Second Serve
Also known as: segundo saque, safety serve
The Second Serve in padel is the backup delivery after a fault — more rotation, less pace and more margin. As a result, it lands in the box while still troubling the receiver.
Because a double fault gives the point away in padel as in tennis, reliability comes first. The natural choice is a high, rotating delivery that bounces up. A controlled slice or kick — rather than a flat drive with the pace taken off. Reducing pace without adding spin produces a "push" that receivers attack confidently. It is also what you hit at Punto de Oro if the game reaches deuce, so its quality lands directly on the most important points. Building a solid one — consistent, rotating, at least moderately awkward to return — is among the most valuable investments a club player can make.
In your next practice session, hit only follow-up deliveries for 15 minutes — commit to the kicked or sliced version on every single ball regardless of where it lands — building the confidence in the motion before worrying about placement.
Develop a distinct body kicker that bounces into the receiver's dominant hip. It is more reliable than a wide slice under pressure, produces more cramped returns, and works reliably against receivers who step in aggressively.
Example
After double-faulting on the previous game, the server commits to a kicked body ball: slower than the first but rotating hard and arriving at an uncomfortable height on the hip.
Why it matters
Double faults in padel are entirely unforced errors. Motion Lab does not track faults or returns, so note on court whether your second serve causes trouble or merely lands in.
How it shows up on video
On video, compare the arc height of the two deliveries: the follow-up should peak higher, which indicates rotation rather than simply less pace. Watch also whether the receiver steps inside the baseline — if so you are being attacked, and more arc rather than more pace is the adjustment.
Common mistakes
- Simply taking pace off the first delivery instead of adding rotation, producing a high but slow, easy ball that receivers drive aggressively.
- Double-faulting under pressure because the follow-up has no consistent routine behind it — only a reduced-pace flat delivery with higher risk at low speed.
- Aiming at the same target as the first delivery, which lets the receiver anticipate and take position before the ball is struck.
- Neglecting it entirely in training, treating it as a fallback rather than a distinct weapon with its own development plan.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not track the ball's arc, pace or spin, or the return. On video, judge how hard your second serves get returned. A ball that draws a return under 50 km/h is doing its job. One that draws a return above 80 km/h lacks either rotation or placement.
Frequently asked questions
Should the follow-up be slower than the first?
Not necessarily slower — but it should have more margin, which usually means more spin rather than less pace. Spin gives you safety without giving the receiver an easy ball.
Related terms
- ServeThe padel serve is an underarm delivery. The ball is bounced once and struck at or below waist height into the diagonal service box — making placement and net advancement far more important than pace.
- Serve PlacementServe Placement in padel is the deliberate targeting of specific zones within the service box. The T, the wide corner, or the body — to create the weakest possible return and set up an easy net volley.
- Golden Ball – Punto de OroThe Golden Ball (Punto de Oro) is a sudden-death deciding point played when a game reaches deuce (40–40). The receiving pair chooses which player will receive the serve.
- Kick ServeA Kick Serve in padel is an underarm serve struck with topspin so that after bouncing in the service box it accelerates and kicks up or to the side. This makes the return more awkward than a flat serve.
- Slice ServeA Slice Serve in padel is an underarm serve hit with sidespin. The ball curves in the air, then skids low and wide off the bounce, drawing the receiver out of position.
Related guides & benchmarks
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