Padel Serving Rules

In brief: The padel serve must be executed underhand after the ball bounces on the ground. The ball must be struck at or below waist level, and the serve is directed diagonally into the opponent’s service box. The server has two attempts; a double fault results in a lost point.

Overview

The serve is the only shot in padel that is entirely under the server’s control. Unlike tennis, where the serve can be a powerful attacking weapon, padel requires an exclusively underhand serve. This rule makes the game more accessible to beginners and shifts the emphasis from power to accuracy and tactical ball placement.

Serving rules are governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and are uniform across all official competitions.

Serve Execution Technique

A padel serve is executed as follows:

1. Ball bounce. The server must first drop (release) the ball and let it bounce on the court surface. Serving the ball directly out of the hand without a bounce is not permitted.
2. Underhand strike. At the moment of contact between the racket and the ball, the ball must be at or below the server’s waist level. An overhead strike, as in tennis, constitutes a violation.
3. At least one foot on the ground. At the moment of contact, the server must have at least one foot on the court surface (jumping is not allowed).

Server Position

The server must stand behind the service line, between the center line and the side wall (glass) on their side of the court. Stepping on or beyond the service line before the racket contacts the ball constitutes a foot fault.

Specifically:

• The server’s feet must not touch or cross the service line before striking the ball.
• The server must not step outside the imaginary extensions of the center line and the side wall.

Serve Direction

The serve is executed diagonally – just like in tennis. The ball must land in the service box located on the opposite side of the court, diagonally from the server.

The diagram shows a typical serving formation: player 1 (server) is in the right back zone behind the service line, their partner (2) takes a position at the net on the left. The receivers (3, 4) position themselves in the back of their half of the court.

First and Second Serve

The server has two attempts to execute a valid serve:

• First serve. If the ball does not land in the service box or another violation occurs, the server is entitled to a second attempt.
• Second serve. If the second serve is also faulty, it is a double fault, and the point is awarded to the receiving team.

In practice, padel players rarely take as aggressive a risk on the first serve as tennis players do, since the underhand serve limits the potential for a powerful shot.

Net Serve (Let)

If the ball clips the net during a serve but still lands in the correct service box, a let is called (replay). The serve is replayed without penalty, and the attempt number remains the same: if the let occurred on the first serve, the server performs the first serve again.

If the ball clips the net and does not land in the service box, it counts as a regular serve fault.

Ball Behavior After Bouncing in the Service Box

After the ball correctly lands in the service box, special rules apply:

• Side glass wall. If the ball hits the side glass wall after bouncing in the service box, the serve is valid. The receiver continues the rally.
• Back glass wall. If the ball strikes the back glass wall after bouncing in the service box, the serve is valid and the receiver continues the rally. Only if the ball hits the metallic fence (malla/rejilla) after the bounce is the serve a fault.
• Metal fence (malla / rejilla). If the ball hits the metal fence after bouncing in the service box before the receiver plays it, the serve is a fault.

Foot Fault

A foot fault is called when the server:

• Touches or crosses the service line with a foot (or any body part) before the racket contacts the ball.
• Steps outside the permitted serving area (between the center line and the side wall).
• Moves excessively during the serve. The server may take small steps but must not run or jump while executing the serve.

A foot fault is treated as a regular serve fault. If it occurs on the first serve, the server performs the second serve; if on the second, a double fault is recorded.

Serving Order

The serving order in padel is strictly regulated:

• Teams serve alternately. One team serves each game, the other team serves the next game.
• Players within a team alternate. In the first game that a team serves, one player delivers the serve; in the next game that the same team serves, their partner takes over.
• The order is fixed for the set. The chosen serving order is maintained until the end of the set. At the start of a new set, the team may change the serving order within the pair.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Striking the ball above waist level (a habit carried over from tennis).
• Tossing the ball upward instead of letting it bounce on the ground.
• Stepping on or beyond the service line.
• Serving into the wrong box (not diagonally).
• Attempting an overly powerful serve at the expense of accuracy.