Slice Serve
Also known as: saque cortado, cut serve
A Slice Serve in padel is an underarm serve struck with sidespin so that the ball curves in the air and then skids low and wide off the bounce, drawing the receiver out of position.
The slice serve is the most commonly used spin serve in padel. Brushing the right side of the ball (for a right-handed server) during the underarm motion imparts sidespin, causing the ball to curve away from the receiver or into their body depending on the target. After bouncing, the slice stays low and skids, especially on synthetic turf, making it harder to return cleanly than a flat serve of equal pace. Targets for the slice serve include the wide corner of the service box (pulling the receiver off the court) and the T junction (keeping them guessing between the body and the line).
Example
The server brushes around the outside of the ball and targets the wide corner of the deuce service box — the slice curves away from the receiver, who can only defend weakly from outside the court.
Why it matters
The slice serve is the primary first-serve weapon at intermediate and above. SwingVantage detects the curve trajectory from video to confirm sidespin generation.
Related terms
- ServeThe padel serve is an underarm delivery: the ball must be bounced once and struck at or below waist height into the diagonal service box. Power matters far less than placement and net advancement.
- 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, making the return more awkward than a flat serve.
- Body ServeA Body Serve in padel is a serve directed at the receiver's body — typically at the hip or shoulder on the dominant side — to jam the swing and prevent a clean, aggressive return.
- 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.
- Service BoxThe Service Box is the rectangular area diagonally opposite the server into which the padel serve must land — narrower than in tennis, making placement more demanding and slice/kick serves more effective.
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