In short
In padel the server bounces the ball behind the service line, then hits it underhand at or below waist height with at least one foot on the ground. The serve goes diagonally and must bounce in the opponents' service box. You get two attempts, and a serve that clips the net and lands in the box is replayed.
Updated
What makes a padel serve legal?
A legal serve meets five conditions in Rule 6 of the International Padel Federation (FIP) rulebook, in force from January 1, 2026:
- The server starts with their feet behind the service line, between the side wall and the imaginary extension of the center line, and stays there until the ball is struck.
- The server bounces the ball on the floor inside their own service area, behind the service line, before hitting it.
- At contact, the ball is at or below waist height.
- The server has at least one foot touching the ground at contact, and does not touch the service line or the center-line extension with their feet.
- The ball travels diagonally over the net and bounces inside the receiver's service box. Lines count as in.
Any attempt to hit the ball counts as a serve, so a complete miss is a fault rather than a do-over.
Which side do you serve from?
Each game starts with a serve from the right side of your court, into the box diagonally opposite. After every point the server switches sides, alternating right and left for the rest of the game, just as in tennis. In a tiebreak, the first point is served from the right and then each player serves two points in turn.
Serving order is set at the start of each set: each pair decides which partner serves first, and the order cannot change until the next set. If someone serves out of turn, the correct server takes over as soon as the mistake is noticed and the points already played count.
What is a fault on the serve?
Rule 7 lists the faults. A serve is a fault if:
- the server breaks any of the positioning, bounce or height requirements above;
- the server swings and misses;
- the ball bounces outside the receiver's service box;
- the ball hits the server, their partner or anything they are wearing or carrying;
- the ball bounces in the box and then touches the metal fence before bouncing again;
- on a court without out-of-court play, the ball bounces in the box and flies straight out through a door opening.
Two faults in a row lose the point. The fence fault is the one players forget: a serve can land perfectly and still be a fault if its next contact is the mesh rather than the glass or the floor. A serve that bounces in the box and then hits the glass is good and in play.
What happens when the serve hits the net?
A serve that touches the net or the posts and then lands in the correct service box is a "net" and is replayed (Rule 9). It still becomes a fault if, after landing, it touches the metal fence before its second bounce. If the ball clips the net and then hits a player, that is also replayed.
The details matter for counting attempts. If the net or let happens on a first serve, the server still has two serves. If it happens on a second serve, only the second serve is retaken. A let is also called if the server serves before the receiver is ready, but a receiver who tries to return the ball cannot then claim they were not ready.
What are the rules for receiving the serve?
The receiver must let the ball bounce in their service box and return it before it bounces a second time (Rule 8). The receiver may play it after it rebounds off their back or side glass. If the serve hits the receiving player or their racket before bouncing, the server wins the point.
In the first game of each set, the receiving pair decides which partner receives on which side, and that order holds for the whole set. The receiver's partner, and the server's partner, may stand anywhere on their own side of the court.
How should you hit a padel serve?
Treat the serve as a setup shot, not a weapon. LTA Padel's coaches point out that very few padel serves are unreturnable, so instead of chasing aces, use the serve to help you reach the net, where the odds of winning the point are much higher. Their practical advice: land the serve as deep in the box as you can, use the side glass (effective at every level), and vary speed and direction so the receiver cannot settle.
The part most players skip is the move forward. After serving, the server should reach a net position that covers both their own side and the middle. LTA's drill is to place a marker roughly in line with the second post of the side fence and about a racket's length from the center line, then try to reach it before the returner hits their next shot. Our beginner strategy guide explains why holding the net matters so much.
How are tricky serves ruled?
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Serve lands in the box, then hits the back glass | Good serve, ball in play |
| Serve lands in the box, then hits the mesh fence | Fault |
| Serve clips the net, lands in the box | Replayed (a "net") |
| Serve clips the net, lands in the box, then hits the mesh | Fault |
| Ball hit above waist height | Fault |
| Server's foot touches the service line at contact | Fault |
| Serve hits the receiver before bouncing | Point to the server |
| Server misses the ball completely | Fault |
Serving is easier with a racket that forgives off-centre contact; the best padel rackets for beginners list control-first options. To practise, find a court on the padel clubs by city pages.
Padel serve: frequently asked questions
Can you serve overhand in padel?
No. The ball must be bounced and struck at or below waist height, which makes every legal padel serve an underhand or sidearm stroke.
Do you have to bounce the ball before serving?
Yes. Under FIP Rule 6 the server must bounce the ball on the floor inside their own service area, behind the service line, before hitting it.
How many serves do you get in padel?
Two. A first-serve fault is followed by a second serve; two consecutive faults lose the point. Nets and lets are replayed without counting as faults.
Can the serve hit the side wall?
After it has bounced in the correct box, yes: a serve that bounces and then hits the side or back glass is in play. Before bouncing, any wall contact means it did not land in the box, so it is a fault.
Can you jump when serving?
No. At least one foot must be on the ground when you hit the ball.
Who serves first in padel?
A coin toss decides. The winners choose to serve, receive, pick an end, or let the opponents choose first. Each pair then decides which partner serves first in each set.
Sources
- International Padel Federation, Rules of Padel (review in force January 1, 2026), Rules 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Checked October 11, 2026.
- LTA Padel, How to serve in padel, checked October 11, 2026.
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