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Padel Serve, Visualised

See the padel serve rule: bounce the ball once behind the line, then strike it at or below waist height.

Step-by-step · SVG · accessible
Padel serveA side view of a padel serve, showing that the ball must be bounced once behind the service line and struck at or below waist height.Waist heightThe server stands behind the service line
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Behind the line

The server stands behind the service line, on the correct side.

Examples

  • A server drops the ball, lets it bounce, and taps it underarm across the net.
  • A serve struck above the waist is a fault.

Common mistakes

  • Serving without letting the ball bounce first.
  • Striking the ball above waist height.

How the rule has evolved

  • Padel’s underarm, bounce-first serve is a defining feature that keeps the enclosed-court game controlled.

Official references

Verified sources pending

This visualiser explains the rule in general, educational terms. Links to the governing body’s official rulebook are added only once verified through the knowledge pipeline — we don’t cite sources we haven’t confirmed. For the definitive wording, always consult the official rules for your competition.