Padel Skins/Guides/Padel slang
What does por tres mean in padel?
Padel Skins · Updated 13 November 2026
Por tres is Spanish for “by three”. In padel it means a smash that bounces in your opponents’ half, hits the back glass and then flies out of the court over the side wall. The side wall is three metres high, which is where the name comes from. You’ll see it written as x3.
Once the ball has left the court, the point is almost always over. That is why it is the shot everyone wants and the one that gets replayed in highlight reels.
How a por tres works
Three things have to happen in order:
- The ball bounces in. The smash has to land in the opponents’ court first. A ball that hits the glass before it bounces is out.
- It hits the back glass. A good por tres is hit with heavy topspin and sidespin, often called a kick smash. The spin makes the ball climb and veer sideways off the glass.
- It clears the side wall. The ball leaves over the three-metre section of the side of the court.
Power alone won’t do it. Players who hit them regularly talk about contact point and spin first. Hit it flat and the ball comes straight back off the glass into the middle of the court, which is a gift for the other pair.
Por tres and por cuatro
A por cuatro, or x4, is the same idea in a different direction. The smash bounces so high off the court that it goes straight out over the back wall, which is four metres high. It usually takes a flatter, harder hit from close to the net.
| Por tres (x3) | Por cuatro (x4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves over | The side wall | The back wall |
| Height to clear | 3 metres | 4 metres |
| Typical shot | Kick smash with spin | Flat, hard smash near the net |
Can you return a por tres?
Sometimes. On courts with open doorways, and where the rules of the competition allow play outside the court, a player can run out through the door and hit the ball back before it bounces a second time. It is rare at club level and spectacular when it works.
One word of warning
Padel slang varies by country and by club. Some glossaries use “por tres” for other things, and you’ll hear players use “x3” loosely for any smash that leaves the court. The definition above is the common one.
Where Padel Skins fits
Nowhere near a por tres, sadly. A Padel Skin is a custom protector for the top of your racket, with your number on it. It won’t add a por tres to your game. Your racket will at least look like it has one.
Put your number on your racket.
A padel racket protector you design yourself, with your number or initials at the crown. £20 delivered, printed to order in the UK.