The padel serve and return

The padel serve is underarm and easy to learn, but it isn't harmless. A well-placed serve is your ticket to the net, and a smart return is how the receiving pair takes it away. Here are the rules first, then the tactics.

The serve rules (FIP)

1. Position: stand behind the service line, between the centre line and the side wall, without touching either line.
2. Bounce: bounce the ball on the ground behind the service line, on your side.
3. Contact: hit it at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground.
4. Direction: diagonally, into the opponents' opposite service box. Each game starts from the right; you switch sides after every point.
5. Attempts: two, as in tennis.

Faults and lets

It's a fault if you break any of the position or contact rules, miss the ball completely, the ball lands outside the correct box (lines are in), it hits you or your partner, or it bounces in the box and then hits the mesh before bouncing again.

A serve that bounces in the box and then hits the glass is good. A serve that clips the net or posts and lands in the box is replayed, unless it then hits the mesh. If the receiver wasn't ready, the serve is a let.

The receiver must let the serve bounce. If the serve hits the receiver or their racket before bouncing, the point goes to the server.

Where to aim your serve

Mix the targets so the receiver can't settle. Use slice to keep the ball low after the bounce, go deep, and make your second serve safe and central. The serve doesn't need to win the point, just give you the net.

Serve and move

The moment you've served, move forward. Your partner already starts at the net in the other half of the court; your job is to join them so you're level within one or two shots. See our positioning guide for where to stand.

Returning serve

The return's job is simple: get the ball back in play in a way the serving pair can't attack.

• Strong serve into the glass: let it come off, and block it back towards the server's feet.
• Strong serve down the T: lob over the net player, or play soft to the incoming server's feet.
• Easy serve: attack. Drive low at the server's feet, or lob deep and move up to the net yourself.

Stand a small step back from the service line area, near the side glass but with room to let the ball rebound. Decide early whether you're taking the ball before or after the glass.

Common serve and return mistakes

1. Serving too short, so the receiver steps in and attacks.
2. Staying back after serving instead of moving to the net.
3. Hitting into the mesh: that's a fault, aim for the glass.
4. Going for winners on the return, when a safe, low or deep ball is enough.
5. Standing too close to the side glass and getting jammed by the rebound.

Frequently asked questions

Serve technique, step by step

1. Continental grip, the same as for volleys.
2. Stand side-on, front shoulder pointing towards the target box.
3. Drop the ball beside and slightly in front of your front foot so it bounces to around hip height.
4. Swing low to high and hit the ball at or below waist height, with a slightly open racket face for slice.
5. Follow through towards the target, then move forward straight away.

First serve vs second serve

Serving on the big points

On a golden point or Star Point, the receiving pair chooses who receives. Expect their stronger returner. Don't try something new: serve your most reliable serve, deep, and get to the net. See our scoring guide for how these points work.

Receiving: where to stand

• A small step behind where you expect the ball to bounce, with room between you and the side glass.
• Weight forward on the balls of your feet, racket up.
• Your partner stands near the service line on the other side, ready to move back if the servers attack.
• Against slice serves, which stay low, stand a little closer. Against serves with side spin, give yourself more room.

Return targets that work at club level

1. The server's feet as they move in: forces an upward volley.
2. A deep lob over the server's partner at the net: pushes them back and lets you move forward.
3. Through the middle when the serving pair isn't communicating.

Practice tip: serve 3 sets of 12 from each side to a towel placed near the T. It's Drill 56 in The Padel Drill Book, and it's on our free drill sheet.

Five common serve and return mistakes

1. Serving and staying back. The serve is your ticket to the net. If you don't follow it in, you've given away the advantage.
2. Going for too much on the second serve. A double fault gives away the point for free. Keep the second serve simple.
3. Always serving to the same spot. Even a good serve becomes easy to read. Mix the glass, the T and the body.
4. Returning hard and flat at the net player. At club level, this usually gets volleyed straight back. Low to the feet or a deep lob works far better.
5. Standing too close to the side glass when receiving. Leave room so a serve into the glass doesn't jam you.

Communicating with your partner

Agree on a simple plan before each serve: where you're serving, and what you expect back. When receiving, decide who takes balls through the middle. A short word between points ("glass", "middle", "lob") keeps both of you on the same page and makes the first two shots of every rally much more effective.

Sources

• FIP Rules of Padel (official rulebook)
• HEAD: how to serve in padel
• The Padel School: improve your padel serve
• The Padel School: where to hit the return
• The Padel School: how to return serve