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Your partner is not receiving. Can they volley the serve?
Only the receiver returns the serve, and only after it bounces. The partner is out of it.
You are the receiver and your partner is standing at the net. The serve is slow and floats toward the middle. Can your partner step across and volley it?
Only the receiver returns the serve, and only after it bounces. The partner is out of it.
Why
The serve is aimed at one player, and that player is the only one who may return it, after the bounce, never out of the air. If the receiver's partner touches the serve, the point goes to the serving pair. This is why the receiving pair arranges itself the way it does: the receiver deep in the diagonal box, the partner free to stand wherever they like, usually further forward, ready for the second ball but not the first.
What this means at your level
Beginner
If you are not receiving, stand near the service line on your side and get ready for the ball after the return. The serve is not yours.
Intermediate
The receiver's partner reads the return and moves: forward with a good return lob, back if the return is short.
Advanced
Since the server's partner may volley the return but yours may not volley the serve, the return is the shot to get right, and a deep cross lob is the one that neutralises both of them.
Common questions
You are the receiver and your partner is standing at the net. The serve is slow and floats toward the middle. Can your partner step across and volley it?
No, only the receiver returns it, after the bounce. Only the receiver returns the serve, and only after it bounces. The partner is out of it. The serve is aimed at one player, and that player is the only one who may return it, after the bounce, never out of the air. If the receiver's partner touches the serve, the point goes to the serving pair. This is why the receiving pair arranges itself the way it does: the receiver deep in the diagonal box, the partner free to stand wherever they like, usually further forward, ready for the second ball but not the first.
Why not yes, but only after it bounces?
The bounce rule is real, but it applies to the receiver. The partner may not play the serve at all.
What should a beginner do here?
If you are not receiving, stand near the service line on your side and get ready for the ball after the return. The serve is not yours.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Since the server's partner may volley the return but yours may not volley the serve, the return is the shot to get right, and a deep cross lob is the one that neutralises both of them.
What do the rules say?
Only the receiver may return the serve, and must let it bounce first. If the receiver's partner touches the serve, the point is lost.
Puzzles like this one
You have served. Where do you go?
In padel you serve in order to get to the net. Serve, then go.
intermediateWhat do you do with the return of serve?
The return lob is how the receiving pair steals the net. Aim over the player who is still moving.
intermediateThey cannot play the side glass. Where do you serve?
Serve at the weakness you have found, not at the space you can see.