How does serving rotate in doubles?
Rule- Canada
- Pickleball Canada
- Club pickleball
- All ages
- 2026
- Players
- 2026 Official Rulebook
- DUPR
From section 5 of the 2026 rulebook (standard scoring):
- Both players on a team serve before a side out, except at the start of each game, when only the starting server serves (as second server) before the side out.
- After each side out, service begins with the player correctly positioned on the right side according to the team's score. That player is the first server for that service rotation and their partner is the second server.
- The first server serves, alternating between right and left serving areas after each point won, until the team loses a rally. The serve then passes to the second server, who does the same until the team loses a rally, which is a side out.
- Position is set by the team's score: the starting server is on the right when the team's score is zero or even and on the left when it is odd. Their partner is on the opposite side.
- Apart from serving and receiving, players may stand anywhere on their own side of the net while the ball is live.
- Before the serve, you may ask your opponent who the correct server or receiver is, or whether players are in the correct positions.
- If a player stops a rally to claim a server, receiver or position error and the claim is correct, the rally is replayed. If the claim is wrong, it is a fault against the player who stopped play. If the error is only found after the rally is completed, the result stands.
Added 25 Oct 2026