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Your new partner is left-handed. Which side do they play?
Right-hander left, left-hander right. Both forehands in the middle, both smashes on the natural side.
You are right-handed and your partner is left-handed. Which side should each of you take?
Right-hander left, left-hander right. Both forehands in the middle, both smashes on the natural side.
Why
A mixed-handedness pair has a natural arrangement: the right-hander on the left and the left-hander on the right, so both players' forehands are in the middle of the court and both can smash lobs down the middle from their natural side. The downside is that both backhands are on the walls, so both players need a good backhand off the side glass. It is a strong shape, many top pairs are built this way, as long as the middle ball is called clearly, since now both of you want it.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Put the left-hander on the right. Then agree who takes the middle, because you will both be able to.
Intermediate
With two forehands in the middle, the rule becomes "whoever is closer to the net takes it". Say it out loud anyway.
Advanced
The opponents' answer to your shape is the ball down the lines, at your backhands. Practise the backhand off the glass on both sides before you rely on this arrangement.
Common questions
You are right-handed and your partner is left-handed. Which side should each of you take?
Left-hander on the right: both forehands in the middle. Right-hander left, left-hander right. Both forehands in the middle, both smashes on the natural side. A mixed-handedness pair has a natural arrangement: the right-hander on the left and the left-hander on the right, so both players' forehands are in the middle of the court and both can smash lobs down the middle from their natural side. The downside is that both backhands are on the walls, so both players need a good backhand off the side glass. It is a strong shape, many top pairs are built this way, as long as the middle ball is called clearly, since now both of you want it.
Why not left-hander on the left: their forehand covers the wall?
Then both backhands are in the middle and both players smash from the wrong shoulder. It is the harder arrangement.
What should a beginner do here?
Put the left-hander on the right. Then agree who takes the middle, because you will both be able to.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The opponents' answer to your shape is the ball down the lines, at your backhands. Practise the backhand off the glass on both sides before you rely on this arrangement.
Puzzles like this one
Your 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.
beginnerA ball comes down the middle. Who takes it?
The middle ball belongs to the forehand: decided before the match, not during the point.