Por tres in padel explained: the kick smash that leaves the court after floor and back wall – prerequisites, build-up, rules, risks and FAQ.
The por tres (also "x3") is a kick smash: you hit the ball from above with topspin, it bounces in the opponents' court, then hits the floor or the back wall and flies over the 3 m high side wall out of the court – hence the name ("for three", because the side wall is 3 m high) [1]. The opponent usually cannot reach it any more because the ball has left the court – on courts with authorised out-of-court play, however, he may follow the ball [3].
The honest answer to "is the por tres a shot for me?": only if your smash is already solid. The por tres is not a beginner shot but an elite shot with high risk. In pro finals almost 60 % of flat and topspin smashes won the point directly, but the rate fell clearly the further players stood from the net [2]. And there is no study that measures the por tres in isolation. Everything here is derived from the governing-body description [1], the rules [3] and data on smashes in general [2][4].
The shot is legal: if the ball bounces in the opponents' court and then leaves the court, it counts as a correct return [3]. How long does it take? Expect many months in which your smash is stable (rule of thumb).
Wait until 8 of 10 smashes land in the opponents' court with a target. The por tres builds on smash technique; without it, it is just a risky ball.
Milestone: 8 of 10 flat smashes in court, repeatedly.
The por tres is played from near the net. There the smash rate stays high [2], and according to the LTA the shot is usually played from near the net [1]; you also have the angle for a ball that goes over the side wall (practice). At the back of the court you leave the area where the shot works.
Milestone: you play your por-tres attempts only from near the net, no longer from the back.
Guide the racket face over the ball so that it bounces with topspin and kick. After floor contact the ball should kick up and reach the wall. Control stays ahead of power: under pressure players lose pace – amateurs fell from 124.6 to 104.5 km/h in one study [5].
Milestone: after the floor the ball visibly kicks higher than it arrived (at least 5 of 10).
First hit the bounce in the court – without the side-wall target. Only when that is right do you build toward the wall and the court exit. The ball has to touch the floor first before it touches a wall; otherwise you lose the point [3].
Milestone: 3 of 10 balls leave the court legally – enough for a start.
This guide explains and motivates; it does not replace supervised training.
Train the por tres with a floor target: place a line or a towel in the court where the ball should land. That way you learn to hit the first bounce – and that is the prerequisite for the ball later leaving the court.
Practice note (no study): if you want to practise the por tres, start with a calm kick smash and only watch the bounce near the side line. Whether the ball then goes over the wall is secondary at first; what matters is that it keeps bouncing steeply and sideways after the bounce. Never play the shot when the opponent still stands deep and can secure the ball – then the safe flat smash or the bandeja is the better choice. And watch the court: depending on wall shape and safety area, the ball behaves differently.
The por tres is a kick smash, usually from near the net, that bounces in the opponents' court, hits the wall and leaves the court over the 3 m high side wall [1]. The opponent usually cannot reach it any more (where out-of-court play is authorised, he may follow the ball [3]).
Yes. If the ball bounces in the opponents' court and then leaves the court, that is a correct return. The ball must first touch the floor before it hits a wall; otherwise you lose the point [3].
First play the flat smash reliably, then practise the kick spin and hit the target from near the net. Take your time: no study measures the shot, so a coach helps especially.
The por tres aims to leave the court over the side wall. According to the LTA the rulo is a lower-risk topspin smash diagonally toward the fence, where it bounces unpredictably [1]. Both are overhead variants for advanced players.
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