Pickleball Doubles Rules: Your Ultimate Guide to Positioning & Strategy
Welcome to the world of doubles pickleball! It's the most common way to play the game, combining strategy, communication, and fast-paced fun. But playing with a partner introduces a unique set of rules that can be confusing for new players. Where do you stand? Who serves when? What does that third number in the score mean?
This guide will break down all the essential pickleball rules for doubles. We'll cover everything from the serving sequence and player positioning to score-calling and advanced strategies like stacking, making you a more confident and effective doubles player.
What are the main rules for pickleball doubles?
In pickleball doubles, the core rules involve the serving sequence and player positioning. Only one player serves until their team commits a fault, then their partner serves. The exception is the first server of the game, who is the only player to serve during the opening service turn. Players on the serving team switch sides only after they score a point. The receiving team never switches sides. The score is called as three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number (1 or 2).
In This Guide
The Serving Sequence in Doubles
The serving sequence is the most critical part of the rules of pickleball doubles. It determines who serves and from where. Here's how it works:
- Starting the Game: The game starts with the score at 0-0-2. The player on the right-hand side of the court (the even side) serves first. The '2' signifies that it's the second server's turn, which is a special rule for the very first service of the game to prevent the first team from having an unfair advantage.
- Serving Your Turn: The first server continues to serve, alternating between the right and left sides of the court after each point is scored. Their turn only ends when their team commits a fault.
- The Second Server: After the first server loses the rally, the serve passes to their partner. This player is the 'second server'. They serve until their team commits a second fault.
- Side Out: Once the second server loses the rally, it's a 'side out'. The serve goes to the other team. From this point on for the rest of the game, both players on a team will get a chance to serve before a side out occurs.
Official Rule (USA Pickleball Rule 4.B.6)
In doubles, the server’s partner must be on the court out of the server's way at the time of the serve. The server’s partner may be positioned in-bounds or out-of-bounds.
Correct Player Positioning
Knowing where to stand is fundamental. Your position changes depending on whether your team is serving or receiving.
Serving Team Positioning
- The server must stand behind the baseline.
- If your team's score is even (0, 2, 4...), the player who started the game on the right side serves from the right side of the court.
- If your team's score is odd (1, 3, 5...), that same player serves from the left side of the court.
- You and your partner only switch sides after you score a point on your serve.
Receiving Team Positioning
- The receivers can stand anywhere they want on their side of the court, as long as the player who is designated to receive is the one to return the serve.
- Unlike the serving team, the receiving team does not switch sides.
- The player on the right side of the court will always receive serves that come from the server's right side, and the player on the left will receive serves from the server's left side.
This diagram shows the standard starting positions for a doubles match. The server starts on the right (even) court, with the receiver positioned diagonally opposite.
How to Call the Score in Doubles
The score in doubles pickleball rules has three numbers:
[Your Score] - [Opponent's Score] - [Server Number (1 or 2)]
- Your Score: The serving team's score is always called first.
- Opponent's Score: The receiving team's score.
- Server Number: This indicates whether you are the first or second server for your team on that service turn.
For example, if the score is 5-3-1, it means the serving team has 5 points, the opponents have 3 points, and the first server is serving.
Positioning Cheat Sheet
Here's a simple trick for the serving team: if your score is even, you should be on the right side of the court. If your score is odd, you should be on the left. This only applies if you are the player who started the game on the right side!
Advanced Strategy: Stacking and Switching
Stacking is a positioning strategy used to keep players on their preferred sides (e.g., to keep both players' forehands in the middle of the court). It involves one or both players starting on the 'wrong' side of the court and then moving to their desired positions immediately after the serve or return.
How it works on the serve: 1. The server's partner stands out of bounds, near the sideline of the court the server is on. 2. The server serves the ball. 3. As soon as the ball is hit, both players on the serving team slide into their preferred positions.
Stacking is a legal and common strategy at higher levels, but it requires excellent communication and quick movement. It's a key part of advanced pickleball doubles rules and strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Doubles Rules
What is the most important rule in pickleball doubles?
The most important rule is understanding the serving sequence and server number. Knowing who is server 1 and server 2, and that both partners get to serve after the first service of the game, is crucial to playing correctly and keeping score accurately.
Who serves after a side out in pickleball doubles?
After a side out, the serve goes to the other team. The player who is positioned on the right-hand side of the court (the even side) at that moment will always be the first server (server 1) for their team's new service turn.
Can your partner stand in the [Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)](/pickleball-kitchen-rules.html) during the serve?
Yes. According to the official pickleball rules for doubles, the server's partner can stand anywhere on the court, including inside the Non-Volley Zone, as long as they are on their side of the net and not obscuring the server's motion in an illegal way.