Padel Tennis: Technique and Serve

You now know the basics and have chosen your perfect OLIVER racket. The next big step is the serve. In this guide, we explain how to execute a padel serve legally, effectively, and dynamically so you can set the tone from the very first second and dominate the net.

What Is Different About the Padel Serve?

The biggest difference compared to tennis is the requirement to strike the ball below waist height. This is not a restriction meant to make things difficult, but a strategic measure that prioritizes control and precision over raw power.

What Are the Rules?

The walls are both a blessing and a curse during the serve. You must know the rules inside out to avoid committing errors and to bring the ball tactically off the glass.

• The Mandatory Bounce: The ball must always bounce on the ground first inside the opponent's service box.
• The Mesh Fence Prohibition: After the bounce, the ball may touch the glass, but never the mesh fence. The rules clearly state that the ball must not strike the metal fence wall (even if it touched the glass first).

How Do You Execute the Serve Optimally?

• The Drop: Drop the ball loosely onto the ground in front of your body. Do not toss it up.
• The Impact Point: Strike the ball as close as possible to the maximum allowed waist height. Striking it lower near knee height creates a steeper flight path (parabola) that is easier to return. A high yet legal impact point generates a flatter trajectory, giving your opponent less time to react.
• Positioning: When striking the ball, you must stand behind the service line and between the center line and the side wall. Make sure not to step over the service line before contact is made.

Technique: The Slice and the Net Rush

• The Slice: The key to a dangerous padel serve lies in the slice. It forces the ball to travel low over the net and stay flat after bouncing—literally "dying" on the court surface.
• How Is It Generated? The face of your OLIVER racket should brush the ball slightly from top-back to bottom-front. The follow-through then extends toward the net.
• Weight Transfer: Use your body weight! Strike the ball while transferring your weight from your back foot to your front foot. This creates controlled pace and serves as the launchpad for your rush to the net.
• The Net Rush: After serving, charge IMMEDIATELY to the net with your partner. Don't hesitate! Your goal is to secure the position where most points are won—with the volley!

Are There Tactical Hacks for the Serve?

The primary goal of the serve is to conquer the net position. The serve is your invitation to attack!

Placement Targets:

• Target 1: The T-Line (Center): Serving down the middle is the safest option. Place the ball flat and short toward the T-line. This minimizes the angle for your opponent to play a passing shot.
• Target 2: The Side Wall (Back Wall Glass): Play the ball with slice so that, after bouncing in the opponent's court, it hits the back glass wall low and deep. This serve is the hardest to return, leaving the opponent with minimal time and forcing a defensive lob.

Naturally, this serve works best with rackets from OLIVER!