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You have reached the net. How close to it do you stand?
Two to three metres from the net. Volleys go down, lobs are still reachable.
Your pair has taken the net. Where should you set up between points of the rally?
Two to three metres from the net. Volleys go down, lobs are still reachable.
Why
The net position in padel is not at the net. Around two and a half metres back, roughly level with the second post of the side glass, you can volley any ball at chest height downward, and you can still turn and take a lob with two steps back before it reaches the glass. Crowd the net and the lob beats you; sit on the service line and every volley is at your shins. The right spot is the one where both your volley and your bandeja are comfortable, and that is a bit further back than it feels.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Find where the side glass ends and the mesh begins, and stand a big step in front of it. That is your home at the net.
Intermediate
Your position moves with the ball: a step forward as they hit a low ball, a step back the moment you see the racket face open for a lob.
Advanced
Adjust for the opponent. Against a pair that lobs constantly, stand a half-metre deeper; against a pair that drives, a half-metre closer. Same principle, different starting point.
Common questions
Your pair has taken the net. Where should you set up between points of the rally?
About two to three metres back from the net. Two to three metres from the net. Volleys go down, lobs are still reachable. The net position in padel is not at the net. Around two and a half metres back, roughly level with the second post of the side glass, you can volley any ball at chest height downward, and you can still turn and take a lob with two steps back before it reaches the glass. Crowd the net and the lob beats you; sit on the service line and every volley is at your shins. The right spot is the one where both your volley and your bandeja are comfortable, and that is a bit further back than it feels.
Why not on the service line?
That is no man's land. Balls arrive at your feet and you can neither volley down nor defend the glass.
What should a beginner do here?
Find where the side glass ends and the mesh begins, and stand a big step in front of it. That is your home at the net.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Adjust for the opponent. Against a pair that lobs constantly, stand a half-metre deeper; against a pair that drives, a half-metre closer. Same principle, different starting point.
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.
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.