The Padel Serve: The Rules Every Bangkok Player Should Know

The serve in one minute

Quick take. Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball, hit it at or below waist height, and send it diagonally into the opposite service box. You get two serves. A serve that bounces in and then hits the glass is good; one that bounces in and then hits the metal fence is a fault.

The serve starts every point, yet it causes more friendly arguments in Bangkok club games than any other shot. Here are the official rules from the International Padel Federation (FIP), in plain words.

Where to stand

• Stand with at least one foot behind the service line, between the centre line and the side wall of your box.
• Don't touch the service line or the imaginary centre line with your feet until you have hit the ball.

How to hit it

1. Bounce first. Drop the ball and let it bounce once on the ground behind the service line.
2. Waist height or lower. The ball must be at or below your waist when you hit it.
3. One foot down. At least one foot must be touching the ground. No jump serves.
4. Diagonal. The ball goes over the net into the box diagonally opposite. The first serve of each game goes to the receiver's left box, then the boxes alternate.
5. Two tries. If the first serve is a fault, you have a second one.

Faults to watch for

• The ball lands outside the receiver's box. Lines count as in.
• The serve bounces in the box and then touches the metal fence before its second bounce.
• You miss the ball completely when trying to hit it.
• The serve hits you or your partner.

Lets: serve again

A serve that touches the net and still lands in the correct box is a let, as long as it does not then hit the fence. You repeat that serve. If the receiver wasn't ready, the serve is also repeated.

For the receiver

You must let the serve bounce, then return it before it bounces a second time. If the serve hits you before it bounces, the point goes to the server.

Make your serve count

A good serve in padel is about placement, not power. Aim deep, towards the receiver's backhand or into the glass, and follow it to the net. For more on the shot that comes next, read our guide to playing off the back glass, and new players can start with our beginners' guide.

Settle your next serve argument with the community: join the Bangkok Padel Community on Facebook.

Sources

• Rules of Padel, rules 6 to 9 (International Padel Federation)