The short version. Por tres (“by three”, from the 3 m of glass) is a smash that bounces on their side, hits their back glass and flies out of the court. Por cuatro is the same idea, out through the side door. Spectacular, point-winning, and harder than it looks.
How the ball gets out
The trick is the bounce and the glass. A flat, powerful smash bounces near the opponents’ service line, carries into their back glass high up, and rebounds with enough height and pace to clear the 3–4 m walls.
Por tres versus por cuatro
- Por tres. The ball leaves over the side wall (or over the back) after rebounding off the back glass. Named after the 3 m glass.
- Por cuatro. The ball leaves through the side door opening. It needs a lower, flatter rebound aimed at the door.
The technique
- Pick the right ball. A short, high lob, ideally landing in front of your service line, so you can hit down from close to the net.
- Hit flat and hard, with little or no spin. Spin drags the ball down.
- Aim to bounce around their service line, in line with the side you want it to leave from.
- Commit. A half-hearted por tres is just a smash into their glass, which is a gift.
The rules on running outside
If the ball leaves the court after a legal bounce, the opponents are allowed to run out through the door and play it back before it bounces twice, provided the court has openings and space to do it. Many UK venues, especially indoor and back-to-back courts, have no room outside, in which case the ball leaving the court simply wins the point. If in doubt, agree the house rule before you start.
When to try it
- On a genuinely short, high ball.
- When you have time to set your feet.
- Not when you are near the back glass yourself. From there, play a bandeja and keep the net.
If your por tres lands too deep or too short, it bounces up off their glass for an easy reply. That is why most points are won with patience, not fireworks.
Quick answers
What is a por tres in padel?
A smash hit so hard that, after bouncing, the ball flies out of the court over the walls, usually over the side wall near the back. If the opponents can’t get it, the point is won.
What is a por cuatro?
A smash that bounces and leaves the court through a side door opening rather than over the wall.
Can you run out of the court in padel?
The rules allow it on courts with openings and space outside, so players can chase a ball that has left the court. Many UK venues don’t have the space, so check the house rules.