Padel Court Positioning: The Complete Guide to Dominating the Net

Why Court Positioning Is Everything in Padel

You can have the best racket, the silkiest bandeja, and the most powerful smash in your club — but if your positioning is wrong, none of it matters. Padel is a positional game above all else. The team that controls the net wins the point more often than not, and getting to the net (and staying there) is all about smart positioning.

Padel court positioning and doubles strategy

In this guide, we’ll break down the fundamentals of padel court positioning, covering everything from the ready position to advanced doubles tactics. Whether you’re a beginner trying to understand where to stand or an intermediate player looking to sharpen your court craft, this guide has you covered.

The Two Zones: Net vs Back

At its simplest, a padel court is divided into two strategic zones:

The Net Zone (Attacking Position)

This is where you want to be. Standing 1-2 metres from the net gives you:

Angles: More options to place volleys into difficult positions
Pressure: Your opponents have less time to react to your shots
Control: You dictate the rally rather than responding to your opponents
Height advantage: You’re hitting down on the ball, making it harder for opponents to defend

The Back Zone (Defensive Position)

Being at the back of the court means you’re typically on the defensive. From here, your goals are:

Survive: Return the ball and stay in the point
Create opportunities: Use lobs, bajadas, and well-placed groundstrokes to create openings
Transition: Find the right moment to advance to the net

The fundamental principle of padel positioning is simple: get to the net and stay there. Every shot you play from the back of the court should, ideally, be designed to create an opportunity to move forward.

The Ready Position

Before we talk about movement patterns, let’s nail the basics. Your ready position is the foundation of everything — it’s where you return to between every shot.

The Perfect Ready Position

Feet: Shoulder-width apart, weight on the balls of your feet
Knees: Slightly bent — not too deep, just enough to be spring-loaded
Racket: Held in front of you at chest height, racket face forward
Eyes: Locked on the ball at all times
Body: Slightly forward-leaning, engaged and ready to move in any direction

Think of the ready position as a sprinter in the blocks — you’re loaded, alert, and ready to explode in whichever direction the ball demands.

The Split Step: Your Secret Weapon

The split step is perhaps the most important movement technique in padel, yet it’s astonishing how many players ignore it. Here’s how it works:

Timing: As your opponent is about to strike the ball, perform a small hop
Landing: Land on both feet simultaneously, shoulder-width apart, knees bent
Reaction: From this balanced, loaded position, push off towards the ball

The split step does two crucial things:

It neutralises your momentum, so you’re not caught moving in the wrong direction
It loads your muscles for an explosive first step towards the ball

Watch any professional padel match and you’ll see every player performing split steps constantly — at the net, at the back, before every opponent’s shot. Make it a habit and your movement will improve dramatically.

Net Positioning: Where Exactly to Stand

The Ideal Net Position

When you and your partner are at the net, your positioning should follow these principles:

Distance from net: About 1.5-2 metres (roughly the distance of an outstretched racket)
Lateral position: Each player covers their half of the court, standing roughly in the centre of their side
Together: You and your partner should move as a unit — if one player shifts left, the other shifts left too, maintaining the wall of coverage

The “Moving Wall” Concept

Imagine you and your partner are connected by an invisible 3-metre rope. When one of you moves, the other must move with you. This concept is called the “moving wall” — you create a solid barrier at the net that’s extremely difficult for opponents to breach.

In practice, this means:

If the ball is played to the right side, both players shift right — the right player moves to cover the angle, the left player moves to cover the centre
If the ball is played to the left, both players shift left
The gap between you should remain roughly constant — about 2-3 metres

When the wall breaks — when one player stays still while the other moves, or the gap opens too wide — your opponents have a hole to aim for. Keep the wall intact and you’ll be amazed how much harder it becomes for opponents to get the ball past you.

When to Advance to the Net

Knowing when to move forward is just as important as knowing where to stand. Here are the key moments to look for:

Good Times to Advance

After a deep lob: A well-placed lob pushes your opponents back — advance immediately while they’re retreating
After a low, deep return: If your shot forces opponents to hit upward, move in and prepare for a volley
After a bajada: The bajada is a transition shot — use the forward momentum to advance
When opponents are scrambling: If they’re off-balance or out of position, close the net quickly
Together: Always advance with your partner — never go alone

Bad Times to Advance

After a short or high return: If your shot sits up for the opponent, they’ll punish you at the net
When your partner is still at the back: One player at the net and one at the back creates a tactical disaster
When you’re off-balance: Get set first, then move forward — rushing to the net while off-balance leads to easy passing shots
After a weak defensive shot: If you’ve just scraped the ball back, stay back and reset

The golden rule: Only advance when you’ve played a shot that puts your opponents on the back foot. If your shot gives them an easy ball, stay where you are and prepare to defend.

When to Retreat

Sometimes, you need to give up the net — and recognising when is crucial:

When a lob goes over your head: Don’t try to reach it — turn and recover to the back of the court
When opponents hit a winner past you: Reset at the back and look for the next opportunity to advance
When the ball is behind you: Never play a ball that’s behind your body at the net — retreat, let it bounce, and play from the back

Retreating isn’t a failure — it’s smart padel. The key is to retreat together with your partner and immediately start looking for the opportunity to come forward again.

Back Court Positioning

When you’re at the back of the court, your positioning priorities change:

Where to Stand

Depth: Position yourself 1-2 metres from the back glass — close enough to use the glass for rebounds, far enough to have space to swing
Width: Cover the centre of your half, ready to move to either side
Together: As at the net, move as a unit with your partner

Defensive Priorities

Keep the ball in play: The most important thing from the back is simply returning the ball
Hit deep: Push your opponents back with deep lobs and groundstrokes
Create confusion: Vary your shots — lobs, drives, bajadas, chiquitas — to keep opponents guessing
Look for the transition: Every shot should set up the possibility of advancing to the net

Doubles Positioning: Playing as a Team

Padel is a doubles game, and your positioning must work in harmony with your partner. Here are the essential principles:

1. The Same Zone Rule

Both players should always be in the same zone. Either both at the net, or both at the back. Never one up and one back — this creates a diagonal gap that’s incredibly easy for opponents to exploit.

The only exception is during transitions, when one player might be slightly ahead of the other. But even then, the trailing player should be actively moving to join their partner.

2. Communication

Talk to your partner constantly. Call out:

“Yours” or “mine” on balls down the middle
“Lob!” when you see a lob coming
“Switch!” if you need to swap sides
“Stay” if your partner should hold position
“Up” when it’s time to advance together

3. Right Side vs Left Side

Traditionally in padel:

Right side (drive): The more attacking player, typically right-handed, with strong forehand volleys and drives
Left side (revés): The more tactical player, often with a strong backhand and excellent lobbing ability

The left-side player generally plays a more defensive, consistent role — controlling rallies and creating opportunities for the right-side player to finish points. Understanding your role based on your position helps you make better tactical decisions.

4. Covering the Middle

The most common place for opponents to aim is down the middle — the gap between you and your partner. To defend this:

The player whose forehand covers the middle typically takes the shot
Establish with your partner beforehand who takes middle balls
Keep the gap between you consistent (2-3 metres maximum)
If in doubt, the player with better position or more momentum takes the ball

Quick Reference: Positioning Checklist

Situation	Position	Action
You’ve played a deep lob	Advance to net	Move forward with partner as a unit
Opponents lob over you	Retreat to back	Turn and recover together
At the net, ball to the right	Both shift right	Maintain the wall, cover angles
Partner is at the back	You go back too	Never be one up, one back
You’ve hit a weak return	Stay back, reset	Wait for a better opportunity
Opponent is off-balance	Close the net	Apply pressure with volleys
Ball down the middle	Forehand player takes it	Call it early to avoid confusion

Common Positioning Mistakes

1. Standing Too Close to the Net

If you’re almost touching the net, you’re too close. Lobs will sail over you and you’ll have no time to react to hard shots. Maintain 1.5-2 metres distance.

2. The “One Up, One Back” Trap

New doubles players often default to one at the net and one at the back. This is disastrous in padel. The diagonal gap is enormous and opponents will exploit it mercilessly.

3. Not Moving as a Unit

If your partner shifts and you don’t, gaps open up. Stay connected. Move together. Think “invisible rope.”

4. Forgetting the Split Step

Standing flat-footed at the net is a recipe for being passed. Split step before every opponent shot.

5. Rushing Forward After Weak Shots

Advancing to the net after playing a weak, floaty return is suicide. Only come forward when your shot has put the opponents under genuine pressure.

Putting It All Together

Court positioning in padel isn’t complicated, but it requires discipline and constant awareness. Here’s a simple framework to guide your play:

Start every point with intent: Your goal is to get to the net
Move together: You and your partner are a unit — same zone, same rhythm
Split step: Before every opponent shot, without exception
Advance when strong: Come to the net after shots that pressure your opponents
Retreat when necessary: Don’t cling to the net when a lob goes over — reset and rebuild
Maintain the wall: At the net, move laterally as a pair to cover angles
Communicate: Talk to your partner constantly — calls, encouragement, tactical adjustments

Master these fundamentals and you’ll find yourself winning more points, dominating more rallies, and feeling more confident on court. Positioning is the foundation — build your game on it and everything else becomes easier.

Recommended Gear for Better Court Movement

Good positioning starts with the right footwear. You need shoes that give you confidence in quick lateral movements, split steps, and explosive direction changes. Here are our picks:

Best for Court Movement — MONDO Outsole + Lateral Control

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Best for Wider Feet — ASICS Gel-Padel Pro