The Bandeja Magazine Issue 2

feature: the serve
Sc ence
of the serve
Game4padel, in partnership with PadelMBA, digs into the
science behind the serve – one of the most important shots
in a the game. PadelMBA’s Nino Sanchez reports.
A
good padel serve allows
the server to reach the
offensive position at the net
before their opponents, starting
the point in a powerful and
dominant situation.
This is especially important given
that research has shown that
points scored at the net account
for about 80% of the total and
winners get 34% more points than
losers in this offensive zone.
Serves account for about 10% of all
strokes in a match and, bearing in
mind the short duration of some
points (10-15 seconds) and the
number of hits per point (between
8-10), this first shot can be really
decisive in setting up the point.
But players have to be quick to
capitalise on the advantage
gained from serving. A study
found that with each hit in the
point the advantage lessens. For
men this is after 12 hits and for
women after seven. Comparing
genders revealed that men earn
more points in a service situation
than women.
The percentage of points won by
the serving partner also decreases
as the match progresses, being
significantly lower in the third set,
probably due to the server tiring
because they are the player who
travels the most distance per point
(in professional padel at least).
Traditional v Australian
There are two types of tactical
positions for serving - traditional
and Australian.
Traditional
the server’s partner
is on the opposite side of the court,
at the net. For tennis players this
a natural positioning.
Australian
the server’s partner stands on the
same side as his partner.
Both positions have tactical
implications, with their main
objective being to occupy and
maintain the side on which each
player is a specialist.
Unsure of which tactic to deploy?
A study concluded that players
win a higher percentage of service
points when they use the traditional
rather than the Australian position,
especially in the third set.
The study also showed that the
Australian strategy forces the
server to travel further and at a
higher speed towards the net and
that, at the moment of return, the
player is further from the net than if
using the traditional tactic (Image
1). So not only is there the chance
that the server in this situation will
tire more quickly, they may also
not be in the best position when
intercepting the return of serve.
So traditional is better? Not
necessarily. Playing ‘Australian’
allows each player to stick to
the side they play best on, with
obvious advantages. It is therefore
necessary that, at a tactical level,
players consider the variables
in order to serve with better
guarantees and maintain initiative
in the game.
Direction, speed & depth
More than 60% of serves are
directed towards the glass, forcing
more errors from receivers due
54 thebandeja.com