How to play off the back glass
Nothing separates tennis players from padel players faster than the back glass. Tennis instinct says the ball is gone; padel says wait, it's coming back. Learning to let the ball come off the glass is the single biggest step most beginners can take.
What the rules allow
Under the FIP rules, once the ball has bounced on your side it stays in play if it hits the walls, the mesh, the net or the posts. You just have to return it before it bounces a second time on the floor.
Ball bounces on your side, hits the back or side glass, you play it before the second bounce. You may even hit it into your own walls, as long as it then lands in the opponents' court.
Your shot hits the opponents' glass or mesh before bouncing on their side, or hits the mesh or floor on your own side.
Read the full rules in our padel rules guide.
Step 1: move early, and to the side
The most common mistake is running straight back at the glass. Instead, move back early and slightly to the side, towards where the ball will be after it rebounds. Give yourself more space than feels natural: the ball comes out further than you expect.
Step 2: turn and prepare as the ball reaches the glass
Turn side-on and start your backswing while the ball is still travelling towards the wall. If you wait for the rebound to start preparing, you'll be late every time.
Step 3: let it drop, then hit in front of you
Patience is the skill. Let the ball come out and drop, and make contact in front of your body, moving forward through the shot rather than away from the glass.
Which shot to play
| Ball height after the glass | What to play |
|---|---|
| Ankle to knee | Defend softly: a controlled ball back into court or a lob. |
| Waist to chest | A controlled groundstroke, cross-court and deep, or a lob to win the net back. |
| Above the shoulder | Attack it, often as an overhead. |
When the opponents are at the net, the lob is often your best option from the back glass: it pushes them back and lets you and your partner move forward.
Double walls: back then side, side then back
When the ball hits two walls, its path changes:
- Side wall, then back wall: the ball kicks out towards the middle of the court.
- Back wall, then side wall: the ball kicks up the court, along the side wall.
The trick is the same in both cases: turn, follow the ball's path with your feet, and hit at the end of it rather than chasing it into the corner.
Using your own back wall
When you're beaten and can't reach the ball before it passes you, you can hit it upwards into your own back glass so it rebounds over the net. It's a last resort: hit up with enough power to clear the net, but not so much that it flies into the opponents' glass without bouncing.
Five mistakes to fix first
- Running straight back instead of back and to the side.
- Crowding the glass so the ball jams you.
- Late preparation: backswing only after the rebound.
- Flat feet: no small adjustment steps as the ball comes out.
- Over-hitting the rebound instead of playing a controlled ball.
A simple practice routine
Stand about three metres in front of the back glass, throw the ball firmly at the floor so it bounces into the glass, turn, let it come out and play it cross-court. Twenty forehands, twenty backhands. It's Drill 04 in The Padel Drill Book, and it's also on our free drill sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hit the ball before it hits the back glass?
Yes. Once it has bounced on your side you can play it before or after it hits the glass, as long as you return it before the second bounce.
Can the ball hit the glass before bouncing?
Not on the opponents' side: if your shot hits their wall before bouncing, you lose the point. On your own side, you may play the ball into your own wall so it rebounds over the net.
Why do I keep getting jammed by the back glass?
You're too close. Move back and to the side earlier, and leave more room than feels natural.
Reading the rebound
How the ball comes off the glass depends on how it arrives. With a little practice you can predict it before it hits the wall:
- Fast, flat ball: comes off hard and travels further out. Give it plenty of room.
- High, slow lob: drops close to the glass and comes out slowly. Be patient and move in late.
- Sliced ball: stays low and "dies" off the glass. Bend your knees early.
- Topspin ball: kicks up higher off the bounce and the glass, often giving you a chance to attack.
Forehand side vs backhand side
Most beginners are comfortable on the forehand side and panic on the backhand. The movement pattern is the same: turn early, move back and to the side, let the ball come out, contact in front. On the backhand, start the turn even earlier, because the backswing takes longer. Keep the swing short; control is the goal, not power.
When to attack off the glass
Not every ball off the back glass is a defensive ball. If it comes out above shoulder height, you can take it as an overhead and attack, a shot often called a bajada ("coming down"). Advanced players use it to turn a deep lob from the opponents into an attacking ball. As a beginner, start by playing controlled shots from the back and add the attack once your footwork is reliable.
The lob from the back glass
When both opponents are at the net, the lob is usually the best ball to play from the back. A good lob from the glass:
- Goes over the net players' reach, high enough that they can't smash it.
- Lands deep, between their service line and back glass.
- Gives you and your partner time to move forward together.
A short lob is the opposite: it sits up for a smash. Aim for their back glass, not their service line.
Back glass checklist
- Did I turn as soon as the ball passed me?
- Did I move back and to the side, not straight at the glass?
- Did I prepare the racket before the ball hit the glass?
- Did I wait for the ball to drop and hit in front of me?
- Did I choose the shot by height: defend low, control the middle, attack high?