The Vibora: Padel's Attacking Overhead

The vibora (Spanish for 'viper') is an attacking overhead shot that adds more sidespin and aggression than the bandeja. Where the bandeja aims for depth, the vibora targets the opponent's side wall, creating an awkward bounce that's difficult to control.

The vibora is hit with a continental or slightly eastern grip, with a snapping wrist action that generates heavy sidespin. The body position is similar to the bandeja — sideways, with the non-racket shoulder forward — but the racket path is more pronounced and the point of contact is slightly more in front.

The ideal vibora lands short to medium depth in the opponents' court, bounces, and then kicks off the side glass at an angle that takes it away from the receiver. This makes it much harder to return than a standard bandeja.

The vibora is a more advanced shot and requires good timing and wrist strength. It's most effective when hit from a strong net position and is often used as a variation to keep opponents guessing between bandeja and vibora.