Kick smash and backhand volley technique
Key takeaway from our Guru
How can I improve my kick smash and backhand volley?
For the kick smash, keep your elbow high and use your legs to generate power while striking the ball behind your head. For the backhand volley, play flatter to increase consistency and wait for the ball rather than forcing a slice.
What this lesson covers
The kick smash requires a single preparation phase where the racket is placed behind the head with the elbow pointing toward the sky. This ensures a high contact point. To generate spin rather than relying solely on power, the ball must be struck slightly behind the head. Power is generated by bending the legs and extending them at the exact moment of contact to transfer energy into the ball. Aiming for a bounce in the middle of the court helps achieve the desired rebound effect.
For the backhand volley, the player must decide whether to step in based on the difficulty of the incoming ball. If the ball is easy, a step forward adds control. If the ball is difficult, the player should remain steady without moving forward. Reducing the amount of slice makes the shot more consistent over long matches, as flat volleys are easier to control and put more pressure on the opponent's feet. Keeping the body low and using the shoulders to push the ball, rather than over-preparing with the arm, improves accuracy. This approach favors reliable shots that can be maintained throughout a long match over risky, low-percentage attempts.
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Original video
Added on Apr 2, 2026
These Pro Tips Transformed my Kicksmash and Volley (ft Adrian Blanco)
Description
In today’s video I had the chance to record in Riyadh with Adrián Blanco, former World Padel Tour pro who reached top 36 in the world and even beat the world number 1s back in 2020. Adrián trained for 14 years with Gustavo Prato (coach of pair N1), and shared the court with players like Arturo Coello, Edu Alonso and many more top names. Here he shares his best tips on the two shots that made him stand out as a professional: 🔥 The Smash X3 (kick smash) 🔥 The Backhand Volley If you want to understand how pro players think about these shots – and how to apply it to your own game – this video is for you. 👉 Don’t forget to hit like and subscribe if you enjoy this content. 🎾 By the way, I’ve just updated my website – go check it out and let me know what you think: https://www.padeldrivers.com/ Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:28 Who is Adrian Blanco? 1:38 Best shots from Adrian 2:17 Pro Player Analyzes my Kicksmash X3 2:55 Pro Tips for the Kicksmash 4:16 Adri Shows me how PROS do it 5:19 Applying the Pro Tips 7:11 Adri Analyzes my Backhand Volley 7:54 Pro Tips for the Backhand Volley 10:50 Surprise in Riyadh 11:20 This tip transformed my volley 12:42 Tips for Matches - Learning From Gustavo Prato and Arturo Coello 13:20 Outro #PadelDrive #PadelTips #SmashX3 #BackhandVolley #PadelRiyadh
Good for
Skill level
Intermediate, High Intermediate, Advanced, High Advanced
Court position
Net
Play style
Control
Secondary shot
Volley
Keywords
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