Padel Backhand Guide
The backhand is the stroke most club players want to improve first. Whether you play two-handed or one-handed, the technique principles are the same: shoulder rotation, compact backswing, and contact in front of the body. This guide covers the two-handed vs one-handed decision, technique phase by phase, the slice backhand, and the five mistakes that cost the most points.
Two-handed vs one-handed backhand
Both are used at every level including professional padel. The choice depends on your background, priorities, and what you want from the backhand side.
Advantages
- More power from the non-dominant arm assist
- Easier to handle high balls and body shots
- More consistent under pressure — two contact points create stability
- Easier for beginners and players coming from tennis (two-handed backhand)
Limitations
- Less reach — you can't stretch as far for wide balls
- More difficult to slice with two hands
- Transition to the one-handed slice requires a grip adjustment
Best for: Players who prioritise consistency and power from the backhand side. Recommended for beginners and intermediates.
Advantages
- Greater reach for wide and stretched balls
- Natural transition to the slice backhand — same grip
- Better for low balls and balls off the back glass at awkward heights
- More disguise — the wrist can direct the ball later in the swing
Limitations
- Requires more technical precision — smaller margin for error
- Less power on flat shots without good shoulder rotation
- Higher balls are more difficult to handle
Best for: Advanced players who prioritise variety and reach. Also suited to players who were one-handed backhand players in squash or tennis.
Most common combination: Two-handed drive backhand + one-handed slice backhand. The drive provides power and consistency; the slice handles low balls and approach shots. This is the setup most club-to-competitive players develop naturally over time.
Backhand technique — 5 phases
Phases apply to both two-handed and one-handed backhands with minor variations noted.
Grip
The continental grip works for both the two-handed and one-handed padel backhand. For the two-handed version, the dominant hand uses continental and the non-dominant hand grips above it — similar to a left-handed forehand grip for a right-hander. For the one-handed backhand, continental is standard; some players use a slight eastern backhand shift but continental is preferred because it transitions naturally to slices and volleys.
Key point
Don't change your grip for the backhand. The continental grip covers all padel shots — forehands, backhands, volleys, and overheads. Players who switch grips between shots create the exact kind of timing problem that padel's fast exchanges punish.
Ready position and shoulder rotation
Preparation is the same as the forehand: split step as the opponent contacts the ball, push off toward the backhand side. Turn your dominant shoulder toward the ball — this is the opposite of the forehand shoulder turn. For the two-handed backhand, both hands are on the racket throughout the preparation. For the one-handed, the non-dominant hand holds the throat until the backswing.
Key point
The shoulder turn triggers the backswing and loads the rotation for power transfer. Players who prepare with only an arm motion and no shoulder turn produce weak, armsy backhands that break down under pressure.
Backswing
Compact backswing — the same principle as the forehand. Take the racket back to approximately waist height with the elbow bent. For the two-handed backhand, both arms bend together. For the one-handed, the non-dominant hand releases the throat and the dominant arm takes the racket back alone. The backswing should finish before the ball is on your side of the net.
Key point
The backswing in padel is significantly more compact than in tennis. If you're hitting the ball after it's passed your body, your backswing is either too long or starts too late. 'Compact and early' is the correction.
Contact point
Contact occurs in front of the body — slightly in front of the leading hip for the two-handed backhand, and further forward for the one-handed where the arm extends more at contact. Waist to chest height is the ideal range. Below waist height, a slice is usually more appropriate. Above shoulder height, the two-handed backhand handles better because the second arm can drive through the high contact.
Key point
The contact point doesn't change with spin type — only the swing path does. If you're hitting the ball at waist height with a flat swing or a topspin brush, the contact point should be in the same position in front of the body.
Swing path and follow-through
The two-handed backhand drive follows a low-to-high path for topspin, finishing with both arms extended across the body toward the target side. The one-handed topspin backhand has a similar path with a wrist roll forward at contact. The slice backhand (one-handed) uses a high-to-low path with an open racket face — finishing extended toward the target, low.
Key point
The follow-through should feel natural, not forced. Stopping the swing short at contact is a common error — the follow-through is part of the stroke mechanics that determines ball trajectory, not an afterthought.
The backhand slice
The backhand slice is one of the most useful shots in club padel — especially for low balls, back-glass situations, and approach shots to the net. Here's when and how to use it.
When to use the slice
- Low balls below knee height that can't be driven comfortably
- Balls coming off the back glass at awkward or variable heights
- Change-of-pace situations to disrupt the opponent's rhythm
- Defensive reset when under severe pressure
- Approach shot to the net — a deep slice backhand is an effective net approach ball
Technique
Take a slightly open racket face, swing high to low, brushing underneath the ball at contact. The non-dominant hand can release at the start of the swing for greater reach. Follow through extended and low. The slice produces backspin that keeps the ball low and makes it skid on the bounce — difficult for opponents to lift from below net height.
Key errors to avoid
Slicing too short — a short slice sits up at waist height and is easy to attack. Drive it deep or aim for the glass.
Excessive wrist flick — the slice is an arm motion, not a wrist flick. Excessive wrist produces an inconsistent contact angle.
Using slice as a default instead of a tactic — if you slice every backhand because you can't drive it, you're conceding the initiative on every backhand.
5 common padel backhand mistakes
These mistakes appear at every club level. Each has a root cause and a direct fix.
No shoulder rotation — hitting arm-only backhands
Without shoulder rotation, the backhand relies entirely on arm strength. This produces weak, inconsistent shots and puts strain on the elbow. It's especially common in beginners who learned to 'block' the ball back rather than drive through it.
Feel your dominant shoulder pointing at the ball at the start of the swing. Drive through by rotating the shoulders — the arm follows the rotation rather than leading it. Practise shadow swings focusing only on shoulder turn before adding ball contact.
Contacting the ball beside or behind the hip
Late contact (beside or behind the hip instead of in front) produces weak, mis-directed shots and is a common cause of padel elbow. It's usually caused by late backswing preparation — you don't have time to get into position if you start turning late.
Trigger the backswing as soon as the ball leaves your opponent's racket on the backhand side. The rule is: the backswing must be complete before the ball crosses the net. If it's not, you started too late.
Hitting all backhands with slice (slice only)
Players who default to slice on every backhand never build a consistent drive. The slice is defensive and telegraphs a reset — opponents learn to move forward on any backhand from these players.
Build the driving backhand (two-handed or one-handed) as a primary shot. Use slice as a variation, not a default. Practise driving low balls that feel uncomfortable — that's exactly where the slice habit forms.
Looking at the opponent instead of the ball at contact
Taking the eyes off the ball early — looking up toward the opponent or the net — causes the head to drop, which tilts the shoulder and changes the swing plane. The result is mishits and frame shots.
Keep the eyes on the ball through contact and for a fraction of a second after. Many coaches cue this as 'watch the ball leave the strings.' The discipline of not looking up until after contact dramatically improves backhand consistency.
Over-hitting on backhand passing attempts
Players who feel less confident on the backhand side try to compensate by hitting harder. This increases error rate without increasing success rate on passing shots. Padel backhand passing shots work when they're accurate and low — not when they're fast.
Aim for accuracy on passing shot targets — cross-court at the feet, or down-the-line at the hip. Reduce pace by 20% and focus on placement. Players who take pace off their backhand passing shot and aim more carefully win more of them.
Frequently asked questions
Should you use a two-handed or one-handed backhand in padel?
Both are valid. Two-handed is more consistent and recommended for beginners. One-handed has more reach and easier slice transition. The most common combination at club level is a two-handed drive plus a one-handed slice.
What grip do you use for the padel backhand?
Continental grip for both two-handed and one-handed. For two-handed, the dominant hand uses continental and the non-dominant grips above. The continental grip covers all padel shots — no grip changes needed between forehand and backhand.
How do you hit a backhand slice in padel?
Open racket face, high-to-low swing, brush underneath the ball at contact, follow through extended and low. Use it for low balls, back-glass situations, approach shots, and defensive resets. Avoid using it as a default — it gives away the initiative.
Why is my padel backhand weak?
Usually: no shoulder rotation (arm-only swing), late backswing starting after the ball has passed the net, or contact beside/behind the hip. Fix timing first — backswing complete before the ball crosses the net — then add shoulder rotation.
Is the backhand harder than the forehand in padel?
For most players, yes initially. But padel's compact mechanics make the backhand more manageable than in tennis. With consistent drilling, club players can develop a reliable backhand within 6–12 months of regular practice.
Related guides
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ReadPadel Grip Guide
Continental grip, overgrips, and handle size for padel.
ReadPadel Footwork Guide
Split step, recovery movement & court positioning patterns.
ReadPadel Wall Play
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ReadHow to Choose a Coach
Find a coach to build your backhand from the ground up.
ReadA coach will find the specific flaw in your backhand.
Backhand problems are rarely what they look like from the inside. What feels like a power issue is usually a timing problem. What feels like a technique issue is usually a positioning problem. A coach watching you live diagnoses the root cause in minutes — not months of self-guessing.
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