The video published by HELLO PADEL on August 11, 2026 follows a progressive sequence. Mauri Andrini starts with forehand and backhand groundstrokes, moves through the return of serve and back-wall shots, then covers the lob, chiquita, volleys, bandeja, vibora, smash and drop shot. The main padel shots are linked to specific game situations.
HELLO PADEL describes Andrini as a former Top 80 world-ranked player, two-time Junior World Champion and former English-language World Padel Tour commentator. Throughout this lesson, he repeats the same principle: in padel, shot selection matters as much as execution.
Control before chasing difficult targets
On groundstrokes, Andrini stresses a short preparation. The aim is to reduce unforced errors and keep the racket ready when the ball arrives quickly. The same idea applies to the return of serve: his first instruction is to put the ball back in play rather than immediately chase a corner, sharp angle or ambitious lob.
The back wall then changes the timing. It can provide a little more time to prepare the racket and regain control of the rally. In an emergency, Andrini also mentions using the back wall deliberately to save the ball, recover position and extend the point. For more detail on this area, our guide to playing off the back glass covers the main positioning and contact points.
Lob, chiquita and bandeja to regain the initiative
The lob has a central role. Andrini describes it as a shot that can become offensive: when executed well, it pushes opponents back and creates a chance to recover the net. Leave it short and the smash becomes available.
The chiquita follows the same logic with a low trajectory towards the opponents’ feet. It forces them to play from low to high and can set up the next attack. The bandeja, by contrast, is mainly a way to manage an opponent’s lob and regain a good net position. When the lob is easier to attack, the more aggressive vibora, with side spin, becomes an option.
At 4:24, Andrini sums up the thread running through the lesson:
Padel is more tactical than technical.
Smash and drop shot: wait for the right ball
The smash is not presented as an automatic answer. Andrini recommends using it when the ball is suitable, otherwise the opponents may defend after the glass and put the attacking pair under pressure. The drop shot follows the same selective approach. Rather than trying to land it right next to the net every time, he suggests a target roughly one to two metres beyond it.
The lesson focuses mainly on the decisions made during a point. Technique matters, but the priority is knowing when to use each shot. The full video is available on the HELLO PADEL channel. The training app is available through the link listed below the video.
