Serve (Saque)

The serve (saque in Spanish) is where every padel point begins — and it's one of the things that makes the sport so welcoming. Unlike tennis, where the serve can be a weapon of mass destruction, padel's underhand serve is designed to start a rally, not end one. But don't let the simplicity fool you: a well-placed, well-disguised serve is a genuine tactical weapon.

What Is the Padel Serve?

The padel serve is an underhand stroke hit diagonally into the opponent's service box, similar to the tennis serve in direction but radically different in execution. The ball must be struck at or below waist level, the server must have at least one foot on the ground behind the service line, and the ball must bounce once before being hit. You get two attempts — a first serve and a second serve — just like tennis.

The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box. If it bounces and hits the side glass before the returner plays it, that's fine. If it bounces and hits the back glass before bouncing a second time, also fine (and actually desirable). However, if the serve bounces and hits the side fence (the wire mesh, not the glass), it's a let and must be replayed.

Technique and Execution

The basic padel serve is simpler than it looks, but mastering the variations takes practice:

• Stance: Stand behind the service line with your non-dominant shoulder pointing toward the target box. One foot must stay on the ground until contact
• Ball drop: Hold the ball at waist height and let it drop (don't toss it up). Let it bounce once
• Contact: Strike the ball at or below waist level with a smooth, controlled swing
• Follow-through: Let the racket swing naturally toward your target

Serve Variations

Flat serve: Direct pace, targeting the body or corners. Low bounce, fast arrival.

Slice serve: Cut across the ball to create sidespin. The ball curves in the air and skids off the ground, pulling the returner wide or jamming them into the glass.

Kick serve: Brush up the back of the ball for topspin. The ball bounces higher than expected, pushing the returner back and ideally into an uncomfortable contrapared position.

Body serve: Aim directly at the returner's hip. This jams them, making it difficult to choose forehand or backhand, and often produces a weak return.

When to Use Each Variation

Mix it up. Predictability is the serve's biggest enemy. A general approach:

• First serve: Go for placement and pace — slice to the glass, flat to the body, or kick deep
• Second serve: Prioritize getting it in. A deep slice to the backhand is the safest high-percentage play
• When leading: Experiment with harder, riskier serves to the corners
• When under pressure: Rely on your most consistent serve and focus on depth

Common Mistakes

Double faults in padel are embarrassing because the serve isn't supposed to be hard. The biggest cause is rushing — bouncing the ball and swinging without taking a breath. Slow down. Another common mistake is serving too short, giving the returner an easy ball inside the service box. You want the ball landing deep, ideally bouncing toward the back glass. Finally, many players only ever hit one type of serve, making them completely predictable. Even two variations will dramatically improve your service games.

Pro Tips

Watch how professional servers position themselves along the service line. They shift left and right depending on which box they're serving to and which variation they're hitting. This subtle positioning makes their slice wider and their body serve more effective. Also, the serve is your only moment of total control in the rally — use it. Take your time, decide where you're going, and commit to the target. After the serve, move immediately to the net with your partner. The serve-and-volley approach is the foundation of padel strategy, and a hesitant approach after serving gives the returners too much time.