Pickleball Doubles Serving Rules: Complete Guide

Pickleball has surged in popularity in recent years, and doubles play is at the heart of that growth. Fast-paced, social, and strategic, doubles pickleball brings its own set of rules—especially when it comes to serving.

If you’re new to the game or looking to clear up confusion around serving order and mechanics, this guide breaks down how serving works in doubles pickleball, step by step.

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The Basics of Pickleball Serving

In pickleball, the serve always begins the point. It must be made underhand, with the paddle making contact below waist level, and the server must keep at least one foot behind the baseline at the time of contact. The ball must be hit diagonally crosscourt into the opposing service area.

Only the serving team can score a point, and in doubles, things get slightly more complex due to the alternating server system.

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Who Serves First in Doubles?

At the start of each game, only one player on the serving team is allowed to serve before a side-out occurs. This is a unique rule designed to balance fairness since the serving team starts with a slight advantage. The player on the right-hand side (even court) serves first.

After the first side-out, both players on each team will get the chance to serve during their team’s service turn, starting with the player on the right.

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Serving Sequence and Rotation

Once play is underway, the serving sequence in doubles follows a defined pattern. The player on the right serves to the opponent’s diagonal service box. If they win the point, they switch sides with their partner and serve again—this time from the left.

Each time a point is won, the serving team rotates sides, and the same server continues. When a point is lost, the second player on the team serves. Only after both players on a team have lost their serve does the serve move to the opposing team.

This rotation continues throughout the game and is critical to track, as incorrect server or position errors can result in faults.

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Understanding the “Even” and “Odd” Courts

The terms "even" and "odd" courts are used to help determine where a server should be standing based on their team’s score.

• When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, etc.), the player who served first in the game starts on the right (even) side.
• When the serving team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5, etc.), that player should be on the left (odd) side.

Using this system helps players keep track of positioning and ensures that servers and receivers are always in the correct location.

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Side-Outs and Score Announcements

A side-out in doubles pickleball occurs when both players on a team lose their serve. At that point, the serve shifts to the opposing team.

Each serve in doubles includes three numbers when called out loud:

1. The serving team’s score
2. The receiving team’s score
3. The server number (either “1” or “2”)

For example, if the server says “4-3-2,” it means their team has 4 points, the opponents have 3, and the second server is serving.

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Serving Rules That Often Cause Confusion

Even experienced players occasionally slip up when it comes to serving protocol in doubles. A few of the most common areas of confusion include:

• Serving out of turn or from the wrong side
• Forgetting to rotate sides after a point is scored
• Failing to call the score correctly
• Stepping on or over the baseline during the serve

Mistakes like these can result in loss of serve or point penalties, so understanding the flow of the serving rotation is key to consistent play.

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Strategic Serving in Doubles Play

Serving in doubles isn’t just about following the rules—it’s also a key part of strategy. A well-placed serve can pressure the receiving team, set up your partner for a quick put-away shot, or disrupt your opponents' positioning.

Teams often vary serve speed and placement to keep their opponents guessing. The ability to control pace and direction during the serve becomes especially important at higher levels of play.

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Final Thoughts

Understanding the serving rules in doubles pickleball is essential to playing confidently and legally. With its unique rotation, dual-server format, and score-calling system, it can seem complex at first—but after a few matches, it becomes second nature.

Serving may be just one part of the game, but in doubles, it sets the tone for every rally. Mastering it is one of the first steps to leveling up your play.