The x4 smash: send the ball flying out the back wall

The x4 smash is padel’s equivalent of a slam dunk. You hit the ball so hard into the ground that it bounces up, smacks the back wall, and flies over the four-metre glass. The opponent just watches it go. Game over for that point.

It’s called “x4” because the ball has to clear four metres of back wall glass. It’s the big brother of the x3 smash (which goes out the side wall). More raw power, more vertical, more satisfying.

What is the x4 smash?

A powerful overhead smash aimed at the back wall. You hit down into the court with enough speed and angle that the ball bounces off the ground, hits the back glass, and sails over the top. When it works, there’s literally nothing the opponent can do.

Unlike the x3 which targets the side wall, the x4 goes straight ahead. It’s a frontal attack. Pure power meets physics.

When to use it

Short, high lobs: when the lob lands near the net, you’ve got all the space you need to unload.
Opponents glued to the back wall: they can’t react before the ball is gone.
Weak lobs begging to be punished: if they float one up without enough depth, make them pay.
To mix up your overhead game: if you only hit bandejas or x3 smashes, they’ll read you. Throwing in an x4 keeps them guessing.
When you want to end the point right now: sometimes you just need to close it out.

How to execute it step by step

1. Setup

Turn sideways. Non-hitting shoulder pointing towards the back wall.
Racket back and up, elbow high. Free hand tracking the ball.
Feet shoulder-width apart, weight on the back foot. You’ll transfer everything forward on contact.
Shuffle back with crossover steps if needed. Get under the ball, not behind it.

2. The stroke

Swing from high to low with full hip and shoulder rotation. This is where the power comes from.
Contact the ball at the highest point you can comfortably reach. Higher contact = steeper angle down.
Hit flat or with slight topspin. You don’t need as much spin as the x3 — here it’s all about speed.
Aim straight at the back wall. The ball should bounce on the ground around the middle of the opponent’s court, then hit the back glass.
Pronate your forearm at contact. That extra snap is the difference between the ball clearing the glass or bouncing back.

3. After the shot

Recover to the net quickly. If the ball doesn’t go out, the opponent will counter.
Coordinate with your partner to cover the centre.
If you’re not sure it went out, prepare for the next ball instead of admiring your work.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Result	Fix
Not enough power	Ball bounces off the wall and comes back easy	If you can’t commit fully, play a bandeja instead
Hitting too flat/horizontal	Ball hits high on the wall but doesn’t go over	More vertical angle, contact higher
Bad positioning under the ball	Lose angle and power	Crossover steps to get underneath, don’t run backwards
Trying to x4 every high ball	Error rate goes through the roof	Only go for it when the lob is short and high enough
Ball hits the wall without bouncing first	Comes back slow and easy for the opponent	Aim at the ground in the mid-court area

Advantages

✅ The most decisive shot in padel — if it goes out, there’s zero response
✅ Massive psychological pressure: opponents start hitting worse lobs out of fear
✅ Pairs perfectly with the x3, and mixing both makes you unpredictable
✅ Works on forehand and backhand (though forehand is more natural and powerful)
✅ Feels absolutely incredible. Few things in padel match the buzz of smashing one out the back

Risks

⚠️ High error margin. Needs serious power, and if you miss, the ball comes back and you lose the net
⚠️ Physical toll — going full power on every overhead will catch up with you by set three
⚠️ Not every lob allows it: low or fast lobs are better handled with a bandeja or x3
⚠️ Failed attempt = gift to opponents. A ball that bounces off the back wall and floats to centre is easy pickings

Pro tip

Master the bandeja before chasing the x4. The bandeja is your bread and butter overhead; the x4 is the cherry on top. If you want to see how all the overhead shots fit together, check out the complete shot arsenal.

Track your matches on padellog and see how many you’re smashing out the back.