Getting the Upperhand with the Underhand Serve in Padel
What is an underhand serve in padel?
Underhand serves to employ a different serving motion than typical overhead serves, with the contact point and follow-through moving below the shoulder. Did you know that this sort of service is the least regularly employed serve method in tennis matches? Let’s talk more about the underhand serve
In padel the service is underhand. You might be familiar with this serve because it’s typically used to train youngsters, or by tennis players with injuries to their shoulders, backs, or throwing arms that can no longer complete their usual serving action.
Why are underhand serves controversial in tennis?
Underhand serves fall short on the padel court, eking over the net like a drop shot, forcing the ball to bounce twice before the returner has a chance to reach it. While this appears like an economical technique, others perceive it as an “unsportsmanlike” shot.
Professional tennis players in support of the maneuver say that it is a completely legitimate technique if the returning player is positioned well behind the baseline during a serve.
But in padel, it’s a different story because the serve must be underhand.
How to hit an underhand serve
Although underhand serves are less forceful than the flat serve, they might be beneficial if you have a shoulder or back injury and cannot complete the regular serving motion. If you are wanting to freshen up your first serve or second serve skills and learn how to perform an underhand serve (with a few double faults as possible), check out the instructions below:
Keep the ball throw low. Unlike an overhand serve or slice serve, an underhand serve does not involve a high ball throw. Keep the ball at waist level and let it descend onto the racket face.
Leave your racket face open. An open face with a continental grip is crucial for the underhand serve, as it provides just enough height to clear the net and settle in the opposite service box (ideally a few feet before the service line), without the spectacular motion of a conventional serve.
Execute a proper swing. If you are a right-handed player, you’ll swing the racket from right to left, and vice versa, if you play with your left hand. The goal is not to add topspin like you’re feeding a ball but whip the racket under the ball to produce enough side or backspin. This move maintains the ball low to the ground, while also bouncing away from the opposing player.
