Left or right? Find your rhythm as a padel pair
You both chase the middle ball, then both leave it. Almost every new partnership has been there. A sensible choice of sides and a few clear calls make doubles feel calmer – and make those well-built points even more satisfying.
Take this onto court
Try the side where you return comfortably and cover the middle well. Agree who takes an uncertain ball and call early. Left and right are shared responsibilities, not a ranking of the two players.
- Both matter
- attack and defend from either side
- Call early
- take uncertainty out of the middle
- One plan
- agree a simple idea between points
Choose sides around your strengths
With two right-handers, the left player’s forehand faces the middle. Put a left-hander on the right and both forehands can work through the centre. That can be useful, but it is not the only consideration.
Look at returns, backhand volleys, overheads and movement too. Try both sides in practice. Neither player needs to be permanently labelled the attacker or the defender.
Make middle balls a shared decision
Start with an agreement about who takes a comfortable middle ball. The forehand can be a useful guide, but the better position and an early call matter more in the actual rally.
Stay involved when your partner hits: cover the space, leave a clear swing path and offer useful information on a lob. Short calls such as “deep” or “back” help more than a long instruction during the shot.
Know when you can change
At the start of each set, decide who receives the first serve and who receives the second. FIP rules keep that receiving order for the rest of the set. Each service game starts from the right, then the service boxes alternate.
You may swap positions during a rally. If you do, communicate so you do not both defend the same space. Save a new receiving arrangement for the next set.
Try it: clear calls, calmer points
Play five doubles points with one extra task: call “mine” or “yours” early on every middle ball. After each rally, briefly say whether the call helped. Play another round focusing on information during lobs.
Agree what “leave” means before starting, for example letting a ball travel to the glass. After an error, a simple “next one” often helps. Save technical feedback for a break when both players can listen.
Clear calls, shared responsibilities
Two situations for your five-point rounds: who takes the middle, and who helps read a deep lob?
- A–D: players
- Ball path
- Player movement
- Target area
- Outline: possible next position
A calls early and takes the middle
In this example A is better placed. B leaves the swing path clear and stays ready for the next reply.
- Make a short call such as “mine” or “yours” before the shot. Agree what the calls mean first.
- Do not automatically give every middle ball to a forehand: position, reach and communication matter.
- Play five points focusing on middle balls. Briefly discuss after each point whether the call helped.
B helps with “deep” or “back”
C plays a high, deep lob. B can give A early information; here the pair chooses to recover together.
- Short information helps more than long instructions during a shot. Height is not shown here.
- If you use “leave”, agree beforehand whether it means, for example, letting the ball reach the glass.
- Play another round focusing on lobs. Save technical feedback for the break rather than the middle of a swing.
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 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 team tactics
The receiving order follows the 2026 FIP rules. The linked tactical articles offer ideas about playing roles; find your own partnership’s best arrangement on court.
Editorially reviewed on 14 October 2026