You’ve played enough padel to know the basics. You can serve, volley, and use the back wall without panicking. But every time you step into a doubles match, something keeps going wrong — both of you rush to the same ball, nobody covers the lob, and you spend half the match apologising to each other. Sound familiar?
The gap between decent individual padel skills and a decent doubles team is almost entirely about communication and court positioning. Two average players who move well together will beat two stronger players who keep getting in each other’s way. That’s not motivational cliché — it’s how padel works at every level from club nights to the World Padel Tour.
In This Article
- Why Doubles Communication Matters More Than Shot Quality
- The Two Basic Formations in Padel Doubles
- Who Takes the Ball: The Simple Rule
- Verbal Communication During Points
- Non-Verbal Communication: Reading Your Partner
- Net Positioning: How to Cover the Court as a Pair
- Defending Together: The Back Wall System
- Switching Sides: When and How
- Common Doubles Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- Drills to Improve Doubles Communication
- Playing With a New Partner
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Doubles Communication Matters More Than Shot Quality
Padel is played almost exclusively as doubles. The court is smaller than a tennis court — just 20m by 10m — and with four players sharing that space, positioning errors get punished instantly. A ball that drops into no-man’s land because neither player moved for it is a free point for the opposition.
The Space Problem
Each padel half-court gives a pair roughly 50 square metres to cover. That’s tight. Two players moving independently will create overlaps (both covering the centre) and gaps (nobody covering the sideline) constantly. You need a system, even a simple one, to avoid this.
Why Good Pairs Beat Good Individuals
Watch any club-level padel session and you’ll notice the same pattern: the pair who move in sync — shifting left and right together like they’re connected by an invisible rope — win more points than the pair with the bigger shots. The Lawn Tennis Association runs padel sessions across the UK, and their coaching consistently emphasises movement patterns over individual technique for exactly this reason.
Padel rewards placement over power. A well-placed lob over an out-of-position net player wins the point more reliably than a smashed bajada. And placement only works when both players know where each other should be standing.
The Two Basic Formations in Padel Doubles
Every point in padel flows between two basic positions: both at the net, or both at the back. Understanding when you should be in each formation — and moving between them together — is the foundation of doubles strategy.
Both at the Net (The Attacking Position)
When your pair controls the net, you’re in the dominant position. The net player can volley, punch, and smash, putting constant pressure on the opposition. Both players stand roughly 2-3 metres from the net, each covering their half of the court.
This is where you want to be as much as possible. The pair that holds the net position for longer wins the majority of points.
Both at the Back (The Defensive Position)
When the opposition pushes you back — typically with a deep lob or a powerful shot to your feet — both players retreat behind the service line. From here, you’re playing defence: using the back wall, the glass, and patient shot selection to wait for a chance to move forward again.
The critical mistake is splitting formation — one player at the net, one at the back. This creates a massive diagonal gap that any competent opponent will exploit with a cross-court shot into the open space.
The Golden Rule: Move Together
If your partner retreats, you retreat. If your partner advances to the net, you advance. Think of yourselves as connected by a 3-4 metre rope. If one goes back, the other follows. If one goes forward, the other comes with them. Breaking this connection is the single most common tactical error in club padel.
Who Takes the Ball: The Simple Rule
The most common source of confusion in doubles: both players freeze because neither commits, or both lunge for the same ball and collide. There’s a simple hierarchy that eliminates 90% of these conflicts.
The Forehand Priority Rule
When a ball comes down the middle — the most contentious area — the player whose forehand is in the centre takes it. In a typical right-handed pair, that means the player on the left side (the revés player) takes middle balls with their forehand.
If you’re a mixed left/right-handed pair, this changes: the player whose forehand naturally covers the centre gets priority.
The Closer Player Takes It
For balls that aren’t in the middle, the rule is even simpler: whoever is closer commits to the shot. The other player holds position and covers the gap. If your partner is two metres from the ball and you’re four metres away, it’s their ball. Don’t run across the court to “help” — you’ll create a bigger problem than you solve.
Call It Loudly
When in doubt, call it. “Mine” and “yours” are the two most important words in padel doubles. Call early — ideally as the ball is crossing the net — and call loudly enough that your partner hears you over the surrounding courts. A half-second hesitation while both players look at each other is all the opposition needs.
Verbal Communication During Points
Talking during points feels unnatural at first. You’re focused on the ball, the opposition, your footwork. Adding verbal calls feels like too much. But it becomes automatic within a few sessions, and the improvement in coordination is immediate.
Essential Calls
- “Mine” — you’re taking this ball, your partner should hold position
- “Yours” — you can’t reach it or your partner has the better angle
- “Lob” or “Up” — warning that a lob is coming, both players should prepare to retreat
- “Switch” — you’ve crossed over and need to swap sides (more on this below)
- “Net” or “Forward” — the ball is short, time to move forward together
- “Back” — retreat to the baseline, defensive formation
Between-Point Communication
The gaps between points are just as important for communication. Quick strategy adjustments happen here:
- “Stay middle” — reminding your partner the opposition keeps targeting the centre
- “Lob more” — the opposing net player is dominating, push them back
- “Their backhand” — you’ve noticed a weakness to exploit
- “Nice one” — encouragement matters more than you’d think, especially at club level
Keep It Short
In-point calls need to be single words or two-word phrases. There’s no time for “I think you should take that one.” By the time you’ve said it, the point is over. Pre-agree your call vocabulary before the match starts — especially if you’re playing with someone new.
Non-Verbal Communication: Reading Your Partner
Not everything can be communicated with words during a fast rally. Good doubles pairs develop an instinct for reading each other’s body language and positioning.
Peripheral Vision
You don’t need to look directly at your partner during a point. Keep them in your peripheral vision. If you see them moving forward from the corner of your eye, you know to move forward too. If they step back, you step back. This mirror movement is what makes strong doubles pairs look like they’re choreographed.
The Ready Position Signal
When your partner is in the ready position — knees bent, racket up, weight on the balls of their feet — they’re prepared to take the next ball. When they’re off-balance, reaching, or recovering from a shot, they can’t cover their zone. That’s your cue to shade towards their side temporarily.
Paddle Position Tells
Watch your partner’s paddle preparation. If they’re lining up for an aggressive shot (paddle back, body turned), expect the opposition to return with a defensive lob or push. If your partner is reaching awkwardly for a tough ball, the return will likely be weak — be ready to step in and finish the point at the net.
Net Positioning: How to Cover the Court as a Pair
The net is where points are won in padel. But standing at the net isn’t enough — where you stand at the net determines whether you’re a threat or a target.
The Starting Position
Both players position themselves roughly 2-3 metres from the net, each covering their half. The centre of the court — the line between both players — should be a narrow gap, not a highway. Stand too far apart and the opposition splits you through the middle. Stand too close together and the tramlines are exposed.
Following the Ball
As the ball moves to one side of the opposition’s court, both net players shift in that direction. If the ball is on the right side of the opponent’s court, both players shade 1-2 steps to the right. This narrows the angle available for a cross-court return.
This is where the invisible rope concept matters most. Both players shift together, maintaining the same 3-4 metre gap between them. If one player shifts and the other doesn’t, a gap opens.
The Poach
A poach is when the net player crosses into their partner’s side to intercept a cross-court shot. It’s a high-risk, high-reward move that works best when:
- You read the opposition’s shot early
- The ball is travelling slowly enough that you have time to cross
- Your partner knows you’re going — a quick hand signal or pre-agreed plan helps
If you poach and miss, your partner needs to switch sides to cover the gap you’ve left. This is when “switch” gets called.
Defending Together: The Back Wall System
When both players are pushed to the back of the court, panic often sets in. The glass walls and back wall create bounces that feel unpredictable at first. Having a system makes defence far less stressful.
Splitting the Back Wall
The back wall belongs to both players, but you need to decide who takes what. The standard approach: each player owns balls that arrive on their side. Balls that bounce into the centre of the back wall go to whoever has the forehand — same as the middle-ball rule at the net.
Using the Glass to Buy Time
When you’re defending, the goal isn’t to win the point immediately. It’s to play a shot that gives you time to recover and ideally move back towards the net. Deep lobs are your best friend here — a high, deep lob forces the opposition back from the net and gives both of you time to advance. Our guide to using the glass walls covers the mechanics of playing these shots off the back and side glass.
Don’t Both Chase the Same Lob
When the opposition lobs over your heads, one player turns to chase it. The other covers the net temporarily or holds a central position. If both players turn and run to the back wall, nobody covers the front half of the court and you’re vulnerable to a short drop shot on the return.
Pre-agree: the player on the side where the lob lands chases it. The other holds the centre and watches for the next ball.
Switching Sides: When and How
Side-switching happens naturally in padel doubles but causes confusion when partners don’t communicate it. A switch occurs when one player crosses the centre line to play a ball on their partner’s side.
The Trigger
Switches usually happen after a poach at the net or when a wide ball pulls one player across the centre. The moment you cross the centre line, call “switch” so your partner knows to move to the side you’ve vacated.
Recovering After a Switch
After switching, decide quickly whether to switch back or stay on the new sides. Mid-rally, staying switched is usually safer — trying to switch back creates a moment where both players are in the middle, leaving both sidelines exposed.
Switch back between points instead. A quick “let’s switch back” during the gap gives both players time to reset to their preferred sides.
When Switching Goes Wrong
The nightmare scenario: one player switches, the other doesn’t hear the call, and both end up on the same side. This happens most often in noisy indoor padel centres with six courts running simultaneously. The fix is making “switch” calls loud and unmistakable, and having a visual backup — a clear pointing gesture to indicate “you go there.”
Common Doubles Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Standing Still While Your Partner Moves
Your partner advances to the net. You stay on the baseline. Now there’s a 10-metre gap between you and the opposition threads the ball through it. Fix: move with your partner. Every time. No exceptions.
Both Players Going for the Same Wide Ball
A wide ball draws one player out to the sideline. Their partner also drifts that way to “help.” The entire opposite side of the court is now empty. Fix: one player takes the wide ball, the other covers the centre. Trust your partner to make the shot.
Talking Only After Mistakes
The worst time to start communicating is after a point goes wrong. “Why didn’t you take that?” doesn’t help. Communicate during points with calls, and between points with positive strategy adjustments. Blame destroys doubles partnerships faster than anything else. If you want to choose a compatible partner, look for someone who stays constructive under pressure.
Ignoring the Weaker Opponent
Targeting the weaker player in the opposing pair is standard strategy, but doing it transparently — hitting every single ball to the same person — lets them settle into a rhythm and gives their partner a free ride. Mix up your targeting: focus on the weaker player’s backhand 60-70% of the time, but throw in occasional shots to the stronger player to keep both guessing.
Playing Hero Ball
The spectacular winner from an impossible position that works once every ten attempts. Meanwhile, the nine failed attempts are nine lost points. Padel doubles rewards consistent, smart play over highlight-reel shots. Play the percentage shot — the deep lob, the controlled volley, the cross-court push — and let your partner do the same.
Drills to Improve Doubles Communication
The Mirror Drill
Both players stand at the net. One leads, making random lateral movements — step left, step right, step forward, step back. The other mirrors every movement, maintaining the 3-4 metre gap. Start slowly and increase speed. This builds the peripheral vision habit of tracking your partner without looking directly at them.
The Call-Every-Ball Drill
Play a practice set where every single ball must be called — “mine” or “yours” — before the player hits it. No exceptions. Even obvious balls that only one player can reach still get called. This feels silly at first. Within 20 minutes, calling becomes automatic.
The No-Power Game
Play a set where neither player is allowed to hit hard. Every shot must be a controlled placement. This forces both players to rely on positioning and strategy rather than individual shot power, and naturally increases communication because the rallies last longer and require more tactical awareness.
The Switch Practice
Set up a drill where one player deliberately poaches, calls “switch,” and both players practise the side-swap smoothly. Do it ten times in a row from each side. The International Padel Federation recommends position-switching drills as a core part of doubles training at every level.
Playing With a New Partner
Club nights, tournaments, and social sessions often mean playing with someone you’ve never partnered before. A two-minute conversation before the match prevents most coordination disasters.
The Pre-Match Chat
Cover these five points in under two minutes:
- Preferred side — left or right? Most players have a preference based on their forehand
- Middle balls — who takes them? Agree the forehand-priority rule or another system
- Calling style — do you call “mine/yours” during play? Get on the same page
- Aggression level — are you a net-rusher or a patient baseliner? Knowing this helps your new partner anticipate your movements
- Signals — do you use hand signals for poaches or just call them?
Keep Expectations Low (At First)
You won’t have perfect chemistry with a new partner in the first set. Accept that there’ll be confusion, overlaps, and awkward moments. Stay positive, keep communicating, and the coordination improves rapidly. Most club players find their rhythm with a new partner within the first 3-4 games.
Adapt to Their Style
If your new partner is aggressive at the net, give them space and focus on solid defence. If they prefer the baseline, take more initiative at the net yourself. A good doubles player adjusts their game to complement whoever they’re playing with — not the other way around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the stronger player always play the left side in padel?
Traditionally, the stronger or more experienced player takes the left side (revés) because they handle more middle balls with their forehand and cover the “money shot” — the cross-court return to the centre. But if one player has a much stronger backhand than the other, they might be more effective on the right. Try both arrangements in practice and see what works.
How do I communicate with a partner who doesn’t call balls?
Start by calling every ball yourself, even ones that are obviously yours. This often encourages your partner to start calling too. If they still don’t, have a polite conversation between sets: “Shall we try calling mine and yours more? I think it’ll help us avoid collisions.” Most people appreciate the suggestion once they see the benefit.
What are hand signals used for in padel doubles?
The serving player’s partner sometimes uses hand signals behind their back to indicate the plan. A closed fist might mean “I’m staying on my side,” an open hand might mean “I’m going to poach,” and a finger pointing left or right can indicate where the serve should be directed. These signals are more common at competitive levels, but club players can use simplified versions.
Is it ever acceptable for one player to be at the net and one at the back?
Only very briefly during transitions. When one player is moving forward and the other hasn’t caught up yet, there’s a natural split-second gap. But staying in a one-up-one-back formation deliberately is almost always wrong in padel — it creates a diagonal gap the opposition will target relentlessly.
How quickly can two new partners develop good communication?
Most club players find a reasonable rhythm within 3-4 games of their first set together, assuming both are actively communicating. Good partnerships develop over 5-10 sessions of playing together. If you’re serious about improving, try to play regularly with the same partner rather than rotating constantly.