Padel Serving Rules and Techniques: The Complete Guide

Padel Serving Rules and Techniques: The Complete Guide

The padel serve is unique in racket sports — underarm, below the waist, and bounced before hitting. It might look simple, but a good serve in padel is a tactical weapon that sets up the point in your favour. This guide covers the rules, technique, and strategy you need to make your serve count.

The Rules of Padel Serving

Basic Rules

• Underarm only: The ball must be struck at or below waist height. No overhead serves.
• Bounce first: You must bounce the ball on the ground before hitting it. You cannot hit it out of your hand.
• Both feet behind the service line: At least one foot must be in contact with the ground. No jumping serves.
• Diagonal service: The serve must land in the opposite diagonal service box (like tennis).
• Two serves: You get a first serve and a second serve. A fault on both = point lost.

Fault Conditions

• Ball hits the net and lands in the wrong box or doesn’t cross
• Ball bounces in the correct box but hits the side wall before crossing the service line (fault)
• Ball bounces in the correct box and hits the back glass — this is IN (not a fault)
• Server steps on or over the service line before contact
• Ball is struck above waist height

Let (Replay)

If the serve hits the net but lands in the correct service box (without touching the side wall first), it’s a let — serve again. There’s no limit on lets.

Serving Technique

The Grip

Use a continental grip for all serves. This allows you to add slice, which is the most effective spin for padel serves.

The Bounce

1. Hold the ball at waist height in front of you
2. Drop it (don’t throw it up) so it bounces to a comfortable hitting height
3. The bounce should reach approximately hip to waist height
4. Practice a consistent bounce — inconsistency here creates inconsistent serves

The Swing

• Backswing: Short and compact — there’s no room for a big wind-up
• Contact point: In front of your body, at or below waist height
• Swing path: Low to high for topspin, high to low for slice, straight through for flat
• Follow-through: Toward your target, finishing with the racket pointing at the service box

Types of Padel Serve

The Slice Serve

The most effective padel serve. The ball curves through the air and kicks sideways after bouncing, pulling the returner wide.

• Technique: Brush across the ball from right to left (for right-handers)
• Target: Wide to the side wall or into the body
• Effect: The ball curves away from the returner and kicks off the glass unpredictably
• Best for: First serves and setting up net approach

The Flat Serve

Straight, fast, minimal spin. Less common in padel because the underarm action limits pace, but effective for surprising opponents who expect spin.

• Technique: Drive straight through the ball with a square racket face
• Target: Deep into the service box, aiming for the back glass
• Best for: Catching opponents off guard, second serves into the body

The Topspin Serve

The ball dips after crossing the net and bounces high. Good for pushing the returner back.

• Technique: Brush up the back of the ball with a low-to-high swing
• Target: Deep, aiming for a high bounce off the back glass
• Best for: Pushing returners deep and creating time to approach the net

The Body Serve

Not a spin type but a targeting strategy. Aim directly at the returner’s body (specifically the hitting hip) to jam them and prevent a clean return.

• Best for: Neutralising strong returners, second serves

Service Strategy

Always Approach the Net

The serve in padel is your invitation to take the net. Hit the serve, then immediately move forward. Your partner should already be at the net. The goal: both of you at the net before the return crosses back.

Serve Placement Matrix

Target	Effect	When to Use
Wide (side wall)	Pulls returner wide, opens court	First serve, aggressive setup
Body	Jams returner, limits angles	Against strong returners, second serve
T (centre)	Reduces return angle options	When approaching quickly, doubles
Deep (back glass)	Pushes returner back, high bounce	Topspin serve, giving time to approach

First vs Second Serve

• First serve: More aggressive — slice wide or deep. You can afford to take risks because you have a backup.
• Second serve: Priority is getting it in. Body serves and medium-pace slices into the box. A double fault gifts the point.

Common Serving Mistakes

1. Serving too hard: Power is limited by the underarm rule. Focus on placement and spin, not pace.
2. Inconsistent bounce: If you drop the ball differently each time, your serve will be inconsistent. Practice the bounce.
3. Not approaching the net: The serve is your ticket to the net. If you serve and stay back, you’ve wasted the advantage.
4. Predictable patterns: If you always serve to the same spot, good returners will anticipate. Vary placement.
5. Hitting above the waist: This is a fault. If you’re consistently calling faults on yourself, drop the ball lower.

Serve Practice Routine

1. 10 serves wide: Focus on slice, getting the ball to curve toward the side wall
2. 10 serves body: Aim at a target (bag or cone) placed in the centre of the service box
3. 10 serves deep: Try to make the ball hit the back glass on the full after bouncing
4. 10 mixed: Randomly choose your target for each serve — builds decision-making

The padel serve isn’t a weapon — it’s a setup tool. Master the slice, vary your placement, and always follow it to the net. For what comes after the serve, read our volley guide and court positioning guide.