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A high lob goes between you both at the net. Who goes and who stays?
One takes the deep middle lob on the forehand; the other drops back level and central. Never split, never both.
You are both at the net. A very high lob lands in the middle, deep. Both of you could reach it. How does the pair handle it?
One takes the deep middle lob on the forehand; the other drops back level and central. Never split, never both.
Why
The deep lob down the middle is a test of a pair's communication. The left-side player, with the forehand overhead, calls it and goes; the right-side player does not stand and watch, but retreats to the same depth, toward the middle, so that whatever the reply is, the pair is side by side and the diagonals are covered. If the lob is too deep to take out of the air, the caller lets it bounce and plays it off the glass, and the partner is already back beside them. Two things must never happen: both going for it, or one going back and one staying forward.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Say "mine" or "yours" on every middle lob, before it comes down. Then move to stay level with your partner.
Intermediate
The retreating partner drifts toward the centre, not straight back. The reply to a defensive lob usually comes through the middle.
Advanced
If you let it bounce and play it off the glass, aim your reply to give both of you time: a high, deep lob to the far corner, then walk forward together.
Common questions
You are both at the net. A very high lob lands in the middle, deep. Both of you could reach it. How does the pair handle it?
Left player takes it; right player drops back level. One takes the deep middle lob on the forehand; the other drops back level and central. Never split, never both. The deep lob down the middle is a test of a pair's communication. The left-side player, with the forehand overhead, calls it and goes; the right-side player does not stand and watch, but retreats to the same depth, toward the middle, so that whatever the reply is, the pair is side by side and the diagonals are covered. If the lob is too deep to take out of the air, the caller lets it bounce and plays it off the glass, and the partner is already back beside them. Two things must never happen: both going for it, or one going back and one staying forward.
Why not whoever is closer, and the other stays at the net?
If one goes back and one stays, the pair is split. The partner drops back level.
What should a beginner do here?
Say "mine" or "yours" on every middle lob, before it comes down. Then move to stay level with your partner.
How does this change for an advanced player?
If you let it bounce and play it off the glass, aim your reply to give both of you time: a high, deep lob to the far corner, then walk forward together.
Puzzles like this one
Both of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
intermediateYour partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.
beginnerYou have served. Where do you go?
In padel you serve in order to get to the net. Serve, then go.