Right or left side: choosing your court position

Jul 1, 2025

Key takeaway from our Guru

Should I play on the right or left side of the court?

Choose the right side if you prioritize defensive survival and setting up your partner. Play on the left if you are faster and want to attack balls through the middle with your forehand.

What this lesson covers

The right-sided player focuses on defensive consistency and point construction. This role requires patience and the ability to keep the ball in play from the back of the court to create attacking opportunities for the partner. The player on the right must cover the corner effectively while setting up the point for the left-sided player to finish.

The left-sided player takes responsibility for attacking balls through the middle. This position demands higher physical speed and fitness because the player covers more ground to reach balls for smashes or viboras. When two right-handed players compete, the left side acts as the primary attacker. If a left-handed player joins the team, they occupy the right side to maintain an aggressive middle attack with their forehand.

Learning both positions benefits players at all levels. Understanding the requirements of the opposite side improves communication and tactical awareness within a partnership. Even professional players sometimes switch sides depending on the needs of the team, as the ability to complement a partner remains the most important factor in a successful pair.

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Original video

The Padel School

Added on Apr 2, 2026

Should You Play on the RIGHT or LEFT Hand Side?!

Description

If you’re new to The Padel School, welcome. We’re Sandy and Tom Farquharson - two brothers and the founders of this platform. Our mission? To give every padel player the best coaching advice possible so you can unlock your full potential on the court. Here’s why we care so much about this… We grew up in tennis, competing from juniors all the way to the pro level. And honestly? It was frustrating. No matter how hard we worked, it was nearly impossible to get the high-quality coaching we needed to reach our full potential. When we discovered padel over a decade ago, we fell in love with the sport instantly. But guess what? The coaching situation was even worse. Getting solid advice in English? Forget it. That’s when we decided enough was enough. As we played on the pro padel circuit and started coaching players across the globe, we realised no player should have to struggle to find clear, actionable guidance – in any sport. Every player deserves access to the knowledge they need to grow, improve, and play the game at their highest level. So we built The Padel School. It’s where we share everything we’ve learned on and off the court. Whether you’re a total beginner or chasing a competitive edge, we’re here to make sure you get the coaching we wish we’d had. To all the padel warriors out there: the road to improvement isn’t easy, but that’s what makes it rewarding. Keep grinding, keep learning, and remember – every point is a new opportunity to get better. See you on the court, Tom and Sandy Do you understand YOUR game? (Free Padel Assessment): https://improve.thepadelschool.com/padel-assessment Our BOOK - The Padel Player's Guide: https://thepadelschool.com/the-padel-players-guide/ YouTube – https://youtube.com/thepadelschool Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thepadelschool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepadelschool Want to join us on court? https://thepadelschool.com/events Read our blogs: https://thepadelschool.com/blog/

Good for

Skill level

Beginner, Intermediate, High Intermediate, Advanced, High Advanced

Court position

Left, Right, Both sides, Net

Play style

Tactical

Keywords

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