Serve and volley tactics: net positioning
Key takeaway from our Guru
Why should I serve and volley in padel?
You must serve and volley to secure the net position and prevent your partner from being pulled out of position. If you stay back, you create a gap in the middle and force your partner to retreat, effectively handing the net to your opponents.
What this lesson covers
The primary objective in padel is to secure the net position. Serving and moving forward to the net forces opponents to stay at the back of the court. Remaining at the back after a serve allows opponents to take the net, leaving both partners in a defensive position. A gap in the middle of the court emerges when the server stays back, forcing the partner to retreat and defend.
Common errors include failing to move all the way up to the net position after the serve, which leaves the server vulnerable to balls at their feet. Poor serve accuracy also creates difficult first volleys. If an opponent does not serve and volley, the returner should hit the ball to the server at the back of the court. This allows the returner and their partner to move forward and take the net position themselves.
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Original video
Added on Sep 19, 2026
Good for
Skill level
Court position
Net
Play style
Offensive
Secondary shot
Return
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