Return of serve: early preparation and footwork
Key takeaway from our Guru
How can I improve my consistency on the return of serve?
Point your racket head at the server like a flashlight as soon as the ball is hit. Keep your preparation low at knee height and maintain a semi-open stance to avoid stepping across your body.
What this lesson covers
The return of serve requires early racket preparation and light footwork to maintain control after the ball hits the glass. Players often struggle with late preparation and heavy, closed-stance footwork that mimics squash habits. To correct this, the racket head should point toward the server like a flashlight as soon as the ball is hit. This position must be established low, at knee height, before the ball reaches the player.
Footwork should remain in a semi-open stance to facilitate proper body rotation. Stepping across with the lead foot restricts movement and makes rotation difficult. By planting the back leg firmly and keeping the racket below an imaginary barrier, the player avoids the tendency to lift the racket too high. When the ball travels deep toward the back glass, the player must commit to an early decision to either play the ball in front of the glass or move forward to intercept it. Consistent practice of this low flashlight position allows for cleaner ball striking and better placement.
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Original video
Added on Sep 19, 2026
From Scrappy to Solid Returns: 3.0 Level
Description
Struggling to return serve consistently in padel? In this video, Sandy works with a player to rebuild their return, from the starting position and preparation to choosing the right height, speed and direction. Here we work with a club player to make some technical fixes! Location: Padel N9NE, San Diego If you’re new to The Padel School, welcome! We’re Sandy and Tom Farquharson - two brothers and the founders of the TPS platform. Our mission? To give every padel player the best coaching advice possible so you can unlock your full potential on the court. Here’s why we care so much about this… We grew up in tennis, competing from juniors all the way to the pro level. And honestly? It was frustrating. No matter how hard we worked, it was nearly impossible to get the high-quality coaching we needed to reach our full potential. When we discovered padel over a decade ago, we fell in love with the sport instantly. But guess what? The coaching situation was even worse. Getting solid advice in English? Forget it. That’s when we decided enough was enough. As we played on the pro padel circuit and started coaching players across the globe, we realised no player should have to struggle to find clear, actionable guidance – in any sport. Every player deserves access to the knowledge they need to grow, improve, and play the game at their highest level. So we built The Padel School. It’s where we share everything we’ve learned on and off the court. Whether you’re a total beginner or chasing a competitive edge, we’re here to make sure you get the coaching we wish we’d had. To all the padel warriors out there: the road to improvement isn’t easy, but that’s what makes it rewarding. Keep grinding, keep learning, and remember – every point is a new opportunity to get better. See you on the court, Sandy ‼️WHAT'S NEW IN THE PADEL SCHOOL‼️ Padel Training & Match Journal: https://thepadelschool.com/the-padel-players-match-journal?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=longform_091426_return_every_serve EXPLORE OUR OFFERS The Padel School Membership (with FREE Trial): https://community.thepadelschool.com/checkout/player-membership-new?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=longform_091426_return_every_serve Access 75+ Drills for Every Level: TPS Drill Book For Players: https://thepadelschool.com/drill-book?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=longform_091426_return_every_serve Our BOOK - The Padel Player's Guide: https://thepadelschool.com/the-padel-players-guide?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=longform_091426_return_every_serve Get our Mental Toughness Course: https://thepadelschool.com/mental-toughness-course?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=longform_091426_return_every_serve Get the Slinger Machine (Discount Code: TPS10): https://slingerpadel.com/en/?srsltid=AfmBOoqpHJsOqkIwD8nbbIldrG57LRk5hyhjbwpadCVZEW8E61nA6A2J?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=longform_091426_return_every_serve
Good for
Skill level
Beginner, Intermediate, High Intermediate
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