In Padel, Using the Australian Formation

When I initially started watching World Padel Tour professional tournaments, I was impressed by the unusual position that the players would take up on some of the points in their service games. Coming from a tennis background and some recreational padel games, it was something I’d never seen or experienced before, so I went out to learn more.

The Australian formation is a starting position in which both players from the team with service are on the same side of the court, leaving the other side of the court empty. The Australian construction is utilised more frequently in padel tennis than in tennis, where it originated.

Let’s take a closer look at the Australian position so you can understand how you might use it in your own games.

What is Australia’s Padel Position?

The Australian position in padel tennis is a strategy intended to mentally confuse your opponents since it changes the look of the court, with the net player setting up exactly across from the opposing team’s net player, while the server stands closest to the centre of the court. Both players on the serving team position themselves on the same side of the centre line, and the net player does not have to stoop down and stays on the same side unless there is an opportunity to poach with the Australian position.

What is the Standard Padel Position?

In padel tennis, the normal position is when your partner is near the net and the server is at the line getting ready to serve. When the ball goes over the net, the server must instantly take up the vacant net area to ensure that both the server and the person at the net position have dominance over the other team. If the opposition team obtains the ball, the server and the person at the net will have more time to get to the ball since they are covering more surface area.

How to Use the Australian Formation When Playing with a Left or Right Handed Partner

When playing doubles, using the Australian formation is a solid approach for knocking out the opposition team. Because the Australian stance demands both the netkeeper and the server to be lined up down the middle of the court, it confuses the opposition team and forces them to communicate with one another more. When using this arrangement, if one player is right-handed and the other is left-handed, the opposing team will lose more points.

The Importance of Quick Movement When Playing the Australian Formation

Because the Australian configuration necessitates both players being in the centre of the court, there may be a lot of open surface area on each side of both players. It is critical that you and your partner move rapidly together when receiving the ball back to your side in order to receive the ball and get it back on the other side. When receiving, both partners will move to the back of the court. This way, if one of you misses the ball, the other can reach it.

When Using the Australian Formation, Where Should You Aim Your Serve?

When using the Australian formation, you should aim down the centre of the court so that you and your partner have an easy advantage over the other team. When you do not serve through the centre of the court, you expand the court and offer the opponent team an edge over you and your partner. The Australian configuration is ideal for players who can move quickly from side to side along the court.