Holding Serve: How to Win More of Your Service Games

So it's almost like just give yourself a little bit of time, 5 seconds to compose yourself when you step up to the line and almost say to yourself, right, first point, I'm going to go for this. I'm going to make the most of it and set myself up well for the rest of the game. Tom, we're here with another episode and we've had a lot of conversations recently with some of our players around, how can they win more service games? Because obviously you serve, then your opponent serves, then your other partner serves, and if you won more of your service game, you stand a much better chance of winning the set. So in this episode, let's discuss a really simple focus for players to win more of their own service game. And I think that's all the way from beginner level, right? The way up to high advanced, even in our international competitions.

Well, everyone wants to win more service games, right? I mean, at any level. So this is a really big episode. And I also think it applies to when you're not only trying to win service games from a perspective of perhaps you've got the momentum and you want to keep it going, but actually when you're on a losing streak and you're starting to, to lose games, how do you stop that streak? So it's a really interesting episode and I've actually got some data that we can start with. Know you love, love a data point, love a stat. So in paddle losing the first point of a service game statistically reduces your chances of holding serve by around 15 to 20%. That's based on match data from professional levels. So for example, if you win that first point, your chances of winning the game can be around 75 to 80%. And if you lose the first point, that drops to around 55 to 60. So obviously we have to take into account this isn't exact, but this is data from professional level matches. But I think the upshot is the win that first point in the service game. How important is that?

Yeah, and, and also like going into a game and going 15 love down, like really, whether you're serving or returning is you almost immediately make yourself the underdog for that game because you're, you're now behind in the score line. And I think it's, it's just such a, an easy thing to lose focus on, isn't it? Like whether it's playing in one of your tournaments and you've just changed ends and you're about to serve and you know that point, that first point can go past in the blink. Of an eye, right. A serve and then a first volley error, and you're suddenly 15 love down. And I think it's so few players, particularly at recreation level, focus on that, that first point. It's almost like they consider the first point of a game just, let's get this game started.

Well, as I was going to say before we talk about almost the serve in the second shot, the third shot of the rally, how important is that serve? How important is it to get that first serve in on that first point? I think, again, like, players don't focus on that enough. But I know from my perspective that whenever I play, and I'm sure people will experience this as well, that are listening, is that if you make that first serve, the returner instinctively is more on the back foot. They're not looking to press, they're just looking to get that ball back. Whereas if you give them a second serve on that first point, suddenly the emphasis is with them, they think they might be able to create something with it. And maybe you end up losing that first point because you're on the back foot.

Well, I think often it's the first point in the game. And so that, that little lack of concentration we just talked about, often your opponents might be having that. Like the returner now, he's just. You've either changed ends or you've changed who serve he's gone back to. To return. You get a good first serve in at that point, and he can easily give you that point, you know, with very little kind of effort from your side. And so I think, you know, really like concentrating first serve of the first point and also playing that, that first point of a game on your serve with percentage. You know, you get that first volley or you might have a bandeja to start or whatever the shot might be after the serve is then like, right. Play a sensible percentage shot and set up the rest of the point like you want to set up the rest of the game. I think, yeah.

And this is obviously looking at it from the server's perspective, but we could also look at it from the returner's perspective. Right. Because in Padel, we've just talked about the statistics there of winning that first point and how as a server, your percentage chance of winning that game, statistically low as well, that's in the returner's favor. Right. So how important is it for the returner to win that first point? I mean, just as important to come out of your returning serve. That first point is key.

Yeah. And if you think about it, like 15 or 20% is a big jump in percentage. If you think, right, I'm going to give myself 15 or 20% better chance of winning my opponent's service game, for example, I mean, that's in the set. That's a game like that is one full game that you end up winning just by focusing on that first point or that first serve, for example. So, you know, this is a really simple thing and it's. It's just a mental. It's a mental thing. It's mental concentration on that first point. And one. One thing that I think a little tip that I find helps with that is almost take a slight amount of time to adjust and to set yourself. Because so often we see it, don't we, where a service game finishes in the time it takes to pass the balls from one server to the other other team serving. They've got into position, you know, one person's at net, one person back, and the server's gone in within seconds. So it's almost like, just give yourself a little bit of time, 5 seconds to compose yourself when you step up to the line and almost say to yourself, right, first point, I'm going to go for this. I'm going to make the most of it and set myself up well for the rest of the game. So many players struggle to get access to good coaching. Or maybe you've got a coach at your club who's good, but they don't have any availability. If you want to access full training roadmaps, the paddle school membership is the best place to start. You can head to the paddleschool.com everything there is included. You can start improving your game straight away. And we'll see you in there.

Can we talk about the servers second shot? So after they serve, they received a return. In a previous episode, when we looked at the Euros recap, we talked about 80% volleys. And if you haven't listened to that episode, essentially we discussed in detail, around 80% volleys are intentional volleys. They're still proactive, they're still assertive volleys, but they're played with a low risk. And therefore you're not trying to necessarily win the point with these volleys, but you're trying to put pressure on with low risk. That's something I think can apply to servers. Right? On that second shot, they come in, they've played a good first serve, the ball comes to them on the volley. They're looking to play an 80% volley, aren't they?

Yeah, definitely. And I think the 80% you said it exactly right. Is almost like 80 means that they are not going all guns blazing at 100% and trying to hit a winner because they're likely to make a mistake or more likely to. And also they're not at 40% where they're just pushing the ball in and just getting it in. Right. It's. It's an intentional volley, but you know, within the boundaries of the court. So there is low risk. And actually the first volley after the serve is a good example of when you would use that and even maybe the second, the third volley, depending on your opponents. But almost taking that approach for the volleys like that, that first volley. And we do this so much like on our tactics courses when we're on court doing clinics and workshops. It's almost like if you said to yourself, right, serve to the glass, first volley, 80% down the middle of the court between the opponents. That is a great start to a point. And if you started off well, you're more likely to win it.

Yeah. And I think part of the reason of this episode as well is for people to understand the flow of a match because let's say it's Lovel and you've just, you're just starting the match. It's so important, isn't it, as the server, you want to get off to a good start and so really zoning in on that first point, or maybe you've just got the break and you want to try and build that momentum again. Don't take your foot off the gas, really focus on that, that first point. And equally, if you're facing a loss of momentum to try and get back on track, focusing on that first point of the game. So it's also, I think for people listening to take almost that, I suppose it's more of a kind of match play, tactical side of approaching how you play the scoreline with this stat.

Well, I think it's a skill set, isn't it? Really being able to really focus on a point is something that comes with practice. And it's important we talk about at the beginning of a game, it's important for a tiebreak. When you get to a tie break, how important is that first point in a tie break? And obviously you're changing serves more often. So, you know, holding your service, your mini break, service point is absolutely key. And so if you can learn to, or train yourself to take your time and to be able to focus and to do the basics really well on a situation like the first point of the game, it also makes it easier to do it at juice 5 all juice in the third set. When it really matters, that's when you also want to be able to do it. So I think getting into the mindset of, right, it's my service game now, this is the first point. I'm going to really focus on a good first serve. And a good first volley, or whatever the next shot might be, is a really good skill set to practice, I think, you know, mentally and physically on the court.

Yeah, this was a concept we wanted to share with all the listeners. It's a bit of a bite sized episode today, but hopefully you find it useful. And also, if you've got a tournament coming up, do share this with your partner so you're both on the same page when you get into that tournament. That first point of the first game, that's the important one.