The padel serve, rule by rule

In padel the serve is not a weapon, it is a way to start the point. The rules make sure of that, and they are simple once you have seen them written down.

The four rules that define a legal serve

1. Bounce the ball on the floor once behind the service line before hitting it.
2. Hit it at or below waist height. Contact must be below the waist, and the ball must not be struck out of the air.
3. Keep both feet behind the service line until you have made contact, and do not touch the centre line or the side line.
4. Serve diagonally into the opponent's service box, exactly as in tennis.

Where the ball is allowed to go

The serve must bounce inside the service box. After that bounce it may hit the side or back glass and the serve is still good — this is legal and normal.

What is not allowed: the ball hitting the metal fencing on the receiver's side after the bounce, before the receiver plays it. That is a fault, even though the same contact would be fine during a rally.

Two attempts, and lets

• You get two serves, like tennis. Two faults is a double fault and the point goes to the receivers.
• If the serve clips the net and still lands correctly in the box, it is a let and you serve again.
• If it clips the net and then hits the fencing before bouncing, it is a fault.

Serving order

Serve alternates between the pairs each game, and within a pair the two players alternate their service games. You serve from the right court on even points and from the left on odd ones, and you must keep the same order throughout the set.

Three tips that come free with the rules

1. Serve to the glass. A serve that dies into the corner is far harder to return than a fast one.
2. Move to the net after serving. The serving pair should be at the net within two shots.
3. Vary the height. Even at waist level you can change pace and spin — a slower, higher serve buys you the time to reach the net.

If you are still learning the basics, start with the beginner rules.