When the rivals own the net and you're stuck at the back wall, the worst thing you can do is try to win the point with one shot. Padel rewards patience. Three defensive shots, in sequence, are how you crawl back into the rally.
Shot 1: The high lob
First priority is buying time. A deep lob over both rivals' heads forces them to retreat. Aim for the corner where the back wall meets the side glass; if it lands clean, you might even win the net back outright. Hit it slow and high, not flat.
Shot 2: The chiquita to mid-court
If the lob comes back, your next shot is a low, soft chiquita aimed at their feet between the service line and net. They can't volley it down (no height), they have to bend low (off-balance), and the ball dies short. Now you push forward.
Shot 3: The bandeja, only after you're set
The bandeja is the net-keeping shot, not the winner. Use it to maintain position, slice down toward their feet, and wait for them to make the first error. Amateur pairs lose the bandeja point by going for the kill too soon.
Drill it as a 4-shot rally
Pair vs pair. Defenders only allowed: lob, chiquita, bandeja, lob. Attackers play freely. Stop the rally after 8 shots and replay. The defenders learn the cycle without the temptation to swing for the fences.
Book a padel court and run this drill for 20 minutes. Your win rate from defence triples within a month.