Court Notes Padel
Left or right side in padel doubles: which should you play?
What the rules say about sides, how coaches usually describe the right and left roles, and why it pays to try both before you choose.
In padel doubles, most pairs keep one player on the right side and one on the left. The rules only fix who receives serve in each game; the roles are a coaching convention. Coaches usually describe the right side as the more consistent, point-building role and the left as the more aggressive role that covers lobs down the middle. Most coaches advise trying both before you settle.
This article is part of the Understanding your game series.
What the rules say
The FIP Rules of Padel do not assign a left or right player. They set the serve and return order:
- The serve goes diagonally, so a player always receives from one side of the court.
- In the first game of each set, the receiving pair decides who receives first. That order then stays fixed for the rest of the set and can only change at the start of a new set.
- On a golden point or star point, the receiving pair chooses whether to receive on the right or the left, and cannot swap positions for that point.
In practice, this is why partners keep to “their” side: each set, you commit to one.
How coaches describe the two sides
The roles below are a common coaching view for right-handed pairs, summarised from The Padel School’s guide to choosing a side. They are tendencies, not rules.
| Right side | Left side | |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Drive or forehand side | Revés or backhand side |
| Usual role | Consistent, builds the point | More aggressive, finishes the point |
| Middle lobs | Usually left to the partner | Usually covered, often with a bandeja |
| Typical profile | Patient, reliable from the back | Athletic, confident overhead |
The reasoning for the middle lob is practical: for a right-hander on the left, a lob down the centre arrives on the forehand side, where a bandeja is easier than a high backhand volley. The same guide notes that left-handed players usually play the right side, so their forehand and overhead cover the middle.
The traditional split is also loosening. As the level rises, players can control the game from either side, and professionals sometimes switch depending on their partner.
How to choose
- Play both sides first. The Padel School’s main advice is not to choose too early. Playing one side teaches you what your partner on the other needs.
- Look at your overhead. If you are comfortable taking lobs and finishing at the net, the left may suit you. If you prefer building points from the back, try the right.
- Check your hands. A left-handed and right-handed pair usually puts the left-hander on the right.
- Agree on the middle. Whichever sides you choose, decide who takes the ball down the centre. That conversation matters more than the side itself.
Where PlayDNA fits
When you set up a scored game on the Watch, you say whether you or your partner plays on the right. PlayDNA uses that to follow the serving order. Where the rotation can be checked, the team serve and return summary can separate your service games from your partner’s.
PlayDNA does not work out your role, decide which side suits you or rate your partner. It records only the wearer’s strokes, so it cannot see your partner’s shots or who took the middle ball. If you want to compare sides, play some sessions on each and look at your own shot mix in each; what your shot mix says about how you played explains how to read it without treating it as a verdict.
FAQ
Which side is better in padel?
Neither. The sides involve different jobs, and the best choice depends on your strokes, your partner’s and how you work together.
Where should a left-handed player play?
Usually on the right side, so their forehand and overhead cover the centre of the court, according to The Padel School.
Can we change sides during a match?
The receiving order is fixed for each set under FIP rules. You can change it at the start of a new set.
Why does the left-side player take more overheads?
For right-handed pairs, lobs down the middle reach the left-side player’s forehand, where a bandeja or smash is easier than a high backhand volley for the right-side player.
Sources and scope
Serve, receiving-order and deciding-point rules follow the International Padel Federation’s Rules of Padel, effective 1 January 2026. Side roles are summarised from The Padel School’s guide to choosing a side, checked on 2 October 2026; they describe common coaching views, not rules. PlayDNA records the wearer’s strokes and a human-entered score; it does not infer roles, side suitability or partner quality.