According to French Tennis Federation, the padel serve is subject to precise rules concerning its height and execution. These rules aim to guarantee fairness between players while preserving the tactical spirit of the game.

  • FFT Official Rule : When running the service:
  1. The ball must be hit “with a spoon” (upward movement with the racket).
  2. The impact between the racket and the ball must be made at or below waist height.
  • Why this rule? Unlike other racket sports such as tennis, where the serve can be hit over the shoulder, padel values ​​prolonged rallies and tactical play. By imposing a “spoon” serve and a limited height, the rule reduces the advantage of the servers and favors balanced rallies from the beginning of the point.
  • Sanction in case of non-compliance : If the ball is hit above the belt or if the serve is not made “underarm”, it is considered as faultIn competition, this foul is signaled by the referee or, in amateur matches, contested by the opponents.

The FFT clarifies the situation

The FFT regulation clarifies the requirements regarding the service by specifying that it must be carried out “spoon-shaped”, at or below waist height. This rule, which refers to the belt rather than at the hip, makes the regulation more intuitive and accessible. As a tactical and strategic sport, padel favors controlled and regulated gestures to guarantee fairness and fun of the game.

The official rules of padel, in particular according to the International Federation of Padel (FIP), imposes precise rules concerning the height of the strike when serving. These rules guarantee fairness between players and ensure that the serve remains a technical gesture rather than an overly marked advantage.

Hitting Height and Server Position

When hitting the ball:

  • The ball must be at or below waist height.
  • The server must have at least one foot in contact with the ground at the time of impact.

La belt, in this context, is defined as the size , that is, the natural line that separates the upper body (trunk) from the lower part (hips and legs). This anatomical landmark is stable and universal, allowing for consistent application of the rules.

Leg flexion and kick height

When a player bends his legs during the serve, the height of the belt naturally lowers. The ball must then be hit below or at the new belt height as it is at that precise moment. This flexion can be used to adjust the height of the serve while respecting the rules.

Why these rules?

The aim is to prevent the server from taking advantage of excessive height to hit the ball, as is allowed in some other sports such as tennis. By imposing a waist height limit and a stable position (at least one foot on the ground), the rule encourages a more tactical and balanced game from the start of the point.

Consequences of non-compliance

  • If the ball is hit above the belt, the serve is considered as fault.
  • If the server does not keep at least one foot in contact with the ground at the moment of impact, this also constitutes a violation of service rules.

In summary, the rule imposes a strike at or below waist height, with mandatory ground contact of at least one foot to maintain balance and respect for the service height. These rules ensure a fair game and emphasize precision and strategy rather than raw power.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

On the same subject

Tags