Padel is always doubles, and two players share a small court with a lot of balls down the middle. The pairs who talk clearly lose far fewer points to hesitation. You do not need a long playbook. A handful of short calls, said early, will do most of the work. This guide covers the calls, when to use them and how to agree on them before you play.
Why calling matters
Most "nobody's ball" points come down the middle, between two players who could both reach it. If neither calls, you both hesitate, or you both swing.
The core calls
Padel Relay recommends a few short words both players understand:
- "Mine." I am taking it. Say it as soon as you decide, not as you swing.
- "Yours." You take it, and I am moving to cover the space you leave.
- "Switch." A lob has gone over your partner. You run across behind them to play it, and they cross to your side.
- "Leave" or "Out." The opponents' shot will hit the glass or fence before bouncing, so it is out. Only call it when you are sure.
Two habits make these work: whoever calls first gets the ball, and nobody argues with a call during the point.
Information calls
Your partner often cannot see what the opponents are doing while they hit. These are the short updates we suggest at Mint:
- "Up." The opponents are at the net, so a lob is safer.
- "Back." They have dropped deep, so a calmer ball and a move forward make sense.
- "Coming." They are moving in, and there is space at their feet.
Say it while the ball is in the air, not after your partner has hit.
Agree the middle before you play
padel.how suggests a simple default for middle balls, such as forehand priority. The rule does not have to be perfect. It just has to be clear.
Before the warm-up ends, agree on:
- Who takes balls down the middle and lobs over the middle.
- Which words you will use.
- Whether you use serve signals.
Between points
Good pairs check in after almost every rally. Keep it short and about the next point. Pass on information, not feelings. "Their left player is struggling with lobs" is useful. "Why did you go for that?" is not.
Common mistakes
- Calling late. A call during the swing is too late to help.
- Too many words. A running commentary is harder to follow than silence.
- Arguing mid-point. Commit to the call, then talk after.
- Silence on middle balls. Commit to calling every ambiguous ball.
Practice drill
In the warm-up or a friendly game, play a few points where every ball must be called "mine" or "yours" before it is hit. A ball hit without a call loses the point. It can feel awkward at first, but the calls soon become a habit.
Related reading
New to the language? Start with our padel glossary and padel scoring explained. For your kit, browse Mint padel rackets and Cannonballz padel balls.
Quick checklist
- Use "mine" and "yours" on every middle ball.
- Call early, before the swing.
- Add "up," "back" and "switch" once the basics are natural.
- Agree the middle-ball rule before you start.
- Keep between-point talk short and positive.
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