If you're stepping into the exhilarating world of pickleball doubles play, understanding the fundamental rules is essential. In this article, we're going to provide an in-depth guide into the specific rules that govern doubles play in pickleball.
Pickleball, a unique blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, offers a unique appeal for players of all ages and skill levels. Its popularity has soared in recent years, and the doubles format of the game is especially popular, given its exciting, fast-paced gameplay and teamwork requirements.
How do you play double pickleball?
Serving Rules in Pickleball Doubles
The game begins with the right-hand court player on the serving team initiating the serve. The server must serve diagonally, aiming for the service court on the opposite side. Importantly, the serve must be underhand, and the ball must bounce once on each side before players can start volleying (hitting the ball before it bounces).
After the server has served, the service changes between partners each time they win a point. When they fail to win a point, the serve shifts to the other team. This process continues until the game ends.
The Double Bounce Rule
One unique aspect of pickleball doubles play is the "double bounce rule" or "two bounce rule". This rule states that when the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce once before returning it, and the serving team must also let it bounce once on their side before returning it. After these two bounces have occurred, players can either volley the ball in the air or play it off a bounce.
The Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Rules
The area 7 feet from the net on both sides, known as the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) or the 'kitchen', is where players cannot volley the ball (i.e., hit the ball before it bounces). Players can enter the NVZ only if the ball bounces within the zone.
Scoring and Service Change
Only the serving team can score points. When the serving team wins a point, the server moves to the other side of their court and continues to serve until a fault is made. If the first server loses their serve, the second partner then serves. Once both partners have lost their serve, the serve passes to the other team.
A game is typically played to 11 points, but the team must win by at least two points. In some cases, games can be played to 15 or 21 points, depending on the tournament or league rules.
Faults
If a team commits a fault (for example, hits the ball out of bounds, fails to get the serve into the correct service box, volleys the ball from the non-volley zone, or violates the double bounce rule), it results in a point for the opposing team if they are serving, or a loss of serve if they are receiving.
Positioning and Strategy
Doubles pickleball requires communication and coordination between partners. Strategic positioning is crucial – partners often position themselves side by side, covering half the court each. This is known as the "two up" or "two back" strategy and is useful for controlling the court. Communication with your partner regarding who will take the shot, especially for balls that land in the middle, is key to avoiding confusion and making a successful return.
How many serves are in a double pickleball?
In pickleball doubles, each team gets two serves per turn — one serve for each player on the team. The game begins with the player in the right-hand court on the serving team serving first. After that player loses a point (commits a fault), the serve passes to their partner, who is in the left-hand court. This second player continues to serve until they too commit a fault.
After both players on the serving team have committed a fault, the serve then passes to the other team. The sequence repeats with each player serving in turn. This process continues until the game ends.
However, it's important to note that at the start of a new game, the first serving team only gets one serve before the serve passes to the opponents. This is to ensure fairness as the team that serves first has a slight advantage. After this initial serve, the two-serve pattern resumes for the remainder of the game.
What is the double bounce rule?
The double bounce rule, also known as the "two bounce rule", is a key rule in pickleball. It's essential for both singles and doubles games.
The rule states that when the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce once before returning it, and then the serving team must also let it bounce once on their side before returning it. This means the ball must bounce once in each team's court before it can be volleyed (hit in the air without bouncing).
In other words, after the ball is served, the first two shots of the rally (the return of serve and the next shot) must be allowed to bounce before they are hit. This rule effectively prevents both teams from smashing or volleying the serve, giving the serving team a fair chance to start the rally. After these two bounces have occurred, players can either volley the ball in the air or play it off a bounce.
The double bounce rule encourages longer rallies and more strategic gameplay, setting pickleball apart from other racket sports. It's one of the elements that make pickleball accessible and enjoyable for players of all ages and skill levels.
How do you call score in pickleball?
In pickleball, the score is always called out before each serve, and it's typically the server's responsibility to do so. The score consists of three parts in the following order: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number (either 1 or 2).
For instance, if the serving team has 5 points, the receiving team has 3 points, and the server is the first server for their team, the score would be announced as "5-3-1".
Here's a bit more explanation on the three parts of the score:
- Serving team's score: This is simply the current score of the team that is serving.
- Receiving team's score: This is the current score of the team that is receiving the serve.
- Server number: In doubles play, this number identifies whether the server is the first server (1) or the second server (2) from their team in that particular rotation of service. At the start of a new game, the first server is designated as "1" when they call the score.
What is stacking in pickleball?
Stacking in pickleball is a strategic positioning technique used primarily in doubles play. The idea behind stacking is to have the stronger or more skilled player cover more of the court or play on a preferred side. This is done by aligning both players on the same side of the court when serving or receiving.
Here's a more detailed look:
- Serving: When serving, both players start from the same half of the court. After the server serves the ball, they quickly move over to the other side of the court. This allows the stronger player to play from their preferred side once the return of serve has bounced.
- Receiving: On the receiving side, the player who is supposed to receive the serve will do so, but then switch places with their partner after the ball has been served. Like with serving, this allows the stronger or more strategically placed player to occupy a preferred position on the court.
- Stacking requires good coordination and communication between partners to avoid confusion. The key is to remember to switch positions after the serve and return of serve have bounced, as per the two-bounce rule in pickleball. This tactic is used at all levels of play, from beginner to advanced, to maximize a team's effectiveness on the court.
