Service at padel : How to train?

From the club Padel San Miguel de Tenerife, Julien Bondia dissects the service at padel. Simple at first glance, it can get complicated quickly if you are looking to add effects or precision. Let's take it apart and move on.

Let's learn or deepen the service. How to realize it? What exercises to perform?

Clubs, players and teachers of padel, use these 2 videos to help you improve the forehand serve.

The service of forehand in a few lines:

The service can be characterized by a throw in. The goal is to send the ball in the service box so that the point is launched and especially by avoiding a double fault.

The more we play, the more we realize that realizing our game of service gives us a great advantage to win the game. Since this is a blow that will give us the advantage at the net on our opponents, why not "drive the nail" and make this service is the most difficult to recover?

The advice for the realization of the service will be first of all to spend a maximum of first balls. The opponents generally return less well a first ball than a second. Then think of having the maximum contact with the ground at the time of the strike. The regulation allows to have a foot suspended at the time of the strike, but to start and especially to gain insurance, it is better to have both feet on the ground. Finally, think of first hitting the ball and then getting on the net. Many players make the mistake of wanting to go too fast to the net and either make the mistake or allow an easy return.

The service will be used in a slow, fast, tense or curved, no effect, with cut or brushed effect, in the center, on the side window or on the body. Once you have mastery of the service, you can vary and adapt your game to your opponents so that you are always in control when you serve.

Note: The first two points of each game must be played with a first ball as well as the break balls. Be careful not to take too much risk on these shots while a simple service but first ball may be more effective.

Technically:

- Must hit below the belt, one foot on the ground minimum and behind the line. The ball may be struck in front of or behind the line.
- For a flat service, no effect, the preparation will be low, the racket barely exceeding the belt. The shot will be made in front of us, slightly above the knee. We will finish the gesture towards the desired area.
- For a cut service, the preparation will be high, the intention being to take advantage of the weight of the gravity to print an additional effect. The ball will hit as high as possible (in the regulation zone), slightly on the side of the body, arm outstretched. We will look for areas like the center of the field or the player's body.
- For a brushed service, we will have the same preparation with the service cut, but instead of hitting the ball on the side, we will hit it in front of us, by passing the racket in front of our knees. The printed effect will give an outgoing trajectory to the ball. For right-handers, this service will be effective in the diagonal from left to right in the direction of the window or diagonally from right to left towards the center. Conversely for left-handed people.

Do not hesitate to ask questions

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.