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Their lob is too good and your partner is beaten. Do you hold the net?
A perfect lob takes the net. Give it up together, defend together, and take it back together.
You are at the net. A perfect lob goes over your partner, who cannot reach it before the glass. What do you do?
A perfect lob takes the net. Give it up together, defend together, and take it back together.
Why
The net is worth holding only while both of you can hold it. When a lob beats one partner cleanly, the other has to go back with them; a single net player against an advancing pair has no chance, and the diagonal between a net player and a back player is the easiest target on the court. Retreating together costs nothing permanent, the next good lob wins the net back, while staying split costs the point. Recognising the lob is unreachable early enough to retreat with your partner is the skill; the retreat itself is just running.
What this means at your level
Beginner
If the lob is over your partner and they cannot get it in the air, you go back with them. Every time.
Intermediate
Retreat toward the middle rather than straight back, so you are on the diagonal for the reply to your partner's wall shot.
Advanced
Not every lob that beats the volley is unreachable. Read whether your partner can take it off the glass in balance; if so, hold a half-step back rather than fully retreating.
Common questions
You are at the net. A perfect lob goes over your partner, who cannot reach it before the glass. What do you do?
Go back with them; win the net back with the next lob. A perfect lob takes the net. Give it up together, defend together, and take it back together. The net is worth holding only while both of you can hold it. When a lob beats one partner cleanly, the other has to go back with them; a single net player against an advancing pair has no chance, and the diagonal between a net player and a back player is the easiest target on the court. Retreating together costs nothing permanent, the next good lob wins the net back, while staying split costs the point. Recognising the lob is unreachable early enough to retreat with your partner is the skill; the retreat itself is just running.
Why not hold the net: the attacking position is too valuable?
A single net player against two opponents coming forward is the worst position in padel. The net is only valuable when both of you are there.
What should a beginner do here?
If the lob is over your partner and they cannot get it in the air, you go back with them. Every time.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Not every lob that beats the volley is unreachable. Read whether your partner can take it off the glass in balance; if so, hold a half-step back rather than fully retreating.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerThe ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerBoth 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.