Side-spin serve
A serve brushed across the ball so it moves sideways after the bounce, usually curving away into the side glass.
When to play it
Against receivers who like to set up early. As a wide serve when you want the ball to run into the glass.
How to play it
Hold a continental grip and brush across the back of the ball from inside to outside. Keep the contact at or below the waist. Aim the bounce towards the side wall so the spin carries it into the glass.
Common mistakes
Brushing so much that the ball has no depth. Changing your preparation so the receiver sees the spin coming.
Rules for this shot
Questions
Is the side-spin serve legal in padel?
Legal under Rule 6 when struck at or below the waist. The sideways kick is allowed, but if the spin carries the ball into the metal fence before its second bounce, it is a fault (Rule 7.1e).