Padel tactics in doubles: the best team strategies for more pointsPadel is more than just technique and ball control - if you want to be successful as a team, you need the right tactics. In doubles, it's your teamwork that decides whether you win or lose points. In this guide, you will learn the most important padel doubles tactics for effectively winning points as a team. Padel pro Lana shows you how to optimise your positioning, avoid mistakes and play cleverly with your partner - ideal for beginners and advanced players.
Why team tactics make the difference in padel doublesPadel is played almost exclusively in doubles - and that's exactly what makes tactics so crucial. Unlike in singles, it's not enough just to hit the ball. "The right padel doubles tactics combine communication, movement and the right teamwork," says padel expert Lana, who has played many successful matches. If you complement each other on the court, you win points - if you stand in each other's way, you lose them. She adds: "If you really want to score points, you need a feeling for the right moment and togetherness on the court."
Padel strategies in doubles: how to score points as a teamA successful padel doubles match relies on team tactics in which you complement and support each other. Lana reveals the best doubles strategies for your padel match.
Find a suitable team partnerThe choice of your padel partner is already part of the tactic. After all, you need to understand each other - without talking much. But there's more to it than that: "Ideally, look for a team mate who has a similar level of play to you - the same applies to your opponents, of course. That way, you can train on an equal footing and stay challenged - but no one will be overwhelmed," advises Lana.
Act as a unitFor Lana, this is the number one basic rule. "Defend together, attack together - never one player alone," says the experienced padel player. "It sounds simple, but especially in heated game situations, it's easy to go it alone. Make a conscious effort to move as a team and position yourselves together: Play on one line - either both at the back or both at the net. Why? So you cover the court more efficiently and avoid gaps.
Use lobs as a tactical toolThe lob is a particularly high ball that can be a clever tactical advantage in padel strategy. "It allows you to move back to the front of the net, giving you control of the point," explains Lana. At the same time, if you are praised or a ball lands behind you - both of you go back to the baseline immediately. "Because you play attack at the net and defence at the baseline. That's the golden rule."
Talk to each other - communication is a tacticMany ball losses occur because both players hesitate or want to play the same ball. Therefore: Clear communication is part of your doubles tactics. "Short, clear announcements such as 'I' or 'yours' not only prevent you from getting in each other's way, they also ensure that someone goes there in the first place and that you don't both hesitate," says our padel pro. "Also talk to each other between rallies if something is unclear."
Assign tasks beforehand "Who takes the centre? Who looks after the boards?" are questions that should be clarified as a team before the match, according to Lana. "If everyone knows what their job is, you avoid misunderstandings and don't just play alongside each other, but really as a unit. Because good coordination is often the key to winning points."
Practising padel tactics in a team: Exercises for better coordinationIt's worth practising your padel doubles tactics and communication as a team, especially as a beginner. Lana has a simple exercise that can be used to improve team coordination. Here's how it works:
1.Start on the baseline and play a few controlled balls back and forth to get into it. This will help you find your rhythm together and familiarise yourselves as a team.
2.As soon as a ball comes high enough, seize the opportunity and advance to the net as a team. That's where you have the best control over the point - that's where you want to go when the opportunity presents itself.
3.After the attacking ball, you then return to the baseline together. This trains your dynamics, keeps you flexible and strengthens your teamwork - just like in a match when your opponent suddenly counters.
4.These changes between attack and retreat are extremely common in padel - the better you practise this in training, the more confident and effective you will be in the game.
Success on the padel court with clever team tacticsWhether you're a beginner or an advanced player - anyone who scores points in padel doubles not only plays technically clean, but also thinks tactically as a team. The best padel players are not necessarily the fastest or strongest, but those who read their partners, understand the game and act cleverly together. Clear coordination, good positioning and the targeted use of tactical tools such as the lob will give you a decisive advantage on the court. Train your coordination, remain flexible in attack and defence - and above all: always stay connected during the game. Because that is the essence of successful padel tactics in doubles. Not only will you score more points - you'll also really enjoy playing.
Frequently asked questions about padel tactics in doubles
The best tactics are based on clear communication, joint positioning at the net and the targeted use of lobs to control the court.
Practise specific game situations with your partner: e.g. advancing to the net together after a lob or coordination for balls through the middle.
Frequent mistakes include a lack of communication, uncoordinated running routes and running onto the same ball at the same time.
Profile of padel expert Lana
Name: Lana Büttner
Age: 33 years
Profession: Functional health coach, competitive athlete, national padel player
Sporting qualifications:
- Former tennis player
- National padel player for the German national team
- Holistic training to become a Functional Health Coach
That's what makes Lana special: Lana loves to accompany people holistically on their path to better health, well-being and performance. At the same time, she lives her passion for padel, trains intensively and plays for the German national padel team.
