smash, one of the notable types of padel shots, played when you are close to the net, and your goal is to win the point. While the ‘Bandeja,’ another of the types of padel shots, is mainly used to maintain the net position and is considered a defensive shot among the various types of padel shots, the ‘Vibora’ is designed to be aggressive and increase the pressure on your opponents.

Padel technique for the Vibora padel shot

To execute a ‘Vibora,’ one of the advanced types of padel shots, certain technical aspects are essential. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

Turn your body approximately 90 degrees and bring your padel racket behind you, just behind your head and towards your shoulder.

Ensure your feet are slightly apart, while your shoulders remain at shoulder width for good balance as with many of the various types of padel shots.

Hit the ball beside your body, at shoulder level, and create a slice effect. It’s crucial to make contact with the ball on the side to generate the desired rotation and a low trajectory, a key characteristic of the ‘Vibora’ and other similar types of padel shots.

Swing your racket arm fully to provide as much slice to the ball as possible, as you would with other advanced types of padel shots.

Speed is crucial when hitting a ‘Vibora’ or any of the powerful types of padel shots. The deeper you play the ball off the glass wall, the lower the ball bounces after hitting the wall. This makes it extremely challenging for your opponent to return the ball, just as it is with other aggressive types of padel shots. If you haven’t fully mastered the ‘Vibora’ technique, consider hitting slightly slower to maintain more control, a common practice with various types of padel shots.

Common mistakes with the Vibora and other types of padel shots

The ‘Vibora’ is a challenging shot, and like many other types of padel shots, it comes with potential errors. Here are some common mistakes, especially for novice padel players:

Failure to choose between the ‘Bandeja’ and the ‘Vibora’ clearly, a decision-making challenge that often applies to various types of padel shots. Not making a timely choice between these two shots leads to a compromise shot and rarely results in a good ball.

Too much speed, too little spin, a common issue with several types of padel shots. Excessive power and insufficient spin cause the ball to bounce high, making it easy for your opponent to return.

Hitting too close to your body, a mistake common to the ‘Vibora’ and other powerful types of padel shots. To execute a good ‘Vibora,’ you need to create enough space to rotate and perform the technique correctly. Hitting the ball too close to your body hampers the shot, as it does with similar types of padel shots.

The ‘Vibora’ padel shot is one of the powerful types of padel shots that every padel player should have in their arsenal, offering an alternative attacking strategy to the traditional smash and various other types of padel shots. Mastering this technique can elevate your padel game, allowing you to surprise your opponents and score points in a way they won’t expect.

Distinguishing the Vibora and Bandeja; Different types of padel shots

The distinction between the ‘Vibora’ and the ‘Bandeja’ is crucial, as it is with various types of padel shots. While the ‘Bandeja’ is played in a more controlled manner and is primarily used to maintain your net position, the ‘Vibora’ is meant for an attack. A good ‘Vibora’ usually means a winning point among the different types of padel shots, but it also comes with more risk, a common characteristic shared with several types of padel shots. The techniques and speeds of the two shots differ. It’s all about choice, technique, and timing when deciding between a ‘Vibora’ and a ‘Bandeja.’ You usually play a ‘Bandeja’ after a reasonably deep lob is played over you, which you can still reach, a strategic choice similar to other situations in various types of padel shots. Because you have to make more effort to save this ball, the shot becomes more defensive. A ‘Vibora’ is played when the opponent’s lob is not good enough, and you have plenty of time and space to make your shot more aggressive, a decision as with various types of padel shots.

Practice the Vibora with Padel Lessons

In conclusion, the ‘Vibora’ padel shot is a powerful weapon in every padel player’s arsenal, offering an alternative attacking strategy to the traditional smash and several other types of padel shots from the padel cage. It can even replace the most technical smash, as is possible with other advanced types of padel shots. The ability to keep the ball low and apply a slice makes the ‘Vibora’ an effective way to score points and put pressure on your opponents, just like with other aggressive types of padel shots. If you’re serious about improving your ‘Vibora’ and other padel shots, consider taking padel lessons from our experienced trainers, similar to how you’d practice other types of padel shots. Here, you’ll receive expert guidance and valuable padel tips to elevate your padel skills among various types of padel shots. We offer padel lessons for players of every padel level at various locations throughout the Netherlands, including padel in Amsterdam, padel in Uitgeest, padel in Groningen, padel in Brabant, padel in Limburg, and much more!”