Serving Smarter: Core Padel Serve Tips to Control the Court
The serve in padel is fundamentally different from tennis. It’s not about overpowering your opponent; it’s about consistency, placement, and quick transition. In padel, the serve’s primary goal is to buy you enough time to reach the net, where the majority of points are won.
If you're new to the sport or looking to elevate your consistency, mastering the underarm serve is the fastest way to gain an advantage. Here are five simple, effective tips that can quickly transform your serve from a formality into a tactical weapon.
1. High Preparation for a Low Bounce
The rule in padel is to strike the ball at or below waist level, but your preparation matters just as much as your impact point.
The Setup: Begin your serve with the racket held high (above your waist) before dropping the ball and swinging. This allows you to attack the ball from a higher point in the downward arc of the swing.
The Advantage: This angle of attack means your serve will travel slightly downward, resulting in a lower bounce after hitting the service box. A low-bouncing serve is significantly harder for your opponent to attack or return aggressively, setting you up for an easier first volley.
Avoid starting your swing low. This forces you to lift the ball up and over the net, which usually results in a high, predictable bounce that opponents can easily put away.
2. Master the Slice Serve
Forget about trying to generate heavy topspin on your serve, that’s a recipe for an easy return. In padel, slice is king.
The Technique: Focus on developing a slice serve by brushing the ball from high to low as you make contact. This action imparts backspin and sidespin.
The Effect: This spin causes the ball to travel toward the side wall after the first bounce, and critically, it keeps the ball low and unpredictable after it hits the glass. A ball that "skips" off the glass and stays low forces your opponent into a defensive position immediately.
3. Aim for the Glass, Not the Center
A great padel serve forces your opponent to make a decision quickly while giving you time to move.
Target the Corners: A well-placed serve that forces the opponent wide or into the junction of the side and back glass is highly effective. Aiming for the side or back glass forces your opponent to decide whether to hit the ball before it hits the wall or let it play off the glass.
The Time Advantage: When the ball glances off the glass, it naturally loses pace. This momentary delay is a precious gift, providing you with extra time to reach the net and solidify your volley position. Even at beginner and intermediate levels, this simple tactic can win easy points.
4. Prioritise Control Over Power
Serving as hard as you possibly can is counterproductive in padel. It reduces your accuracy and slows down your net transition.
The Power Ratio: A controlled serve using about 60-70% power is the optimal balance. This allows you to maintain high accuracy and consistency while ensuring you have enough time to advance to the net.
Tactical Variation: Mix the pace and placement of your serves to keep your opponent guessing. Follow a fast serve down the line with a slower, sliced serve into the corner. Being less predictable forces your opponent to constantly adjust their return stance.
5. Practice Precision and Net Positioning
The serve isn't finished until you are at the net and ready for the return.
Precision Drills: Use drills that target different areas of the service box. Set a cone near the side wall, or place a marker where you want the ball to bounce. Practice serving to each quadrant with different types of spin. Track your accuracy, consistency is a better measure of improvement than speed.
Drill for Net Transition: Immediately after serving, practice getting to your optimal volley position: aligned with the second post on the fence and about one racket’s length from the center line. This is your "home base" where you can maximize your reach and court coverage. Set a marker and see how accurately and quickly you can reach this spot after every serve.
Actionable Takeaway
Keep your serve consistent, mix up placement and speed, and always be ready to transition quickly to the net. Focus on that high preparation and slicing the ball to keep the bounce low. With these simple, focused adjustments, your padel serve will quickly become a real asset, giving you the edge you need to control points from the very start.
