Padel Serve Rules: A Complete Overview

As a beginner to padel, one of the first things you need to know is the basic rules of the game, especially when it comes to serving. Padel serve rules can be both simple and complicated, depending on your knowledge of the sport. In this article, we provide you with a complete overview of padel serve rules.

What is Padel?

Before we dive into padel serve rules, here’s a brief overview of the game itself. Padel is a racket sport that originated in Mexico and is now widely popular in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. The game is similar to tennis, except it’s played on a smaller court enclosed by walls. It’s a doubles game, which means teams consist of two players each.

What is a Serve in Padel?

In padel, a serve is the shot that starts a rally. The player who is serving hits the ball and sends it to the other side of the court. After the ball bounces once on the opponent’s side of the court, they have to return it back over the net. If they fail to do so, the serving team wins the point.

Rules of the Padel Serve

There are specific rules you need to follow when serving in padel. Here’s a detailed overview and explanation of those rules:

1. Correct Side of the Court

The server must stand on the correct side of the court before serving. In padel, you can either serve from the right or the left side of the court. If you’re serving from the right, you must serve to the opponent on your right-hand side, and if you’re serving from the left, you must serve to the opponent on your left-hand side.

2. Ball Toss

Before serving, you must toss the ball into the air and hit it without allowing it to touch the ground. This rule is similar to tennis. The height of the ball toss is not specific, but it should be high enough to be hit cleanly.

3. Contact with the Ball

The server must hit the ball with the paddle and make contact with it before it bounces on the ground. If the ball bounces before hitting the paddle, it’s considered a fault.

4. Serve into Service Box

The server must serve the ball into the opponent’s service box, which is an area set by the side walls and the service line. If the server misses the service box, it’s considered a fault.

5. Only One Serve

Unlike tennis, you only get one attempt at serving in padel. If your serve is a fault, the opponent gets the point, and they become the serving team.

Conclusion

Knowing the rules of the padel serve is crucial for new players to improve their game. Following these rules will help you serve legally and fairly while keeping the game enjoyable for all players. Remember, the serve is the first shot of the rally, so make sure you practice to perfect it. We hope this complete overview of padel serve rules helps you become a better player.