Pickleball Doubles Serving Rules: Who Serves & From Where?
The doubles serving sequence is one of the most confusing parts of pickleball for new players. Who serves? From which side? When does my partner get to serve? It can feel overwhelming, but once you learn one simple rule, it all clicks into place. This guide will break down the pickleball doubles serving rules step-by-step, using clear diagrams and examples, so you can serve with confidence every time.
Who Serves in Pickleball Doubles?
In pickleball doubles, the player on the right side of the court always starts the game by serving. This player continues to serve, alternating between the right and left sides of the court after each point they score, until their team commits a fault. After the first fault, their partner serves. The serving rotation is determined by the score: if your team's score is even, the starting server serves from the right side. If your score is odd, they serve from the left side.
In This Guide
The Core Concept: Score Dictates Position
Forget trying to remember if you're 'Server 1' or 'Server 2'. The only thing you and your partner need to know is the score and who started the game serving for your team.
Here is the golden rule for doubles serving position:
- If your team's score is EVEN (0, 2, 4, 6...): The player who started the game serving for your team should be on the RIGHT side of the court (the 'even' court).
- If your team's score is ODD (1, 3, 5, 7...): The player who started the game serving for your team should be on the LEFT side of the court (the 'odd' court).
By simply looking at the score and knowing who the starting server is, you can instantly determine if you and your partner are positioned correctly.
At the start of the game or when the serving team's score is even (0, 2, 4...), the initial server serves from the right side of the court.
Understanding the Serving Sequence Step-by-Step
Let's walk through an example to see how the pickleball doubles serving rules work in practice.
1. Starting the Game (Score: 0-0-2)
- The team that serves first is decided by a coin toss or rally.
- The player on the right side of the serving team begins the serve. Let's call them Player A. Their partner is Player B.
- Player A serves from the right (even) side because the score is 0 (even).
2. Scoring a Point (Score: 1-0-2)
- Player A and B win the rally. Their score is now 1.
- Since they scored, they switch sides with each other. Player A is now on the left side.
- Player A serves again, this time from the left (odd) side, because the score is 1 (odd).
3. The First Fault (Side Out)
- Let's say Player A serves again and their team loses the rally. This is a fault.
- Service now goes to their partner, Player B. This is called the 'second serve'. The score remains 1-0, but the server number changes to 1. The score is now 1-0-1 (read as 'one-zero-one').
- Because the score is 1 (odd), the starting server (Player A) should be on the left. This means Player B is correctly positioned on the right to take over the serve.
- Player B now serves from the right side. If they had won the previous point, the score would be 2-0-1, and Player A would still be on the left, so B would serve from the right.
4. The Second Fault (Side Out)
- Player B continues serving, alternating sides after each point scored, until their team commits a fault.
- Once Player B's team faults, it is a 'Side Out'. Service passes to the opposing team.
- The opposing team now begins their service rotation, starting with the player on their right side.
Pro Tip: The 'First Server Exception'
Remember, the team that serves first to start the game only gets one service turn. After their first fault, the serve immediately goes to the other team (a Side Out). This is why the starting score is called out as 'zero-zero-two', to indicate the serving team is already on their second (and final) server for that first rotation.
When the serving team's score is odd (1, 3, 5...), the initial server for that team should be on the left side of the court.
Common Doubles Serving Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong Player Serving: The most common error. Remember, the score dictates the server's position. If the score is even, the starting server must serve. If it's odd, the starting server's partner serves (unless they are the starting server and are correctly on the odd side).
- Serving from the Wrong Side: Before every serve, check the score. Even score = serve from the right. Odd score = serve from the left.
- Switching Sides After a Lost Rally: You and your partner only switch sides of the court after you score a point. You never switch sides after losing a rally.
Official USA Pickleball Rulebook
Rule 4.B.4. Player Position and Serving. At the start of each game, only one partner on the serving team serves until a fault is committed... Thereafter, both partners will have the opportunity to serve before the serve goes to the other team. The first server is the player on the right/even court. The second server is the player on the left/odd court.
Frequently Asked Questions about Doubles Serving
What happens if the wrong person serves in pickleball doubles?
If the wrong player serves or serves from the wrong position, it is a fault. A point is awarded to the other team, and it results in a loss of serve (if it's the serving team's fault) or the rally continues if the fault is called after the serve. It's best to correct the position before the serve to avoid this.
Who is the 'first server' vs. the 'second server' in pickleball?
The 'first server' refers to the first player on a team to serve in any given service turn. The 'second server' is their partner, who serves after the first server's team commits a fault. The only exception is the very first service turn of the game, where the team only gets one server.
Do you have to alternate who serves first each game?
No, you don't have to alternate who serves first. The same player can be the starting server for your team for the entire match. The important thing is that whichever player starts serving for your team in a given game remains the 'starting server' for that entire game for the even/odd positioning rule to work.