How to serve in padel: Expert tips

The serve is where everything starts in padel – every point, every game, every set, every match begins with a serve. 

The most important thing about the padel serve is that it sets you up to try and get to the net, which will give you an advantage in rallies. 

Here, LTA expert coaches down everything you need to know about padel serving, from the basics through to tactics and drills for you to practice. 

Padel serving – the basics 

If you’re just starting out, here are some of the basic rules of padel serving you need to know: 

• A serve is the shot that starts every point in a padel match 
• The server stands at the back of one of the service boxes ready to hit the ball diagonally over the net to their opponent 
• Any serve must be hit underarm – not like a tennis serve 
• The ball must bounce once before you hit your serve 
• Your serve must land in the diagonal service box for the point to be live 
• The ball can bounce and hit the side or the back glass, but it can’t bounce and hit the cage (if it does then the serve is out) 

Placement over power 

As you continue to improve, you’ll realise that there are very few serves in padel that are un-returnable.  

Instead of trying to hit aces with big powerful serves, that often don’t work, instead you should think about the padel serve as more of a tactical shot to help you get into the net. 

The odds of winning the point if you’re at the net are significantly higher in padel, so using the serve to your advantage and helping you get up to volley is very effective. 

Change up the speed of your padel serve 

When you first start out as a beginner in padel, hitting fast serves can be effective but the more you progress, the easier these can be for your opponent to return. 

Instead, think about mixing up the speed and direction of your serve to keep your opponents guessing.  

By being less predictable you’re already making it harder for the opposition to hit an effective return as they don’t know what kind of shot to prepare for. 

Top tip: Try to land the serve as deep into your opponent’s service box as possible to make it difficult for them to return. A serve into the side glass is effective at all levels of the game.