Pickleball Rules Doubles - A Complete Guide

Pickleball is a fast-growing sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. While it can be played in singles or doubles format, doubles is the more popular version. Understanding the rules of pickleball doubles is crucial for both beginners and advanced players.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the essential pickleball rules for doubles:

Pickleball Court and Equipment

• A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long.

• The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.

• Paddles must meet the official USA Pickleball regulations.

• A perforated plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball, is used.

Serving Rules

• The serve must be made underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist

• The server must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball diagonally to the opponent’s service court

• The serve must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) and land in the correct service box.

• Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the case of a let (when the ball touches the net but lands in the correct service box)

• In doubles, both players on a team serve before the serve is passed to the opposing team

• If a server commits a fault, the serve moves to their partner (in doubles) before changing possession to the opposing team after two consecutive faults

• In doubles, only the first server of a team starts with one serve before handing over to the opposing team. After that, both players on a team get to serve before losing the serve to the opponents

Double-Bounce Rule

• After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before hitting it.

• The serving team must also let the return bounce once before hitting it.

• After these two bounces, the ball can be volleyed (hit out of the air) or played after a bounce

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Rules

• The non-volley zone (NVZ), also called the kitchen, extends 7 feet from the net on both sides.

• Players cannot volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in the kitchen.

• A player's momentum cannot carry them into the kitchen after hitting a volley.

• Players may enter the kitchen to hit a ball only if it has bounced first

Scoring System

• Only the serving team can score points.

• A game is typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least 2 points.

• The score is called in the order of: Serving team’s score, receiving team’s score, server number (1 or 2) (e.g., "4-3-1").

• If the serving team wins a rally, they earn a point.

• If the receiving team wins a rally, they gain the serve but do not earn a point.

Faults and Violations

A faults can occurs in below situations:

• Hitting the ball out of bounds

• Not clearing the net

• Volleying from inside the kitchen

• Failing to follow the double bounce rule

• Incorrect server or receiving position

Switching Sides

• Players switch sides of the court only when they win a point while serving.

• If a team loses a rally, the serve moves to the next player (or to the opponents if both players on the team have served)

• The only exception is at the start of the game when only one player from the first serving team serves before losing possession to the opposing team.

Pickleball Doubles vs Singles Rules

Aspect	Singles	Doubles	Difference/Same?
Number of Players	1 per team	2 per team	Different
Serve Rotation	Alternates between points	Both players on a team serve before losing serve to opponents	Different
Strategy	Focuses on endurance & placement	Teamwork, communication, & positioning	Different
Court Coverage	One player covers the entire court	Two players share court responsibility	Different
Movement	More lateral movement	More coordinated movement with a partner	Different
Court Size	20x44 ft court	20x44 ft court	Same
Kitchen Rule	Applies to both formats	Applies to both formats	Same
Scoring System	Games played to 11 points, win by 2	Games played to 11 points, win by 2	Same
Serve Type	Must be underhand and diagonal	Must be underhand and diagonal	Same
Faults	Same faults apply (out of bounds, net faults, kitchen violations)

Conclusion - Pickleball Rules for Doubles

Understanding these pickleball doubles rules will help you play the game more effectively and avoid common mistakes. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, mastering the basics and applying smart strategies can improve your performance on the court.

If you're looking for more insights on pickleball, rules, and strategy guides, stay tuned to our blog for expert tips!