These are questions that often come up among amateur players, even endless controversies that animate the third half, once the game is over: is it “legal” to serve in such and such a way? Indeed, at padel, the service has its rules and it happens that some players deviate from them, not necessarily on a voluntary basis. We are therefore going to look today at some controversial rules of the service and recall some settlement points.

■ How many bounces in the square? It's a question that comes up often: when a mischievous player makes a drop shot on serve to surprise his opponent, some people think that multiple rebounds in the service box are not allowed. It's wrong. The federal regulations say it clearly: “A ball can perfectly bounce twice in the opponent's service box, in which case – and if it is naturally the good opponent's box – the point will be won by the server's pair”.

■ Serve as a foot? We have the right to serve like a foot, but not the right to drag our feet anywhere. To kick off, both feet of the server must be behind the service line and on the “right” side: the server must therefore neither touch nor cross the service line or the center line (and its virtual extension) with one of his feet. Once the ball is tapped, it is allowed to cross these same lines.

■ Overflight allowed.- If a ball is delivered near the center line (on the right side), but the impact is made on the other side of this line, the service is good as long as the player's feet remain on his side (see photo and video below).

This type of service is authorized Capture Instagram

■ Below the belt.- In combat sports, blows below the belt are strictly prohibited. Well at padel, it's quite the opposite, at least in the service: the shot must be made at waist height (or lower). If it's higher, it's a fault.

■ Compulsory rebound.- Some beginners forget to bounce the ball on the ground before serving. They are therefore reminded that the service is done "with a spoon", after rebounding on the ground. The latter must be carried out in the server's half of the field and must be rear the service line: if the ball bounces on this line, it is therefore a fault...

■ No skipped service.- When hitting, the server must have at least one foot on the ground. This means that the player must not walk, run or jump before hitting the ball. This rule is very little respected, including at the highest level: the proof, the world n°1 Juan Lebrón derogates from it with impunity, as we already reported it last summer.

■ Air shot = fault.- If the server completely misses the ball and misses while trying to hit it, the serve is faulty. If this is the case on a second ball, the point goes to the opponents.

■ The reward is great in heaven.- If a serve, respecting the above rules, rises very high in the heavens, bounces in the opponent's square and leaves the field in par 3 (or even in par 4), it is perfectly good. Provided, of course, not to touch the gate on the way. The receiver will have no other choice than to cut the trajectory or, if the exits are authorized, to go very quickly to recover this lobed service out of the field.

■ The “let” ball- The point is replayed if the ball hits the net (or one of the posts), falls into the correct service box, then makes a second bounce before hitting the grid. If this ball hits the grid before the second bounce, it is faulty. If it bounces once in the square and then goes out the door and bounces out of bounds, the ball is a let if outs are allowed but a foul if outs are not allowed.

You understood everything ? So all you have to do is get back to playing!

To deepen the subject with Julien Bondia, here is a technical video on the service:

After 40 years of tennis, Jérôme falls into the pot of padel in 2018. Since then, he thinks about it every morning while shaving… but never shaves pala in hand! Journalist in Alsace, he has no other ambition than to share his passion with you, whether you speak French, Italian, Spanish or English.

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