Padel tennis has become more popular in the US. It’s an exciting sport that combines the traits of badminton, squash, and tennis. This sport can bring you moments of happiness and enhance your physical ability.
Learning how to serve is the technique all padel tennis players have to master. So, how to serve in padel tennis? I will introduce detailed steps to help you serve correctly.
Plus, there are extra helpful advice and rules to help you advance quickly in this sport. Now let’s jump straight in!
Contents
How To Serve In Padel Tennis?
The first step in serving is to decide which team will serve first. Typically, the referee will flip a coin to decide. The winning teams in that coin draw can choose one of three options.
- Option 1: To receive service or to serve first.
- Option 2: Choose the side of the course the team wants to play on.
- Option 3: Ask the opponent to choose between serving/receiving service first.
There are many rules padel tennis players must follow when serving. In the next sections, I will introduce some common faults of padel tennis.
Serving Rules
The most important rule is that the server must have his two feet behind the service line. If one or two of your feet cross the line, it will result in a serving fault. The service line is located between the sidewall and the center line.
To play the service, you must bounce the ball on the court. The bouncing point must be within your team’s designated service area. In addition, the ball mustn’t be higher than the waist height.
The player who plays the service has two choices in standing pose. You can either stand dynamically or statically. Then, you will move forward.
Whether you stand or move, at least one of your feet must contact the padel tennis court. It means that the player cannot jump with two feet. Besides, the players mustn’t touch or cross over the service line.
When the ball bounces off the court, it may get over the service line or the center line. You can play the service by using a backhand or forehand shot. Yet, you must comply with all the mentioned rules during this process.
Serving Faults
Violating the rules when playing the service will make your serving invalid. Committing serving faults is also a common mistake for padel tennis players.
For example, serving fault occurs when a player crosses the service line when he’s serving. Many players also hit the ball into the net or outside the court.
The ball you hit must contact a point within the opposing service area (diagonal). If the ball touches the lines, your serving is still valid as it’s considered in bounds.
There are many other common causes for a service fault. A player may miss the ball, or it may hit another player on your team.
Faults also occur when the ball you serve doesn’t bounce correctly. If it’s impossible for the opponents to hit the ball, your serve is invalid. Also, the server only has a maximum of 25 seconds to serve.
Don’t worry much when you commit a serving fault. Typically, the referee will grant your team another serving chance. Yet, he will reward the opposing team a point if you make another fault.
Serve Tips To Improve Your Game
Like other sports, padel tennis involves more than techniques and skills. There are many tips that can help you prepare better for the game and heighten your experience. Follow the sections below to discover more.
Position Is Very Important
The preparation pose will affect how you handle the ball and your overall performance. When you’re about to serve, you should raise your racket up high. It allows you to hit the ball from above and release a more threatening attack.
Positioning the racket in a low position forces you to lift up the ball. In this position, the opposing players can return the ball quickly and score. Therefore, pay attention to your pose and the racket’s height before hitting the ball.
Placing the racket high will always keep the ball low, making it harder for the opponents to strike. After they return the ball, they have to switch to the defensive position.
Also, high racket positions allow you to spin the ball. The following section will explain why spinning the ball is one of the effective techniques in padel tennis.
Add Backspin
The backspin is not a technique that you can master in hours. It takes a lot of work to master and carries high risks of failure.
My favorite spin technique is the slice. It keeps the ball in a low position, making it harder to return. Meanwhile, the topspin will raise the ball, allowing the opponents to perform dangerous strikes.
Try To Hit The Glass
Don’t make your serve too easy for the opponents to return the ball. There are many ways you can make your serving tricky without violating the rules. The best position where your serving can hit is the glass.
Even intermediate players cannot comfortably deal with the balls hitting the glass. They will take slightly longer to return the ball. Thus, you can take advantage of this time and move closer to the net.
Do Not Serve So Fast
Many players think that dangerous serves are the ones with high speed. It’s because serving fast will limit your time. You have to move to the net very fast and leave the vulnerable space behind.
As a result, opponents can easily counter this technique by playing a passing shot or a lob. Therefore, you should spend around 65% of your power on serving.
Avoid Double Fault
Double fault is common in tennis. Even pro players commit around two or three double faults in a match. Yet, it’s a different story for Padel tennis players. It’s much easier to serve right in Padel tennis.
Check out this video to discover some great tips to improve your serve!
Practice
Besides your matches, you should practice serving in your free time. Serving is a basic technique, but it can significantly affect the game’s outcome.
When you reach the advanced levels, serving the ball well can give you an edge over the opposing players.
Final Thoughts
Serving is not a complex technique in padel tennis. Yet, you should pay attention to your position and the rules to avoid unnecessary faults. Also, aim for the right area and place your racket right to make your service more tricky.
Also, take your time and avoid putting all your strength into the serves. It will give the opponents the opportunity to strike and score. Over hundreds of matches, your skills will gradually improve. Thank you for your time!
