Padel Serve Rules: Underarm Serve Explained (UK)

Padel serves are underarm, with a bounce before you strike, diagonally into the service box. No toss, no power ace — and that's deliberate. The serve starts the rally; it doesn't end it.

If you've played tennis, forget the overhead motion. If you're brand new, this is actually the easiest skill to pick up in your first session.

How to serve

Stand behind the service line. Drop or release the ball — no throwing it up. Let it bounce once on the ground. Hit it underarm, racket head at or below waist height. Ball must land in the diagonal service box on the opponent's side.

Receiver must let it bounce once before returning. Return before the bounce is a fault.

Where it must land

Beyond the service line. Inside the sidelines. On the opponent's diagonal half.

After the ground bounce in the box, it can hit the back glass or side cage. Mesh or glass before bouncing in the box is a fault.

Bounces in correct box, then hits glass — legal. Lands in wrong box — fault. Hits cage before box bounce — fault. Foot on or over the service line at contact — foot fault.

Net cord that lands in the box: let (replay) or play on, depending what your group agreed.

Underarm means underarm

Racket head at or below waist level when you strike. A high "underarm" that looks like a softball pitch gets called in competitive play.

Most beginners use a gentle slice or push. Depth into the box matters more than speed.

Faults

Two faults, point to the receiver. Same as tennis.

Common ones at UK clubs: ball bounces twice before you hit it on your own serve motion, serving to the wrong box (easy when you're chatting), foot fault, ball into the net or wide.

Doubles serving order

This trips up almost everyone. In padel doubles, one player serves the entire game — partners don't alternate every point.

Rotation across both teams: Player A (Team 1) serves game 1, Player C (Team 2) serves game 2, Player B (Team 1) serves game 3, Player D (Team 2) serves game 4, then back to A.

Full scoring context in padel scoring explained.

Let serves and UK practicalities

Serve clips the net and lands in the correct box — official rules treat it as a let. Many social groups replay once; some play it live. Decide before the match.

Outdoor courts in wind: bounce the ball lower and strike sooner. Indoor: watch for double bounces on return. Warm up serves before you start scoring — etiquette at UK clubs covers the rest.

Bounce, underarm, diagonal box. Two faults per turn. One player serves the whole game in doubles. Walls are in play only after the serve bounces in the box.

Find a court and put it into practice.