Pickleball Doubles Serving Rotation: Easy Guide for Newbies
Pickleball doubles is a fun and fast-paced game, but the serving rotation can be tricky for new players. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
Let’s break down how serving works in doubles pickleball.
In pickleball doubles, teams serve in a set A-B-A-B order between teammates. This means Player A serves first from the right side, then the left side. After that, Player B takes over and serves from the right, then left. This pattern keeps going until the game ends.
Knowing the proper serving sequence is key to playing fairly and having a great time on the court. It makes sure everyone gets a chance to serve and keeps the game moving smoothly.
Ready to learn more about pickleball doubles rules? Let’s dive in!
Basics of Pickleball Doubles
Pickleball doubles involves four players on a specialized court. You’ll need specific equipment and must follow key rules for serving and scoring.
Court Layout and Dimensions
The pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court. It measures 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. A net divides the court in half, standing 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
The court has several important lines:
- Baselines: The back boundaries of the court
- Sidelines: The side boundaries
- Non-volley zone lines: 7 feet from the net on each side
The non-volley zone, also called the kitchen, is where you can’t hit volleys. This adds strategy to the game.
Equipment Essentials
To play pickleball doubles, you’ll need:
- Paddles: Larger than ping pong paddles but smaller than tennis rackets
- Balls: Plastic with holes, similar to wiffle balls
- Net: 36 inches high at the sides, 34 inches in the middle
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes with good traction. Many players like court shoes designed for pickleball.
Choose a paddle that feels right for you. Paddles come in different weights and materials, affecting your play style. Lighter paddles give you more control, while heavier ones offer more power.
Understanding the Serve in Doubles Play
The serve is a crucial part of pickleball doubles. It sets the tone for each rally and can give your team an advantage. You need to know the proper mechanics and rules to serve effectively.
Serve Mechanics
When serving in pickleball doubles, you must use an underhand motion. Hit the ball below your waist and make contact with it below your navel. Keep your feet behind the baseline until you’ve struck the ball.
Aim diagonally across the court to your opponent’s service box. A good serve lands deep in the box, making it harder for your opponents to attack.
Practice different speeds and spins to keep your opponents guessing.
Remember, you only get one serve attempt in pickleball. If you miss, it’s a fault and the serve goes to your partner or the other team.
Service Rules
In pickleball doubles, only the serving team can score points. You’ll start each game serving from the right side of the court. If you win the rally, you score a point and switch sides to serve from the left.
You and your partner will take turns serving. When it’s your team’s turn to serve, you’ll keep serving until you lose a rally. Then your partner serves until they lose a rally. This is called the double bounce rule.
Keep track of the score and which player should be serving. Call out the score before each serve to avoid confusion. If you serve out of turn, it’s a fault and you lose the serve.
Serving Rotation in Doubles
In pickleball doubles, the serving rotation follows a set pattern. You and your partner take turns serving, and the side you serve from changes as the game progresses. This keeps the game fair and gives everyone a chance to serve.
Starting the Game
At the start of a pickleball doubles match, you’ll need to decide who serves first. The team that wins the coin toss or rock-paper-scissors gets to choose if they want to serve or receive first.
If your team serves first, you’ll start on the right side of the court. This is always where the first serve of the game comes from. You’ll hit your serve diagonally across the court to the opposite player.
Remember, you only get one chance to serve in pickleball. If you mess up, the serve goes to your opponent. Make sure you’re ready before you hit that first serve!
Sequence of Service
Once the game starts, you’ll follow a specific order for serving. Here’s how it works:
- The first server (you or your partner) serves until your team loses a rally.
- Then, the serve goes to the other team.
- When your team gets the serve back, your partner serves next.
This A-B-A-B pattern continues throughout the game. You’ll switch sides of the court each time your score is even. This means you’ll serve from the right when your score is 0, 2, 4, etc., and from the left when it’s odd.
Keep track of the score and your position. It’s easy to get mixed up, but staying aware will help you avoid faults and keep the game flowing smoothly.
Positioning and Movement
Good positioning and movement are key to success in pickleball doubles. You need to know where to stand and how to move after serving to gain an advantage.
Positioning Before the Serve
When serving in pickleball doubles, you want to start in the right spot. The server stands behind the baseline on the right side of the court. Your partner should be near the center line, ready to move.
Proper positioning helps you cover more of the court. It also makes it easier to return shots. Try to keep some space between you and your partner. This lets you cover more ground.
Remember, only the serving team can score points. So your initial position is super important. It can set you up for a strong start to the rally.
Movement After Serving
Once you’ve served, it’s time to move. The serving team rotates after each point they win. This means you’ll switch sides with your partner.
After serving, try to move up to the non-volley zone line. This is also called the kitchen line. Getting there quickly can put pressure on your opponents.
Your partner should also move forward if they weren’t already at the net. Moving as a team helps you control more of the court. It makes it harder for your opponents to find gaps.
Stay alert and ready to adjust your position based on where the ball goes. Quick, coordinated movements with your partner are key to winning points in doubles.
Strategies for Serving in Doubles
Serving in pickleball doubles requires skill and teamwork. These tips will help you gain an edge and work better with your partner.
Serving to Advantage
Aim your serves to the opponent’s weaker side. This often means serving deep to their backhand. Mix up your serves to keep opponents guessing.
Try soft serves that land just over the kitchen line. These can be hard to attack.
You can also serve wide to pull players off the court. This creates openings for your next shot. Practice different spin serves to add variety. Top spin makes the ball dip quickly, while side spin can throw off returns.
Remember to watch where your opponents stand before serving. If they’re up close, serve deep. If they’re back, a short serve might catch them off guard.
Communication With Your Partner
Talk to your partner before each serve. Decide who will take the middle if the return is short. Agree on positions after the serve too.
Use hand signals to show where you plan to serve. This helps your partner get ready for the return. Call out “Switch” if you want to change sides after serving.
During the point, keep talking. Say “Yours” or “Mine” for balls between you. Warn your partner about lobs with a loud “Up!” call.
Good communication helps you cover the court better and avoid mix-ups.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When playing pickleball doubles, you might make some serving rotation mistakes. Let’s look at a few common ones and how to fix them.
Serving out of turn is a frequent error. To avoid this, always communicate with your partner before serving. Keep track of the score and your position on the court.
Another mistake is returning the serve and staying back. Instead, you should return and move quickly to the kitchen line. This puts you in a stronger position to control the game.
Forgetting to serve diagonally is also common. Remember, you must always serve diagonally across the court to the opposite service area.
Here’s a quick checklist to help you avoid these mistakes:
- Confirm the score and your position before serving
- Communicate clearly with your partner
- Move to the kitchen line after returning a serve
- Always serve diagonally across the court
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll improve your serving rotation and boost your doubles game. Practice makes perfect, so keep at it!
Drills to Improve Serving Rotation
Want to up your pickleball doubles serving game? Try these fun drills to sharpen your skills:
Crosscourt Serve Practice
Set up targets on the opposite side of the court. You and your partner can take turns serving crosscourt to hit the targets. This helps improve accuracy and placement.
Serve and Switch
After each serve, quickly switch sides with your partner. This gets you used to the rotation and improves your footwork. Make sure to do 10 serves each before switching servers.
Alternating Serve Drill
You and your partner take turns serving from right to left. Don’t forget to call out which side you’re serving from to boost communication skills.
Rapid Fire Serving
Set a timer for 2 minutes. Then, see how many legal serves you can make in that time. This drill boosts consistency and speed.
Target Practice
Place small cones or water bottles in the service boxes. Award points for hitting or knocking them over. You can even make it a friendly competition with your partner.
Remember to mix up your serves during these drills. Try deep serves, short serves, and different spins to keep your opponents guessing in real games.
Rules of Thumb for Consistent Serving
When serving in pickleball doubles, you need to follow some key rules. First, make sure you serve from behind the baseline. This is a must for every serve.
Remember to hit the ball underhand and below your waist. This keeps the game fair and fun for everyone.
Pay attention to which side you’re serving from. If your score is even (0, 2, 4, etc.), serve from the right. For odd scores, serve from the left.
Always call out the full score before you serve. This includes your team’s score, the other team’s score, and which server you are (1 or 2).
Try to aim for the diagonal service court. Your serve must clear the non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen.
Keep track of the serving rotation. In doubles, it goes A-B-A-B between teammates. This means you’ll switch serving positions with your partner each time your team gets the serve back.
Lastly, practice your serve often. A consistent serve can give your team a big advantage. Focus on accuracy over power, and you’ll see your game improve.
