Last updated: 6 August 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Makin, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Core positioning
The four phases of a padel point
- Serve phase — the serving team starts back, receiving team can start at the net or mid-court depending on serve style.
- Transition phase — both teams work to advance to the net. Whoever gets there first has the advantage — padel points are rarely won from the back court.
- Net phase — the fastest, highest-value exchanges. Volleys, smashes and quick reflexes decide most points here.
- Defensive lob phase — if you're lobbed off the net, both partners retreat together to the back wall, using the glass to reset the point rather than panicking.
Common positioning mistakes
- One player at net, one at back — leaves a huge gap down the middle. Move together as a unit.
- Standing too central — each player should cover their own half plus a bit of the middle, not crowd the centre line.
- Panicking on lobs — a well-lobbed team should calmly use the back wall to reset, not scramble and rush a weak return.
Top picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Padel Racket (Diamond Shape, Power) | Diamond-shaped rackets suit players who dominate at the net with smashes. | Check price → |
| Option | Padel Racket (Round Shape, Control) | Round-shaped rackets favour control and consistency — good for the back-court lob game. | Check price → |
| Option | Padel Balls (Pressurised, 3-Pack) | Match-spec balls for consistent bounce off court and walls. | Check price → |
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Frequently asked questions
Why does padel emphasise net position so much more than tennis?
Padel's walls mean the ball stays in play longer and points are decided by reflexes and angles more than raw power — the net is where those reflex exchanges happen fastest, so the team that controls it controls the tempo. In tennis, baseline rallies are often the main battleground; in padel, both teams are trying to get OFF the baseline as fast as possible.
What do I do if my team gets lobbed off the net?
Retreat together, not just the player who was lobbed — leaving one partner alone at net creates the same central gap as poor initial positioning. Use the back glass to let the ball bounce and reset your position calmly rather than rushing a difficult smash from an awkward spot.