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Golden point. Who decides which side receives?
At golden point the receiving pair decide who receives. Put your better returner on it.
The game has reached forty all and you are playing golden point. Who chooses which player receives the serve?
At golden point the receiving pair decide who receives. Put your better returner on it.
Why
Golden point replaces advantage: at forty all a single point decides the game, and the receiving pair choose which of them receives, from their usual side. The server then serves diagonally to that side. The choice is worth more than it looks: the receiver with the better lob, or the one who handles the server's favourite serve, gets to play the biggest point of the game. Decide it in advance rather than debating it at forty all.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Agree before the match which of you receives golden points, and stick to it. Debating it at 40-40 hands them the point.
Intermediate
Choose the receiver by the server, not by pride. If they always serve wide into the glass, the player who returns off the wall better takes it.
Advanced
The server knows where they must serve, so the return lob can be prepared before the ball is bounced. Golden point is a return-lob point: take the net with it.
Common questions
The game has reached forty all and you are playing golden point. Who chooses which player receives the serve?
The receiving pair choose who receives. At golden point the receiving pair decide who receives. Put your better returner on it. Golden point replaces advantage: at forty all a single point decides the game, and the receiving pair choose which of them receives, from their usual side. The server then serves diagonally to that side. The choice is worth more than it looks: the receiver with the better lob, or the one who handles the server's favourite serve, gets to play the biggest point of the game. Decide it in advance rather than debating it at forty all.
Why not it alternates from the last deuce?
There is no alternation. It is the receivers' choice each time a golden point is played.
What should a beginner do here?
Agree before the match which of you receives golden points, and stick to it. Debating it at 40-40 hands them the point.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The server knows where they must serve, so the return lob can be prepared before the ball is bounced. Golden point is a return-lob point: take the net with it.
What do the rules say?
At forty all a golden point is played. The receiving pair choose which player receives, and the server serves to that side.
Puzzles like this one
What 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.
beginnerCan you volley the return of serve?
The return of serve must bounce. It is the one ball in padel you are not allowed to volley.
beginnerThe ball bounced then hit your own back glass. Still in play?
One bounce on the floor, then any number of walls. Only a second floor bounce ends the point.