Padel Strategy for Beginners: Win More Points from Day One

By Gary, founder of RacketRise. Playing padel in the UK and tracking the sport's explosive growth.

Last Updated: March 2026

Quick Summary

• Control the net — the team at the net wins most points in padel; your primary goal is to move forward together and stay there
• Move as a pair — you and your partner should move up, back, left, and right together as a unit, never leaving gaps between you
• Placement beats power — hitting hard off the back glass gives your opponent an easy return; controlled placement forces errors
• Find courts to practise — use the RacketRise Court Finder to book a session near you

Padel is a sport where strategy matters more than raw ability. A tactically smart pair with average technique will beat a technically talented pair that plays without a plan. This is one of padel's greatest qualities — understanding the game gives you an immediate advantage, even if your shots are not particularly impressive.

Quick Answer: The three foundations of padel strategy are: (1) control the net — move forward together and dominate the net position, (2) be patient — construct points through placement rather than trying to hit winners, and (3) move as a unit with your partner — never leave gaps between you. Master these three principles and you will win more points than players with better technique but no game plan.

Table of Contents

• The Most Important Rule: Control the Net
• Moving as a Pair
• The Two Positions: Attacking and Defending
• Patience: The Beginner's Secret Weapon
• Using the Lob
• Reading the Game: Where to Look
• Common Strategic Mistakes
• Basic Point Construction
• Strategy vs Different Opponents
• Sources & Further Reading
• Related Articles
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Most Important Rule: Control the Net

If you learn one thing about padel strategy, make it this: the team at the net wins most points.

This is not an opinion or a coaching preference. It is a structural feature of the sport. The team at the net can volley the ball downward, cut off angles, and apply pressure. The team at the back is defending — they have less time, fewer angles, and are hitting upward over the net from further away.

Professional padel statistics consistently show that 70-80% of winning shots come from the net position. At club level, the advantage is even more pronounced because defensive wall play at the back is harder to execute consistently.

How to Get to the Net

After serving: Your serve lands in the service box and you immediately move forward. Your partner should already be at the net or moving there with you. By the time the returner hits the ball, both of you should be 2-3 metres from the net.

After a good return: If you return serve deep enough to push your opponents back, move forward. A deep return or a well-placed lob creates time for you to advance to the net.

After a winning exchange from the back: Sometimes you are stuck at the back defending. When you hit a shot that pushes your opponents behind the baseline or forces a weak return, both players advance together.

How to Stay at the Net

Getting to the net is step one. Staying there is step two.

Volley, don't swing. At the net, use short, punching volleys rather than big swings. A controlled volley directed at your opponents' feet or into the corners keeps you in the point. A big swing often sends the ball out or into the fence and surrenders the position you worked to gain.

Handle the lob. Your opponents will try to lob you to push you away from the net. Learn to read lobs early and either smash them (if the lob is short) or let them bounce off the back glass and recover. The lob is the primary weapon against net players — expect it and prepare for it.

Do not back up unnecessarily. Only retreat from the net when a lob goes over your head and you cannot play it before the back wall. If the lob is short or hittable, stay forward and smash it. Too many beginners retreat at the first sign of a lob and surrender the net position for free.

Moving as a Pair

Padel is played in teams of two, and how you move together determines your success more than your individual skills.

The Invisible String

Imagine an invisible string connecting you and your partner, about 3-4 metres long. When your partner moves left, you move left. When your partner moves forward, you move forward. You should never be one at the net and one at the back (unless temporarily retreating from a lob). You should never both be on the same side of the court.

This coordinated movement ensures:

• No gaps. If you are both positioned correctly, your opponents cannot find open space between you.
• Court coverage. Each player covers roughly half the court width, with slight overlap in the centre.
• Communication. Moving together forces you to be aware of each other, which leads to better decision-making.

Forward and Back Together

When one player retreats from the net (usually to play a ball off the back glass), the partner should retreat too, maintaining their parallel position. When the retreating player moves forward again, the partner moves forward in sync.

This sounds simple, but it is one of the hardest habits to build. Beginners tend to stay rooted in their position while their partner moves, creating a diagonal formation with massive gaps. The solution is constant awareness: always know where your partner is and adjust your position to match.

Left and Right Together

When the ball goes wide to one side of the court, both players should shift in that direction. The player on the ball's side covers the wide angle. The partner shifts to cover the centre. This prevents opponents from hitting through the middle of the court.

The Two Positions: Attacking and Defending

Every point in padel involves two positions: attacking (at the net) and defending (at the back). Understanding what to do in each position is the core of padel strategy.

Attacking Position (Net)

Where to stand: 2-3 metres from the net, roughly in the centre of your half of the court. Close enough to volley, far enough to react to lobs.

What to do:

• Volley firmly into the opponents' feet or into open space
• Look for smash opportunities on short lobs
• Keep the ball low — volleys that land at your opponents' feet are the hardest to return
• Target the player who is weaker or out of position

What not to do:

• Do not swing at volleys — punch them
• Do not try to hit winners on every volley — consistency wins
• Do not stand too close to the net — you become vulnerable to lobs

Defending Position (Back)

Where to stand: 1-2 metres from the back glass wall, roughly in the centre of your half. Close enough to the glass to play wall rebounds, far enough to move forward if needed.

What to do:

• Use the lob to push net players back and create space to advance
• Play the ball off the back glass when it rebounds — let it come to you
• Keep the ball deep and central to limit your opponents' angles
• Wait for a chance to move forward to the net

What not to do:

• Do not hit hard from the back — hard shots off the glass set up easy returns for net players
• Do not stay at the back forever — always look for opportunities to advance
• Do not panic — the defensive position is fine temporarily; patience wins

The Transition

The best moments to transition from defence to attack:

1. After a deep lob pushes the opposing net team back
2. After an opponent makes a weak return that floats high
3. After you play a low, angled shot that forces your opponent to hit upward
4. After your opponent hesitates or communicates poorly

The transition should always happen as a pair. When you see the opportunity, both players advance together.

Patience: The Beginner's Secret Weapon

The number one strategic mistake in beginner padel is trying to end points too quickly. Beginners hit hard, go for winners, and try to finish points in 2-3 shots. This almost never works, because the walls keep the ball in play and hard shots off the glass are easy to return.

Why Patience Wins

The walls extend rallies. In padel, the ball bounces off the glass and comes back into play. A shot that would be a winner in tennis is retrievable in padel. Accepting this reality is the first step towards better strategy.

Errors come from pressure, not power. If you keep the ball in play and move it around the court, your opponents will eventually make an error. They will mishit a volley, misjudge a wall rebound, or hit the net. You do not need to hit a winner to win the point — you need to force an error.

Position wins points, not power. The team with better positioning wins the point. Good positioning comes from patience — keeping the ball in play until you earn the right court position (the net) and then finishing from there.

How to Be Patient

Hit one more ball. Before every shot, ask yourself: "Can I keep this rally going?" If the answer is yes, keep the ball in play. Only go for a finishing shot when you have a clear, high-percentage opportunity.

Use height. A ball that clears the net by a comfortable margin is safer than one that skims the tape. Adding height reduces your error rate without costing you anything strategically (in most situations).

Aim for the centre. When you are under pressure or unsure where to hit, aim for the centre of the court. This is the lowest-risk target — it clears the net easily, lands away from the sidelines, and limits your opponents' angles.

Using the Lob

The lob is the most important shot in padel for defensive players, and beginners should learn to love it.

Why the Lob Matters

It neutralises the net position. The only shot that consistently pushes net players backward is the lob. A deep lob over your opponents' heads forces them to retreat, play the ball off the back glass, and surrender their attacking position.

It creates transition opportunities. When your lob pushes the opposing team back, you and your partner can advance to the net together. The lob is your ticket from defence to attack.

It is low-risk. A well-hit lob that clears the net players and lands in the back third of the court is almost impossible to punish. Even a mediocre lob that goes slightly short gives your opponents a tough overhead at a difficult angle.

How to Lob Effectively

Height over depth. A high lob that clears the net players is better than a fast, flat lob that they can smash. Aim to clear the net players by at least 2 metres. The extra height gives the ball time to land deep and gives you time to move forward.

Aim for the back corners. A lob that lands in the back corner is the hardest to return. Your opponents have to play it off both the back glass and the side glass, which produces the most awkward rebounds.

Use it often. Beginners under-use the lob. If you are at the back and your opponents are at the net, lob. If they smash it, lob again. Eventually, your lobs will push them back or they will make a mistake on an overhead. Patience.

Reading the Game: Where to Look

Good padel players are not just watching the ball. They are reading the court and anticipating what will happen next.

Watch Your Opponents' Racket

The angle of your opponent's racket tells you where the ball is going before they hit it. An open racket face means a lob or a high shot. A closed face means a drive or a low shot. A chopping motion means a slice. Start paying attention to racket preparation and you will react faster.

Watch the Ball Off the Glass

Wall rebounds are predictable once you understand the angles. The ball comes off the glass at roughly the same angle it hits it (like a billiard ball). Start watching how balls rebound from different angles and heights, and your positioning will improve automatically.

Watch Your Opponents' Feet

Feet tell you whether your opponent is balanced, moving forward, moving backward, or off-balance. An opponent who is reaching or stretching will hit a weaker shot. An opponent who is balanced and set will hit a stronger one. Adjust your expectations and positioning accordingly.

Communicate with Your Partner

Talk. Constantly. Call "mine" or "yours" on every ball near the centre. Warn your partner about lobs going over their head. Suggest targets ("go wide" or "down the middle"). Padel partners who communicate well play better than partners who stay silent, regardless of individual skill level.

Common Strategic Mistakes

Hitting Too Hard

The biggest strategic mistake in beginner padel. Hard shots off the back glass rebound predictably and give your opponents easy returns. Controlled placement — low, angled, and directed — is far more effective. Save your power for smashes when you have a clear opportunity.

Not Moving Forward Together

One player at the net, one player at the back — this is the most common positional error. It creates a massive gap in the middle of the court that opponents exploit easily. Move forward together, retreat together, shift together.

Trying to Win Every Point with a Smash

When you get a smash opportunity, it is tempting to go for the outright winner. But most beginner smashes miss, hit the fence, or rebound off the glass into an easy position for the defending team. Instead, smash to a specific target — the opponents' feet, the side wall, or into space. A 70% power smash to the right spot beats a 100% power smash into the fence.

Standing Still Between Shots

Padel is a game of constant movement. Between shots, adjust your position based on where the ball is, where your partner is, and where your opponents are. Standing still means you are reacting to the situation rather than anticipating it.

Ignoring the Weaker Opponent

In doubles, one opponent is usually weaker. Direct more balls to that player. It is not unsporting — it is smart strategy. Professional padel players target weaknesses relentlessly. At club level, many players feel guilty about it and hit to the stronger opponent instead. This is a mistake.

Basic Point Construction

Here is a simple framework for building points from the defending position:

1. Stay alive. Return the ball safely — height, depth, and control over power.
2. Lob to push them back. A deep lob moves the net team away from their attacking position.
3. Move forward together. As your lob pushes them back, advance to the net with your partner.
4. Volley low. From the net, punch volleys low at your opponents' feet or into open space.
5. Finish when the chance comes. When a high ball sits up at the net, put it away with a firm smash or directed volley.

This sequence — survive, lob, advance, volley, finish — is the structure of most winning points in padel. It works at every level, from beginner to professional.

Strategy vs Different Opponents

Against Aggressive Opponents

Let them make errors. Aggressive players hit hard but often make more mistakes. Keep the ball in play, absorb their power with soft returns, and let them self-destruct. Lob frequently to disrupt their rhythm.

Against Defensive Opponents

Be patient and disciplined. Defensive players will keep the ball in play forever. Win the net position and use low volleys to build pressure gradually. Do not try to rush the point — they will outlast you if you go for risky shots.

Against a Mixed-Level Pair

Target the weaker player. Direct serves, volleys, and groundstrokes to the side where the weaker opponent is standing. This applies pressure where it is most likely to produce errors.

Against Lobbers

Stay alert for lobs and be ready to retreat. Position yourselves slightly further from the net than usual (3-4 metres instead of 2-3 metres) to give yourselves more time to react. When you can, take lobs early with a smash before they go over your head.

Sources & Further Reading

• World Padel Tour — Match analysis — Professional strategy and positioning breakdowns
• LTA Padel — Coaching resources — UK padel coaching and strategy guides
• FIP — Official rules — Court dimensions and positioning regulations

Related Articles

• How to Play Padel: Rules, Scoring & Court Layout
• Padel Serve: How to Serve in Padel
• Padel Grip: How to Hold a Padel Racket
• What Is Padel? Complete UK Beginner's Guide
• Best Padel Rackets: UK Buyer's Guide
• Padel Court Size & Dimensions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best strategy in padel?

Control the net. The team at the net wins most points in padel. Use lobs from defence to push your opponents back, then advance to the net with your partner. From the net, use low volleys and directed smashes to apply pressure. Be patient, move as a pair, and prioritise placement over power.

How do you win points in padel?

Most points in padel are won through errors rather than winners. Keep the ball in play, move your opponents around the court, and wait for them to make a mistake. When you have the net position, use low volleys to force difficult returns. Patience and positioning beat power.

Should I hit hard in padel?

Generally, no. Hard shots off the back glass rebound predictably and give your opponents easy returns. Controlled placement — low, angled, and with purpose — is far more effective than raw power. The exception is smashes from the net when you have a clear opportunity, but even then, direction matters more than speed.

How should you position yourself in padel?

Both players should be at roughly the same depth (both at the net or both at the back) and 3-4 metres apart. Move together as a unit — if your partner moves left, you move left. Never leave one player at the net and one at the back, as this creates exploitable gaps.

What is the most important shot in padel?

The lob. It is the primary weapon for transitioning from defence to attack. A well-placed lob pushes the opposing net team backward and creates the opportunity for you and your partner to advance to the net. Beginners should practise the lob more than any other shot.

How do you communicate with your partner in padel?

Call "mine" or "yours" on every ball near the centre. Warn your partner about lobs going over their head. Suggest targets before serves. Encourage after good shots and support after errors. The best padel partnerships communicate constantly — silence on court is a strategic weakness.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Strategy advice is based on widely accepted coaching principles — results may vary depending on opposition and playing conditions.