Padel is a game of angles, positioning, and teamwork. Unlike singles tennis, where individual talent can often dominate, padel demands strategy and synchronisation between partners. To truly succeed on the court, players must master doubles tactics, the building blocks of every strong padel team.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or training for competitive play, understanding and applying smart doubles tactics can make the difference between a good team and a great one. This article breaks down the essential doubles tactics that every pair should master to outthink and outplay the opposition.
1. Control the Net Together
One of the golden rules of padel is that controlling the net often means controlling the point. In doubles, this is even more critical. Effective doubles tactics begin with coordinated movement toward the net. You and your partner should move as a unit, not just one player charging while the other hangs back.
By taking and holding net position together, you cut down the opponent’s angles and increase your chances of finishing the point with a volley or overhead. These aggressive doubles tactics help shift the pressure onto your opponents early in the rally.
2. Communicate, Always
No set of doubles tactics will succeed without solid communication. From calling lobs to switching sides, talking constantly helps avoid confusion and builds confidence. Communication should be ongoing, before points, during rallies, and after plays.
Decide who takes the middle balls, when to switch sides, and how to handle overheads or tricky angles. Trust grows with every well-executed play, and effective doubles tactics rely heavily on this unspoken (and spoken) bond.
3. Exploit Opponent Weaknesses
Great doubles tactics involve more than your side of the court, they’re about analyzing your opponents. Does one player have a weak backhand? Is someone slow to the net? Exploit those areas systematically.
Aim lobs over the weaker overhead player, and target the weaker returner on serves. Successful padel teams learn to rotate doubles tactics to expose mismatches again and again. It’s chess on a court, every move counts.
4. Use the Walls to Your Advantage
Padel’s unique feature, the back and side walls, can be confusing at first. But experienced players use them to set up smarter doubles tactics. For example, playing a defensive lob off the back wall can buy your team time to reset.
Similarly, a well-placed shot off the side wall can pull an opponent wide and open up the court. Great teams incorporate the walls into their doubles tactics, using them offensively and defensively to keep opponents guessing.
5. Master the Lob
In doubles, the lob isn’t just a bailout, it’s a strategic weapon. If your opponents dominate the net, a high, deep lob can reset the point or force a weak overhead. Smart doubles tactics often involve lobbing to shift positioning and open up space.
Work on disguising your lobs and targeting the middle or weaker player. When combined with aggressive net play, lobbing becomes a tactical rhythm-breaker that turns defense into offense.
6. Poaching and Pressure
Poaching is when the net player moves across to intercept a return intended for their partner. This advanced move is a powerful part of winning doubles tactics, especially when used sparingly and at the right moment.
A well-timed poach can completely disrupt your opponents’ rhythm and force them into defensive mode. For successful poaching, timing and communication are key. Discuss potential signals or cues with your partner to make this a weapon in your doubles tactics toolbox.
7. Serve and Volley with Purpose
Serving in padel doesn’t deliver the same power as tennis, but it’s still a key opportunity to set the tone. Incorporate a serve-and-volley approach into your doubles tactics, but only with control and intention.
The goal isn’t to hit an ace, but to set up an aggressive first volley. Mix up your serve placements to keep opponents off balance, and follow in behind your serve with a confident move to the net. This proactive style is a staple of smart doubles tactics.
8. Stay Synchronised
If one player moves forward or back, the partner should match that movement laterally. Effective doubles tactics demand spatial awareness. Moving together ensures you don’t leave gaps and forces opponents to take more risks.
Teams that stay synchronised apply constant pressure, forcing their opponents to work harder for every point. This court coverage strategy is foundational to elite-level doubles tactics.
9. Stay Mentally Tough as a Team
Frustration and pressure can break down even the best doubles tactics. Maintain a positive attitude, reset after mistakes, and support your partner. Winning teams stick together mentally just as much as physically.
By keeping a composed mindset, your doubles tactics will remain clear, focused, and effective, even when things aren’t going your way.
10. Practice with Purpose
All the strategies in the world won’t help if you don’t practice them. Make sure your training sessions include drills that simulate match conditions. Practice poaching, moving together, and using the lob under pressure. The more you rehearse your doubles tactics, the more naturally they’ll show up in matches.
Conclusion: Doubles Wins Are Built on Strategy
Winning in padel isn’t just about skill, it’s about smart doubles tactics that keep you and your partner in sync, calm, and one step ahead. From positioning and communication to shot selection and psychology, great tactics turn average teams into champions.
So next time you hit the court, don’t just play, think. Develop your doubles tactics, and watch your win count rise.
