Le padel is a team game. It position on the track, play tactically, organizer the game so that at two, the match turns to our advantage. A strong team must complement each other, be balanced, but must also communicate during stitches. 

There are several things that are easy to see in high level players but that at a lower level we amateur players don't do, or very little. The first would be to work the point before accelerating the balls, but that's not the point. The second is the information that the players give each other during the point, and that is what interests us today.

Where and when ?

First of all, we must know in which situations it is better to talk to help our partner. The simplest is when we are posted at the net and we have to play a high ball. In this case it is interesting to know the position of the opponents to adjust our strike as well as possible.

The other situation is when we have to go back down the lane after a lob. During this race we also lose sight of the position of the adversaries and the words of the partner will be precious to us to avoid the wrong choice.

In all other cases, it is better to give free rein to the game and to everyone's choices, which is also the beauty of this game. Nothing prevents you from analyzing after the point a good or a bad choice of move or tactic .

Adapt according to your partner

Everyone is different and does not take information in the same way. We have to adapt. Some players like to make decisions so you will need to inform them of player positions so they can decide. On the contrary, other players will not know which move to make if you inform them of the position; but if you tell them where to play and how, they will be much more effective. 

Information to give

What is important is to have short, clear messages repeated several times to keep your partner in tension. There are several announcements, it's up to you to see which is best for you and your partner.

Those who announce the diagonal

Le padel being played mainly diagonally, some take the side of announcing only the position of the player positioned in the diagonal of their partner about to strike. “At the bottom” (if it stays at the bottom), “half-track”, “stuck”, “very stuck” would already be quite a bit. This same information can be resumed when you are lobbed. This method could be the starting point for your work on communication. Simple and easy to process. Another little piece of advice that works is the word “quiet”, which tells your other half that everything is fine: he/she relaxes, and “often” plays a good ball.

Those who announce everything

It is much more complete as information but difficult to give and to treat. Knowing how to be complete, brief and precise by repeating several times is not given to everyone from day one.

First of all, you must agree with your partner on how to name each player. If you have their first names, perfect, otherwise we can announce "yours" or "mine" referring to the one facing you or the one on your diagonal, it's up to you to define it.

From there, same thing as for the previous chapter where we announced the position of the player in the diagonal, you will announce the position of the players with their name or nickname. “The 2 at the bottom”, “the 2 half”, “the 2 glued”, “yours at the bottom”, etc… knowing that the “quiet” will still work in this case.

Give orders

We are in the case where our partner is struggling to make decisions, and as a good teammate, we will help him. If you are this type of player who has trouble processing information but is receptive to orders, it is absolutely not a problem because often you place the balls better, and tactically you play better because your partner necessarily knows which shot you are going to play and he can accompany you with a time in advance on another pair where each one would make his decisions.

Being clear is the most important thing and above all being quick in transmitting information. “Quiet at the bottom” for a bandeja ; “gentle in the feet” when they are halfway; “go-go” when glued; “you have time” when you get lobbed and you want him/her to play a lob; “she is good” for a lob that would bounce a little high off the bottom glass and could allow for a bajada. We can also give the order to advance or to put under pressure when it is not your partner who is playing but you: you have a window exit, you want to play the chiquita and follow it to the net. For example, you will announce “go”, or “we are going”.

Information between partners is very important but often needs running in to find the best technique and above all to know what information your teammate hears, understands. The work is not easy, neither for one nor for the other because giving clear and precise information is complicated, listening to it even more so. But know that if the pros talk so much on a track and repeat up to 3, 4 times the same data or modify it according to the situation, there is a reason. It's your turn. Let's go!

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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