Padel Doubles Shadow Drill: Partner Positions on Cue

A no-ball warm-up where pairs move around a marked court based on the game situation the teacher calls out. It warms up the legs and locks in padel's basic positions: both at the net, both at the back, and the transition between them.

How to play

1. Setup and mobility: each pair marks out its half court with cones (net, service line, back) while doing hip and ankle mobility (2 min).
2. Basic situations: when the teacher calls "net," "back" or "lob," the pair moves into position with a shadow stroke; repeat, switching the lob side (3 min).
3. Invisible rope: the teacher points to where the opponents' ball is, and the pair shifts together, keeping about 3 meters apart (3 min).
4. Chained situations: one partner calls three situations in a row and the other performs them; switch (2 min).

Rules

• Never split the pair across lines: both up or both back.
• Short side steps, no crossing your feet at the net.
• Keep at least 2 meters between pairs.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: the pair shrinks its zone to half court and practices turning to face the ball.
• Deaf or hard of hearing: each situation has a colored card the teacher holds up.
• Beginners: start at a walk and speed up once positions are correct.

Learning goals

• Learn a padel pair's basic positions.
• Move as a unit with your partner based on the ball.
• Warm up the legs with short steps and changes of direction.

Equipment for a class of 25

• padel paddles: 30
• cones: 24
• masking tape: 2

Teacher tip

A padel court is 20 x 10 m; in the schoolyard, a 10 x 10 m half court marked with cones per pair is enough. The classic mistake is one player going to the net while the other stays back: correct it right away.

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