6 Tips to Stop Double Faults Ruining Your Padel Serve

Double faults in padel are rarer than in tennis, but they sting just as hard. Even Ale Galan, one of the best players on the Premier Padel circuit, dropped a critical double fault during the P2 Brussels semifinal. If it happens at that level, it can happen to anyone.

The first fix is grip pressure. Most double faults come from tension, not technique. Squeeze too hard and your wrist locks up, killing the fluid motion you need for a consistent toss and swing. Think 4 out of 10 on the pressure scale.

Second, slow your toss down. A rushed toss is the root cause of most shanked second serves. Place the ball, don't throw it. Your contact point should be slightly in front of your body, around shoulder height, giving you full control of the angle into the service box. Third, use more spin on the second serve. A flat second serve in padel is a gamble. A brushed slice or topspin serve drops faster, lands shorter, and gives you a bigger margin over the net. Aim for 20 to 30 cm of clearance on the second ball.

Fourth, have a ritual. Federer bounced the ball five times. Find your own reset. It breaks the mental loop after a first fault and refocuses your attention on process, not outcome. Fifth, practice your second serve in isolation, not just as part of full points. Ten minutes of pure second-serve drilling per session builds the muscle memory you need under pressure. Sixth, accept a lower target zone. Aim deeper in the box on practice, so that in matches your natural margin keeps you away from the net tape.

Double faults are a mental and technical problem combined. Fix the grip, slow the toss, add spin, and build a routine. Not glamorous. But it works.