LThe 2023 season is over and it's time to curl up under a blanket, with a cup of hot chocolate, with a Christmas movie on TV. This year will have been rich, with a lot of new developments: the arrival of women on the Premier Padel, the redemption of World Padel Tour and the many retirements of sports legends: the twins Alayeto, Juan Martin Diaz, Pablo Lima, Eli Amatrian… The list is still long.

The service controversy

This season has also been filled with controversies of all kinds. We don't forget what happened in Chile, the separation of Triay/Salazar which will have caused a lot of ink to be spilled, but above all, the numerous controversies surrounding the service. Federico Chingotto, Alex Ruiz, Franco Stupaczuk... of often controversial cases and arbitral decisions, which push some players no longer claim it.

As a reminder, the service should be done below hip level. If the impact of the racket and the ball is above, it is considered “fault“. But between video arbitration and sometimes too flexible arbitration decisions, this rule sometimes seems to have been abandoned.

A necessary warm-up?

The question that ultimately arises is: should we warm up for service, in the same way as the viboras and bandejas ? After all, the serve represents 10% of the shots played in a match, as the analysis Romain Taupin de Padelonomics. It would seem almost obvious that you need to train on this one as well.

Especially since 10 years ago, a certain Juan-Martin Diaz (world number 1 for 13 years), always took the time to warm up on a few services before the start of a meeting…

So, are the players able to break their routine warm-up to incorporate the service? We'll see next year... But if Juan-Martin Diaz did it, why not the others?

And you, do you warm up on serve before a match?

Gwenaelle Souyri

It was his brother who one day told him to accompany him on a track. padel, since then, Gwenaëlle has never left the court. Except when it comes to going to watch the broadcast of Padel Magazine, World Padel Tour… or Premier Padel…or the French Championships. In short, she is a fan of this sport.