The Chiquita in Padel: The Soft Shot That Wins the Net
What is a chiquita?
Quick take. The chiquita (Spanish for "little one") is a soft, low ball that just clears the net and lands at the feet of opponents who are volleying. Because the ball is below the net, they have to hit up, and that gives you and your partner the chance to move forward and take the net.
In padel the pair at the net usually wins the point. If you are back and both opponents are up, you have two main ways back: a lob over them, or a chiquita under them.
When to play it
- Both opponents are at the net.
- You are not too deep: around your own service line is ideal, because the ball has less distance to travel and stays low.
- The ball coming to you is not too fast, so you can control the touch.
When not to play it
From the back glass, the ball has to travel too far and usually rises as it crosses the net. That gives the opponents an easy volley. From deep, the lob is usually the better choice.
How to hit it
- Short backswing, firm wrist, and a soft grip pressure.
- Meet the ball in front of you, with the face slightly open.
- Aim for the space between the opponents or at the feet of the weaker volleyer, just over the net.
- Think "touch, not power": the ball should dip as it crosses the net.
- Step forward straight after you hit, together with your partner.
Practise it
A simple drill: two players volley at the net while two players at the service line feed soft balls to their feet. Count how many chiquitas force a rising volley. Ten minutes of this before a match (see our warm-up routine) builds touch fast.
Mixing lobs and chiquitas keeps the net players guessing. Try it at your next game: find one on the tournaments page, book through the court guide, or ask a coach to drill it with you.
Share your best chiquita with the Bangkok Padel Community on Facebook.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is a chiquita in padel?
A soft, low shot that just clears the net and drops at the feet of opponents who are at the net, so they have to lift the ball. It is used to win back the net position.
When should I play a chiquita?
When both opponents are at the net and you are reasonably close to your own service line. From deep in the court the ball travels too far and they can attack it.
What should I do after a chiquita?
Move forward with your partner. The chiquita forces a rising ball, and the point of it is to take the net while they deal with it.
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