The Padel Serve Rules: Everything you need to know about how to serve in padel

Do you know the padel serve rules? You will by the end of this short article!

Whether you’re learning how to serve in padel for the first time or are simply a fan, understanding the padel rules is crucial – and the service rules are the most important of all.

Even though these rules are loosely based on tennis and squash – with which you may already be familiar – there are some differences.

Let’s discuss what they are.

The serving rules for padel are quite comprehensive. However, the key padel serve rules to remember are:

• to stay behind the service line
• bounce the ball within the service box to waist height before hitting it
• keep at least one foot on the ground
• serve diagonally to the opposite box

This article will break down all aspects of the rules for padel regarding service and service faults.

We’re confident that it’s so complete and comprehensive that by the time you reach the end, there will be nothing about padel serve rules that you will not understand. 

Ready? Let’s dive in!

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Padel Serving Rules

The serving rules are one of the first things you’ll learn when you’re getting your head around how to play padel.

And, while you might forget one or two from time to time, knowing them well will help keep games flowing.

It can also help avoid any lengthy debates on the court!

As with any other professional racket sport, such as tennis, the governing body (or federation) determines and outlines the rules for the sport of padel and its players.

In the case of padel, these rules are determined by the International Padel Federation (also known as the FIP).

Even though it can seem like a lot to take in at first, we promise it will become second nature once you’ve spent some time on the padel court!

We will first discuss in point form all the aspects of the padel serve rules and then take a look at what constitutes service faults.

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How To Serve In Padel

• At the beginning of a service, the player who is serving must stand with both feet behind their service line, between the center line and the back wall.

• The serving player must remain in this area until the end of the serve.

• While serving, the player may not touch the service line or the center line.

• The player may use a static or dynamic action to perform the service. This means the server may stand in one position with both feet on the ground, or the player may “walk” and step forward while hitting the ball as long as one foot is always in contact with the ground.

• To carry out the service, the player must bounce the ball on the ground within their designated service area.

• The ball must be at the waist height or below when the padel racket comes into contact with it. Therefore, you will use an underhand serve in padel.

• The ball should travel over the net diagonally toward the receiving player.

• The ball has to bounce within the bounds of the opposite service area.

• Initially, service will commence from the right side of the court and will switch to the other side when a point is won, and service has to take place again.

• It will be considered in service whenever there is an intentional attempt to hit the ball or when contact with the ball is made.

• Before each set commences, the players (or teams) will decide based on a draw which team will get to serve first. Once this has been confirmed, it may not be changed until the following set begins.

• In a case where a player serves when it was not their turn to serve, the player that should have served will do so as soon as the issue is raised. Any points won before and during this error will still be valid, and no fault will be considered. 

• The player who is serving will not do so until the player receiving the service is ready. However, don’t think you can be sneaky here! The padel serve rules state that the player who is receiving the service will adapt to the server within reason and be prepared to receive when the player who is serving is ready.

• The receiving player will not be allowed to allege a “not ready” call if they have in any way attempted to return the serve. 

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Padel Serving Rules: Faults

It will be considered a fault if any of the rules mentioned above (with the exceptions stated) are not considered or infringed upon while serving.

In addition to this, there will also be a service fault in the following scenarios:

• If a service has unintentionally been made from the wrong side, the error should be corrected as soon as it has come to light. In this case, all points are still valid, but a fault on the next service will be taken into account.

• It will be a fault if the person who is serving does not actually hit the ball while serving.

• If the ball bounces outside the opponent’s service box, it will be considered a fault. However, a ball that bounces on the service lines is considered to be a legal or valid service.

• It will be a fault if the padel ball touches either member of the serving team or their clothing.

• It will be considered a fault if the ball touches the wire mesh fence around the court before its second bounce, with the ball first bouncing in the receiver’s service box.

• Lastly, it will be considered a fault if the ball bounces in the receiver’s box and subsequently bounces out of the court through its gates. 

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How to get your head around the padel serving rules

As you can see, the game of padel is very similar to tennis when it comes to serving.

That means that if you have played tennis before, picking up and understanding the padel serve rules should not be a problem for you. 

That said, you don’t want to get too complacent. The padel serves rules aren’t exactly the same as tennis, so make sure you’re aware of the differences!

If you find that the rules are too much to digest, then just simply try to remember to stay behind the line when you serve and bounce the ball to waist height before hitting it. 

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FAQs

Still got questions about the padel serve rules?

Here are some of the most common points of confusion among new padel players:

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Do You Get A Second Serve In Padel?

According to the official padel serve rules, if the first service is not valid in any way, then a second service is allowed. 

If you commit a fault the second time, then you simply lose the point.

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Can a Padel Serve Bounce Twice?

In no instances may the ball bounce twice off the ground during a padel match. 

This applies to service as well.

In instances of play where the ball hits the ground and proceeds to bounce off the glass wall, it will have to be hit before it touches the ground again. 

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Can You Serve Overhand In Padel Tennis?

You are not allowed to perform an overhand serve in padel.

Due to the rules stating that the ball must be at the height of the player’s waist level at the moment of hitting, padel always uses an underhand serve. 

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How Do You Decide Who Serves First In Padel?

The decision of who will serve first in the initial game is usually decided by a draw.

The team or player that wins the draw will be able to choose whether they would like to play the first serve or which side they would like to start on. 

Thus the options for the player or team that wins the draw are;

• Choosing whether to serve or first play as the receiving team. In this case, the opposing team usually choose the side of the court they wish to play on first
• Choosing the side of the court, in which case the other player or team will then have to serve first
• The winning team or player may also opt to let the opposing team choose first

Of course, in casual play, you may just come to a mutual agreement about who the first pair to serve will be.

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Can You Hit The Wall First In Padel?

One of the basic rules of padel is that the ball, in all circumstances, must always first bounce on the playing field before it is allowed to hit the wall.

It will be considered a fault if the ball hits the fence or wall before it bounces on the court.