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Return of serve

Padel / Popular

Take control of the point from the return and win the net.

What coaches agree on

  • Watch where the ball is going to land on the glass: let it rebound if it's heading for the front half, but step in and take it before the glass if it's heading for the back half.
  • Get your racket back early, before the ball even bounces, with a short, compact takeback rather than a big swing.
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  • Aim your return at your opponent's backhand — it's the hardest shot for most players to attack from.

Common mistakes

  • Leaning or stepping backward away from the ball instead of driving your weight forward into it, leaving you off balance and stuck deep in the corner.
  • Going for a low-percentage shot — a sharp angle, an ambitious lob, a hard-hit winner — under pressure instead of a simple one, and hitting it out.
  • Standing too close to the glass, which leaves no room to swing and forces you to jam or push weakly at the ball.