Analysis of the parameters of the serve and serve-return in professional padel

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyse serve and return parameters according to the type of point, effectiveness of the point and number of strokes. A total of 422 points corresponding to 8 matches (4 men's and 4 women's) of the Barcelona Master Finals tournament of the World Padel Tour 2022 circuit were analysed by systematic observation. The results show no differences in the efficiency of the serve in men's padel (p=.6) and women's padel (p=.625), with a difference of 24-31.2% and .8-7.4% between winning and losing the point in men and women respectively. In men's padel, point type does not affect serve direction (p=.627), return height (p=.788), return direction (p=.683), player after return (p=.842) and point score (p=.098). It also has no effect in women's padel on serve direction (p=.529), return height (p=.888), return direction (p=.883), player after return (p=.292) and point score (p=.720). The boys show more equality with lob serves (p=.395), parallel serves (p=.774) and server as player after serve (p=.782). Girls with flat serves (p=.642), cross-court serves (p=.730) and server partner as player after serve (p=.072) show more equality. Male players tend to win points with a mean of 8.57±6.247 strokes and lose points with 11.56±7.360 strokes (p=.003), female players tend to win points with 9.88±5.464 strokes and lose points with 12.40±7.561 strokes (p=.005). In conclusion, there are no differences in the variables, but small divergences to be taken into account for service efficiency.