Pickleball doubles is a dynamic and engaging sport, favored for its strategic depth and social interaction. If you’re stepping onto the court for the first time or transitioning from singles, understanding the Pickleball Serving Rules Doubles is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable game. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about serving in doubles pickleball, ensuring you’re well-equipped to play with confidence.
Doubles pickleball distinguishes itself from singles with its emphasis on teamwork, positioning, and calculated shots. The social atmosphere combined with the strategic elements makes it the most popular format of pickleball. Perhaps you’re curious about how doubles pickleball rules differ from singles, or maybe you’re puzzled by the ‘double bounce rule’. We’re here to clarify these points and more, providing a comprehensive resource for beginners and those looking to refine their doubles game.
Understanding the Basics of Pickleball Doubles Serve Rules
If you’re already familiar with singles pickleball, you’ll find the doubles rules to be largely consistent, especially concerning the serve. For newcomers to the sport, learning the fundamental pickleball rules is straightforward and quick. Let’s delve into the specifics of serving in doubles.
Initial Serve and Determining Serving Team
Every doubles pickleball game commences with a serve, initiating each point. The serve’s primary function is to put the ball into play. To decide which team serves first, a simple coin toss or a game of rock-paper-scissors is commonly used. Interestingly, some believe that the northwest-facing court traditionally serves first, nodding to pickleball’s origins in the Pacific Northwest.
Here are the key pickleball serve rules you need to know, specifically for the volley serve, which is the most frequently used:
- Serving Motion: The serve must be executed with an underhand motion, either forehand or backhand. Your serving arm should move in an upward arc, and the paddle face should be angled upwards during the serve.
- Contact Point: The point of contact between the paddle and the pickleball must be below your waistline, specifically at or below navel level.
- Paddle Position: At the moment of contact, the paddle head must be below the highest part of your wrist.
- Diagonal Service: Your serve must land within the service box diagonally opposite your position on the court. Similar to tennis, you are serving diagonally across the net, not directly across.
- Foot Placement: Throughout the serve, at least one foot must remain in contact with the ground behind the baseline. Your feet must also be within the imaginary extensions of the sideline and centerline of your service area.
- One Serve Attempt: In pickleball, you are allowed only one serve attempt per server. If your team scores a point, you continue serving. However, if you commit a fault or the opposing team wins the rally, your team loses the serve.
Consider taking pickleball lessons to solidify these rules and improve your serve technique.
Take a beginner lesson to learn proper serving techniques and other pickleball basics.
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Drop Serve Variation
The drop serve is an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional volley serve. In a drop serve, the server drops the ball and allows it to bounce before striking it. Here are the additional guidelines for executing a pickleball drop serve:
- The ball can be dropped from either hand or rolled off the paddle face.
- The bounce can occur anywhere on the court, provided the server’s feet are behind the baseline.
- The ball cannot be thrown downwards with force or tossed into the air before bouncing.
Learn more about pickleball serving rules & beginner tips
Pickleball Doubles Scoring System Explained
Understanding the pickleball doubles scoring system is essential. Scores are announced using three numbers (e.g., 0-2-1 or 6-3-2):
- First Number: Represents the serving team’s score.
- Second Number: Indicates the receiving team’s score.
- Third Number: Is the server number, either 1 or 2, relevant in doubles.
Only the serving team can accumulate points. If the serving team loses a rally, it results in a ‘side out’, and they lose the serve. At the start of each game, the player positioned on the right-hand side (even side) of the court serves first, aiming diagonally across. Before serving, the score must be announced, beginning with 0-0-2.
If the serving team scores a point, the same server moves to the left side (odd side) and serves again, diagonally opposite. Serving team players continue to switch sides after each point scored, maintaining the serve until they commit a fault and lose the serve. Receiving team players do not change positions.
Typically, when the first server of a team faults, their partner then serves. However, the initial serve of the game is an exception: only the second server of the starting team gets to serve. This is why the starting score is announced as ‘0-0-2’, designed to lessen the initial advantage of serving first.
Volleys in Doubles Pickleball
In pickleball, a ‘volley’ means hitting the ball in the air before it bounces. Volleys are crucial for aggressive play, allowing you to hit sharp shots at your opponent’s feet or softer ‘drop shots’ when they are positioned further back. Volleying often occurs near the non-volley zone (the ‘kitchen’). Pickleball doubles rules stipulate that when volleying, both feet must be behind the non-volley zone line. Momentum after hitting a volley cannot carry you into the non-volley zone.
Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Entry Rules
You are permitted to be in the non-volley zone at any time. However, volleying the ball is prohibited if any part of your body is within the zone, including touching the kitchen line. If the ball bounces within the non-volley zone, you are allowed to enter the zone to hit it. For example, you might step into the kitchen to hit a ‘dink’, a strategic soft shot landing in your opponent’s non-volley zone.
Learn more about dinking in pickleball
The Double Bounce Rule in Pickleball
The Double Bounce Rule is a fundamental aspect of pickleball. It dictates that after the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it, and similarly, the serving team must let the return bounce once before their first shot. This means the ball must bounce once on each side of the net before volleying can commence.
Once the double bounce rule is satisfied after the initial serve and return, players can then choose to volley the ball or hit it after a bounce.
Line Calls and Faults in Doubles
Understanding line calls and faults is vital for fair play. A pickleball shot is considered ‘in’ if it lands on any part of the court, including the lines, except for serves, which must clear the kitchen line entirely. USA Pickleball guidelines emphasize that a shot should only be called ‘out’ if there is a clear gap between the ball and the line.
In games without officials, players are responsible for line calls on their side of the court. In doubles, either teammate can make these calls. Sportsmanship is key in pickleball, and players are encouraged to trust their opponents’ calls and maintain a friendly atmosphere.
Faults in pickleball are rule violations that halt play. A fault by the receiving team awards a point to the serving team, while a fault by the serving team results in a side out, losing the serve.
Common faults in doubles pickleball include:
- Serve failing to clear the non-volley zone (including the line).
- Hitting a shot out of bounds (beyond baselines or sidelines).
- Hitting the ball into the net.
Less common faults include:
- The ball hitting a player (the player hit is faulted).
- Double bounce (ball bouncing twice before being hit).
- Serving faults (foot faults, violating serve rules).
In doubles, both players can call faults. For non-officiated games, disagreements on non-volley zone and service foot faults should be resolved by replaying the point. For other fault disputes, players can mention it to opponents, but the final decision rests with the player who allegedly committed the fault, according to USA Pickleball rules.
Essential Pickleball Equipment for Doubles
Starting doubles pickleball requires minimal equipment. You don’t need extra gear compared to singles. Each player needs a pickleball paddle. You’ll also need pickleball balls and a portable pickleball net if your court lacks a permanent net.
Pickleball Court Dimensions for Doubles
The court size remains the same for both singles and doubles. A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long (6.10m x 13.41m). Including out-of-bounds areas, the minimum play area is 30 x 60 feet (6.10m x 18.29m). A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, and a tennis court can accommodate four pickleball courts.
Learn about the dimensions of a pickleball court
Starting Court Positions in Doubles
Typical starting positions for doubles pickleball are:
The non-volley zone line is the prime scoring position, so advancing to this line is a key strategy. In doubles, the receiving team’s non-receiver begins at the non-volley zone line, partly due to the Double Bounce Rule. The serving team’s non-server starts at the baseline to comply with the Double Bounce Rule, ensuring they allow the return serve to bounce.
USA Pickleball rules have no restrictions on player positioning in doubles, as long as players are on their respective sides of the net. The server must serve from the correct service court, and the correct receiver must receive. Strategic teams adjust positions based on strengths and weaknesses, sometimes using advanced tactics like ‘stacking’.
5 Key Strategies for Pickleball Doubles Play
Coordinate Movement with Your Partner
Consistent spacing with your partner is essential to avoid gaps in defense. Moving in sync prevents opponents from exploiting open areas.
Advance to the Kitchen Line Post Return-of-Serve
A fundamental strategy is to move towards the non-volley zone line as soon as possible. Having both players at the kitchen line puts your team in an offensive position.
Maintain Communication
Use clear communication like “mine,” “yours,” and “no” to coordinate shots with your partner. Effective communication is vital in doubles to avoid confusion and missed shots.
Defensive Backcourt Positioning
While the kitchen line is ideal for offense, the backcourt is better for defense. Playing deeper gives you more reaction time and space to let the ball bounce, allowing for more controlled returns and opportunities to regain kitchen line position.
Aim Shots Between Opponents
Targeting the space between opponents is a classic tactic. Hesitation and potential miscommunication can lead to weak returns or openings on the court edges for your next shot.
Placement Over Power in Pickleball Doubles
Pickleball emphasizes finesse and strategy over brute force. While power shots can be effective at lower levels, advanced play focuses on precision and placement. Targeting weaknesses and setting up shots from the non-volley zone are key. The ‘third shot drop’ is a prime example—a precise shot into the opponent’s kitchen to neutralize the receiving team’s initial non-volley zone advantage.
Doubles vs. Singles Pickleball: Key Differences
Comparing doubles and singles reveals distinct nuances.
Rule Variations
Rules are largely similar, with the main difference in serving. In doubles, each player has a server number (1 or 2). Server #2 starts the game. Service alternates between partners until a side out. In singles, there’s only one server per side, simplifying service duties. The initial serve difference in doubles is to balance the advantage of serving first.
Skill Set Differences
Doubles prioritizes strategy and teamwork, while singles demands court coverage and power. Singles emphasizes speed, agility, and endurance. Doubles relies more on patience and coordinated play to create scoring chances. Different shots are prevalent; passing shots are key in singles, while lobs and dinks are more common in doubles.
Game Plan Differences
Doubles strategy centers on reaching the non-volley zone and creating offensive opportunities from that position. Singles focuses on accuracy, hitting to specific targets, and keeping opponents deep in the backcourt with powerful shots.
Physical Demand
Doubles is less physically demanding than singles, requiring less court coverage and fewer shots per player. While still a good workout, doubles burns approximately 25% fewer calories than singles.
Kitchen Rules for Pickleball Doubles
The kitchen rules are identical for doubles and singles. The ‘kitchen’ is the non-volley zone within 7 feet of the net. Volleying is prohibited within this zone unless the ball bounces first. Players can be in the kitchen but cannot volley while inside it.
Learn more about kitchen rules in doubles
In Conclusion
If you’re yet to explore doubles pickleball, now is the perfect time. Learning doubles is easy, and it’s the most popular and accessible format for all skill levels. Do you favor doubles or singles? How do you adjust your strategy for each? Share your thoughts!
