A padel drop shot (dejada in Spanish) is a soft shot that barely clears the net and bounces short in the opponents court. Its used to catch opponents standing deep, unable to reach the ball before it dies. Technique requires open racket face, soft hands, and minimal swing - the ball floats rather than being driven.
What the dejada is
"Dejada" literally means "left" in Spanish - as in "left behind". The shot is called this because the ball is deliberately "left" to die short, with the opponents left stranded unable to chase it down.
The drop shot isn't about power. It's about removing pace from the ball and placing it just over the net. The less your racket does, the better.
When to use the drop shot
Drop shots work when the opponents are far from the net. The typical situations:
- After a long rally. Opponents get tired and tend to drift back slightly. Break the pattern with a drop shot.
- Against players in defensive mode. Anyone hanging back beyond the service line is vulnerable to a well-placed drop.
- As a pattern-breaker. If you've been hitting attacking volleys and smashes, the sudden change of pace catches opponents flat-footed.
- Off a defensive ball from the opponents. Converting their defensive shot into a surprise attack with touch rather than power.
- Against a partner who doesn't move well laterally. Drop shots force lateral scrambling.
When not to drop shot
- Opponents are at the net. You're giving them a free volley winner.
- From deep defensive positions. The ball has to travel too far - it rises and gets attacked.
- On return of serve. Reserve drop shots for live rally moments, not high-pressure returns.
- If your touch isn't on today. The drop shot is the least forgiving shot in padel - a bad one is worse than no shot at all.
How to hit the drop shot
Preparation
Look identical to your normal stroke until the last moment. Deception is part of the shot - if opponents read the drop shot coming, they'll be on it immediately. Same backswing as a normal ground stroke.
Contact
Change everything at the last moment:
- Open the racket face so it points slightly upward
- Soft hands - let the racket almost absorb the ball rather than hit it
- Reduce forward momentum - stop your body motion just before contact
- Brush slightly under the ball for a little underspin
Follow-through
Short and quiet. No big swing. The racket stops almost immediately after contact. Recovery happens quickly because you'll need to respond to their scrambling return.
Where to aim
Drop shot targets are in the first 2 metres of the opponents court - anywhere closer to the net than the service line. The best targets:
- Just over the net in the middle. Forces both opponents to converge and possibly collide.
- Cross-court corner near the sideline - maximum distance for the opponent to run.
- Behind an opponent who has come forward. Creates a sudden position reversal.
- The "T" where the centre line meets the service line. Neutral territory between opponents that neither covers instinctively.
Drop shot variations
Defensive drop shot
Hit from a deeper position, typically on a hard incoming ball. Uses the opponents pace and simply redirects it softly back. Risky but can surprise attacking opponents.
Drop volley
A drop shot hit before the ball bounces. Easier to execute than a drop shot from the baseline because you're closer to the net already. See our volley guide for more.
Drop lob
Rarely used - a drop shot arcs slightly and barely clears the net, almost a mini-lob. Very difficult to control consistently.
How to practice
Drop shots require touch that develops over hundreds of repetitions.
- Target drill: place a cone just over the net and try to land the ball as close to it as possible
- Partner feeds: have a partner feed you balls while you drop-shot every single one, focusing on touch over power
- Alternating drill: hit one drive, then one drop shot, then one drive - trains the deception element
- Slow-motion practice: hit drop shots at 30 per cent pace to really feel the soft contact - speed up once you can hit them consistently slow