How to Hit a Padel Groundstroke—and When to Use the Glass

A groundstroke is a forehand or backhand you hit after the ball has bounced on the court. In padel, you can play it directly after that bounce or after the ball also rebounds from the glass. A volley, by contrast, is struck before the floor bounce.

For a tennis player, the basic hitting action is familiar. The adjustment is to use a shorter swing—and stop treating every deep ball as something you must hit before it reaches the wall. The LTA’s groundstroke guide teaches early preparation, compact contact and decisions based on the incoming ball’s depth and speed.

Build a compact groundstroke

Start with your knees comfortably bent and your racket in front, rather than hanging beside your leg. If your grip is unfamiliar, begin with the continental grip guide.

Use this sequence on either side:

1. Recognise and turn. As soon as you see whether the ball is coming to your forehand or backhand, turn your shoulders and prepare the racket. Don’t wait for the bounce to start preparing.
2. Make space with your feet. Use small adjustment steps so the ball isn’t crowding your body. Lower yourself with your knees for a low contact.
3. Swing briefly through the ball. Keep the backswing compact, contact in front of your body and keep the racket face aligned with your target. Think “guide through,” not “take a huge cut.”
4. Recover. Bring the racket back in front and regain balance for the next shot.

These contact cues follow the LTA’s advice to use a short backswing and push through the back of the ball.

Checkpoint: you should finish balanced enough to prepare again immediately. If your swing pulls you off your feet, reduce the pace before adding more effort.

Hit directly or let it reach the glass?

The service line is a useful reference, not a compulsory hitting boundary.

• A shorter bounce, toward the net: usually play directly after the floor bounce.
• A deep, fast ball heading toward the back glass: consider letting it rebound, then play it.
• A slow ball: check whether it will actually reach the glass and come away far enough to give you a playable contact. Don’t leave it simply because it landed behind the service line.

The LTA uses the service line as a beginner “decision line,” alongside ball speed. Its back-glass guidance also stresses reading the incoming pace, preparing early and using small steps to reach the rebound.

The legal sequence for receiving a glass rebound is opponent’s shot → floor bounce on your side → glass rebound → your shot before the second floor bounce. Touching the glass does not reset the bounce count. Your return must land on the opponents’ court before hitting their wall or fence, unless they intercept it first. These requirements come from FIP Rules 12–14, effective January 2026.

For example, an opponent’s fast volley lands deep on your forehand side, with enough pace to rebound away from the back glass. Instead of rushing backward with a large swing, prepare early, let the ball reach the glass, adjust to the rebound and guide it over the net. Then recover alongside your partner rather than charging forward automatically; see doubles positioning.

Practise the decision, not just the swing

With a partner feeding gently from the opposite half, start near the back of your court with room to move toward the glass. Clear loose balls before each set.

• Ten direct feeds: alternate forehands and backhands that bounce comfortably in front of you. Aim through the middle with a compact swing.
• Ten glass feeds: use deep feeds that reliably reach the back glass. Prepare before the rebound and hit before bounce two.
• Ten mixed feeds: have your partner vary the depth and pace while keeping the feeds manageable. Say “direct” or “glass” as you read the ball, then play your choice.

Your checkpoint is a controlled return followed by a balanced ready position—not a winner. If the rebound keeps crowding you, work next on the beginner back-glass progression.