Au Padel, you have two positions to choose from when your partner is on duty.

Indeed, the simplest way is to do as in a double tennis, each on his side. This is a choice rather used by beginners.

The second choice is said to be “Australian style”. This term comes from tennis when in doubles, the volleyball player is placed in the center of the field to disrupt the opponent's recovery. It's more or less the same at Padel.

Australian style:

This is the most used tactic for serving between intermediate, advanced, and professional players. This allows each player to defend his side, since from a certain level, players specialize in a position (right or left). But it may seem strange when you are new to Padel.

The main advantage is that players are specialized in one position, and at a certain level it is no longer possible to play on both sides. So, of course, it's harder than classic, but you'll gain more points by always staying on the same side than changing all the time. Your landmarks will change systematically, and your eye will not get used to the trajectories.

The major disadvantage of this tactic is that the server must move quickly to the net at the risk of taking a passing along the grid. Indeed, the distance being longer, it is easier for the receiver to put the server in trouble especially if the service is poorly executed.

In classic:

This is the most common tactic among new players, since they are inspired by what they know: tennis. The majority of these players change ends on serve, and must defend both sides (one point right, then left, etc.).

The main advantages:

  1. The server will have a shorter path to travel to the net, so the passing that the receiver could try will be more complicated.
  2. The fact that opponents are not used to opponents playing this way.

The main disadvantage will be that players who play with the classic service will have to have a very good level of play on both positions, which is very difficult.

What tactics to adopt?

If your level is rather beginner, we advise you to begin by serving with the classic tactics. Although you're not used to playing on both sides, it's a good exercise to get to know each side of the game. So you can decide which side you are comfortable on.

If you already have an "intermediate" level, the most logical thing would be to use the Australian tactic. If both players have the ability to play on both sides of the court, you will be able to use the classic in some occasions.

Professional players who don't use the Australian's tactics:

Serving with Australian tactics is more prevalent among professionals, although some pairs do use it in some games to break the habits of the raisers.

For example, when Sanyo Gutiérrez and Paquito Navarro played together, they used to occasionally use the classic mode service. Cristian Gutiérrez and Matias Diaz also used it in the past, always with the aim of disturbing the opponents.

But these are the only notable examples in the best pairs of the world, from a certain level, it is no longer possible to have the same level on each side. This is why the players specialize on one side, and opt for the service to the Australian.

Alexis Dutour

Alexis Dutour is passionate about padel. With his training in communication and marketing, he puts his skills at the service of padel to offer us articles that are always very interesting.

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