The serve is one of the most important strokes in a game of padel. Plus, it's the only move you can take at your own pace, and you repeat multiple times during a match. Related to this move, there is another equally important move that can help us take the initiative on the first move of each point: it's the return.

Do not underestimate the return

During training, we work on service more often, because in our mind, only service counts. Service is an important phase of padel, but the return is important too. Indeed, we often tell ourselves that if we have good serve, we have an easy ball behind, which makes it easier to win our serve games. But knowing how to return properly, will help you not to give this kind of point, or even worse, a return in the net.

You need to know three things to be able to make a good comeback, a smart comeback, and take the initiative of the point.

1.     The position. You know it now, every time you hit the padel, you have to know how to position yourself well, to achieve the best possible strike. The return position is more or less the same as in the current game. You still need to get closer to the side window to avoid getting caught, while keeping an eye on the “T” (midfield). Small advice also, do not back down when your opponent is serving.

2.     analysis. To be an excellent turner, you must anticipate the trajectory of the ball and the speed or rebound of it. You will be in better arrangements to make your return, so you will make fewer mistakes, you give less easy balls to the opponent. You will be able to win more matches.

3.     The direction. There is a security zone for each return, at any level. To reach it you will have to aim at the waiter who is going up to the net, in the feet, with margin with respect to the net and the walls, and without necessarily a lot of speed.

To return a little moment on the direction, you have several choices, diagonally, in front of you or a lob. Try to change your return zones from time to time to prevent your opponents from anticipating it. For example, play the security zone at an important point, and then vary with a lob on the server partner, and so on.

The comeback is a very important move for the players of padel, whatever their level. You must not give a free point during this phase of play. Most often, you will have to play on the player who served, and aim for the zone of his feet, without speed and with margin in relation to the net, and to the walls. The fault is prohibited on a return!

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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