Padel positioning: take the net together and defend as a pair
You hit a good shot, yet the next ball slips through a huge gap in the middle. Sound familiar? Moving with your partner makes the court easier to cover and gives you time to build a point you actually enjoy playing.
Take this onto court
Use the ball and your partner as your guides. Leave room for the glass at the back and room to react to a lob at the net. Move forward behind a useful shot, then regain your balance as the opponents hit.
- Together
- share the middle and outside space
- Follow the ball
- adjust your position and spacing
- Get balanced
- be ready when the opponent hits
Leave room at the back
Behind the service line is a useful starting place for defence. Keep space between you and the back glass so a deep rebound has room to come out. The right gap depends on the pace, spin and flight of the ball.
When the ball goes wide, both players shift that way. The player farther from the ball helps cover the middle. You need not stand on a perfect line; aim to avoid leaving a large gap between you.
Earn your move forward
A deep lob that pushes the opponents back can open the way to the net. A chiquita – a soft shot towards their feet – can do the same if it makes them contact the ball low.
Watch what your shot actually achieves. A short lob is no invitation to rush in. Use a small split-step, briefly unweighting your feet and landing around the opponent’s contact, so you can react in either direction.
Stay adaptable at the net
Find a position where you can volley in front of your body and still respond to a lob. There is no distance that suits every rally. If you keep hitting overheads while falling backwards, you may be standing too close.
A controlled first volley with room inside the lines helps you stay in position. If a lob passes you and you cannot play a balanced overhead, turn and recover together.
Shift together, react together
The arrows show two different rally situations. Adjust your movement to the ball and your partner.
- A–D: players
- Ball path
- Player movement
- Target area
- Outline: possible next position
A wide ball moves both partners
C plays towards the side. A moves to the ball while B helps close the middle.
- A adjusts with small steps and leaves room to swing.
- B shifts across without crowding A. Arrow ends are examples, not fixed positions.
- Try both sides slowly. Pace and angle determine how far you need to move.
A deep lob: recover together
C’s lob passes A. In this example, a balanced overhead is no longer available.
- A turns to recover rather than backpedalling beneath the ball.
- B recovers too and stays connected to A. Not every lob calls for the same retreat.
- The yellow line shows direction only. Read height and depth before choosing an overhead or recovery.
Top view: arrows show direction, not ball height or speed. Positions and target areas are examples; adapt them to the ball and your level.
Try it: move forward as a pair
With four players, start one pair at the back and one at the net. The net pair feeds gently; the defenders look for a deep lob that gives them time to move forward. Play the rally out from there.
Award a bonus practice point when both defenders reach the net under control. Switch roles after five rallies. Discuss whether the lob bought enough time and whether you were ready for the next shot.
Try it on court
Ready for your next rally? Find a club in Austria and take one idea from this guide onto the court.
About these tips and sources
This guide draws on the sources linked below. The relevant federation’s rulebook is the authority for official rules.
The drills are our own practice suggestions. Adapt the timing, scoring and difficulty to your level; a coaching session can provide individual feedback.
The date below records the latest editorial review. Figures and offers retain the dates stated alongside them.
View the sources usedRules and tactical foundations
FIP provides the rules; the linked technique articles explain tactical ideas. This practice game is our suggested way to explore them. Adjust positions to the ball rather than a fixed distance.
Editorially reviewed on 14 October 2026