Discover fundamentals of padel with a focus on the importance of tactical positions and transitions. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate player, learn the basics to dominate the game and maximize your time on offense.

Andoni Bardasco, the former player of World Padel Tour and co-founder of Padel Stuff gives you the keys to winning the “war of positions”.

Know how to position yourself before speaking too technically

Today we are going to talk about what is the most important in padel : positions. I often tell my students: gestures are important, of course, and good technique is essential. But the most important thing is to use these gestures as a toolbox to get every time the best possible position. So this is the subject we are going to discuss together.

Our last videos were quite technical and advanced, but I think it's also essential to revisit the padel basics. These bases are nothing other than the positions and transitions fundamental.

What to do with each ball? How to play padel effectively? What is the objective of the game? We will answer all these questions in this video.

Magic slate, show me…

To illustrate all this, I brought a small tool that I often use with my interns: a slate. I usually draw on it with a felt-tip pen, but we've modernized with our virtual academy. We have created a magic slate especially to show these concepts online. I hope you like this new tool and that it helps you better understand our explanations.

Let's start with what not to do in padel. Sometimes you see four players at the back of the court exchanging balls like in mini-tennis. This should never happen. When we ask ourselves who must climb the net, you must first understand that four players at the back of the court is not a correct configuration. The basis of padel is simple: there is a team in defense (at the back) and another in attack (at the net). The objective is to pass as much time as possible in attack.

Master the basics of padel: positions and transitions explained

To do this, one of the two teams must take the net. If the serving team does not seize this opportunity, it is a tactical error. At the beginning of each point, the serving team has a unique opportunity to occupy this advantageous position.

Master the basics of padel: positions and transitions explained
Master the basics of padel: positions and transitions explained
Master the basics of padel: positions and transitions explained
Master the basics of padel: positions and transitions explained
Master the basics of padel: positions and transitions explained

How to proceed ? The serving player hits the ball, then immediately goes up to the net. Meanwhile, his partner is already in position at the net. Thus, both players occupy the attack zone, forcing the opponents to stay on defense.

Little bonus: in the past, in padel, it was not systematically the serving team that took the net. But that will be the subject of a future video.

The net: the key

How long can a team stay at the net? The answer is simple: as long as possible. The net position is only endangered if the defending team succeeds in producing a effective lob. If this lob pushes the attacking team back, two scenarios are possible:

  1. The lob allows a bandeja : in this case, simply play the bandeja and quickly return to the net position.
  2. The lob forces you to move further back to play a bajada from wall after the glass: here the defending team can take the net. In this case, the team that was on the attack must change positions and go into defense. If one of the two players stays at the net, he puts himself in danger and the opponents risk taking advantage of this error.


The aim was to provide a clear framework to better understand padel, especially for beginners or the players intermediate leagues. If you have any questions or specific situations you would like us to analyze, leave us a comment.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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