Flat serve
The basic underarm serve: bounced behind the service line, hit at or below the waist with a little forward swing, into the diagonal box. Placement and consistency matter far more than pace.
When to play it
Every point starts with one: aim for consistency first, then for a target. Into the side glass to pull the receiver wide, or at their body to cramp the return. To the backhand of a receiver who struggles there.
How to play it
Stand side on behind the line, bounce the ball a little in front of you. Swing low to high with a relaxed wrist; most players add a touch of slice for control. Follow the serve forward to the net with your partner.
Common mistakes
Hitting hard and flat into the net: two faults lose the point. Serving and staying back, which hands the net to the receivers. Letting the ball rise above the waist before contact.
Rules for this shot
Questions
Is the saque legal in padel?
Legal when you bounce the ball behind the service line inside your own half, strike it at or below the waist with a foot on the ground (Rule 6.1 to 6.4), and it bounces in the diagonal box without touching the fence before its second bounce (Rule 7.1).