Defensive and net positioning: basic court alignment
Key takeaway from our Guru
Where should I stand on the court when defending or attacking?
Stand just behind the service line when defending to keep your balance. At the net, align yourself with the second post to ensure you can cover lobs while still being ready to attack.
What this lesson covers
Players starting at the back of the court should align themselves just behind the service line. When using a standard court with five glass panels, the correct position is in line with the separation between the end panel and the side panel. If the court layout differs, stand one step behind the service line and two steps away from the side glass. This defensive stance allows players to remain balanced and ready to return serves or defend incoming shots until a deep lob creates an opportunity to move forward.
At the net, the second post serves as the primary reference point for a balanced starting position. Standing too close to the net makes players vulnerable to lobs, forcing them to sprint backward to recover. By staying near the second post, players maintain enough space to cover lobs effectively while still being able to step forward to attack short volleys. This position provides a stable foundation for both partners to work together, allowing for quick transitions when the ball is hit into the corners or when an opponent struggles with a shot.
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Original video
Added on Apr 2, 2026
Padel Tactics: Basic Court Position
Description
The basic steps to understanding the court positions! If you want a deeper, more tactical look at court positions, check this video out: https://youtu.be/jdWb7zf6iWk And to understand how to move better as a pair, this explains it all! https://youtu.be/wvRtIkBzbGM Here we explain the basic start positions at the back and at the net. It is important to watch this video before getting into the more advanced tactics, so you know where you should be starting from. This is a basic guide, so will change down the line as the tactics become more advanced. At net a player can step closer to the net for their ready position if they are in the advantage in the point. But these slight changes will be discussed in future videos... To play better matches you need to understand the tactical principles in padel, so in this course we breakdown ALL THE TACTICS: https://thepadelschool.com/courses/tactics-course/
Good for
Skill level
Beginner
Court position
Both sides, Net, Service line, Backcourt
Keywords
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