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Pickleball, a paddle sport, has experienced a surge in popularity in the past few years. What began as a backyard game has evolved into a global phenomenon, captivating players of all ages and skill levels. Its appeal lies in its accessibility, with courts easily set up in various locations, including parks, community centers, and sports clubs.
Pickleball’s simple rules, quick learning curve, and emphasis on fun make it attractive to beginners, while its fast-paced action and strategic depth keep seasoned athletes engaged. Moreover, the sport promotes social connections and camaraderie, as players often participate in doubles matches, fostering teamwork and communication. With its growing presence in schools, retirement communities, and competitive circuits, pickleball continues to gain momentum, attracting enthusiasts worldwide and solidifying its status as one of the fastest-growing sports globally.
In this article, we are going to learn the basics of the pickleball doubles. How to play pickleball doubles, scoring, service and other rules will be discussed in this article.
Play Pickleball Doubles
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How to Play Doubles Pickleball?
Playing pickleball doubles offers a dynamic and engaging experience that emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and quick reflexes. With two players on each team, the game demands effective communication, coordinated movement, and skillful shot placement to outmaneuver opponents and secure victory. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a newcomer to the sport, mastering the intricacies of pickleball doubles opens up a world of exciting rallies, intense competition, and shared triumphs.
Now, let’s find out some rules of the game. From serving sequences to court positioning, we’ll delve into the nuances that define this exhilarating game and provide you with the knowledge and confidence to excel alongside your partner. So grab your paddle, rally your teammate, and get ready to experience the thrill of pickleball doubles firsthand.
What Do You Need to Play Pickleball Doubles?
To play pickleball doubles, you’ll need several essential items:
Pickleball Paddles
Each player needs a pickleball paddle, which is similar to a large table tennis paddle but with a larger surface area. Paddles come in various materials, such as wood, composite, or graphite, and with different grip sizes to accommodate players’ preferences. At least four paddles are needed for playing doubles pickleball, and you can prepare another one as a backup.
Fyful’s amazing pickleball paddles are the best picks for the players who want to play the game. However, most of the players like to have customised pickleball paddles for them having different properties like more weight and grip size.
Pickleball Ball
A perforated plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball, is used in pickleball. These Pickleball balls come in different colors and with varying levels of durability. Outdoor balls are typically tougher to withstand outdoor playing conditions, while indoor balls are designed for indoor court use.
Pickleball Court
A pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for both indoor and outdoor play. The court is divided into specific zones, including the non-volley zone (kitchen) and the service courts.
Pickleball Court Layout
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Pickleball Net
A pickleball net is set up across the middle of the court, dividing it into two equal halves. The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center.
Court Markings
The pickleball court is marked with specific lines to delineate the boundaries, service courts, non-volley zones, and baseline.
Appropriate Footwear
Players should wear athletic shoes with non-marking soles suitable for the court surface, whether indoor or outdoor.
These items are the basic requirements for playing pickleball doubles. Depending on personal preferences and playing conditions, players may also choose to use additional accessories such as wristbands, hats, sunglasses, or gloves for added comfort and performance enhancement.
Pickleball Doubles Serving Rules
In pickleball doubles, the basic rules play a crucial role in determining the flow of the game and setting the tone for each point. Here are the key serving rules:
Service Rotation
The serving team begins the game with only one player serving, and the service alternates between the two players on the serving team after each successful point. The first server and second server from one team keep changing their positions after a server scores points. When the serving team commits a fault, the serve passes to the opponent team.
Underhand Serve
All serve in pickleball must be made underhand, meaning the paddle must be swung below the waist level.
Diagonal Serving
The serve must be directed diagonally across the court to the opponent’s service court, similar to tennis, badminton, and table tennis. The serve must land rightly so that you don’t lose as serve for your team, and the server number is important as well.
Service Court
The serving team must stand in the right-hand service court to begin serving, and the first serve must land in the diagonally opposite service court. The first server serves, and the opposite team doesn’t get a chance to score a point in this serve.
Double Bounce Rule
Both teams must allow the ball to bounce once on each side of the net before volleys are permitted. This means that the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce, and then the receiving team must let the next shot bounce before either team can volley the ball.
Faults
Serving faults include stepping on or over the baseline while serving, failing to serve diagonally, or serving into the net or out of bounds. The opponent team gets the next serve in this scenario.
Who Serves First in Pickleball Doubles?
The initial serving team is determined before the match begins, typically through a coin toss or another agreed-upon method. The team that wins the coin toss or is designated as the serving team by other means serves first in the match. The first server serves from the right hand side of the court and receiver stands left hand side of the court or opposite diagonal court.
The serving doubles team keeps scoring point until they lose a rally. This initial serve sets the serving sequence for the game, with subsequent serves alternating between the two players on the serving team until they lose the serve. The server continues switching until the team loses a rally.
After losing the serve, the opposing team serves, and both players on that team get a chance to serve before the serve changes hands again. This rotation continues throughout the match, with the serving team changing after each fault or loss of serve.
How to Score in Pickleball Doubles?
Scoring in pickleball doubles follows a simple and straightforward system. Here’s how it works:
Only Serving Team Scores the Point
Points can be scored by only the serving team. This means that a point is awarded to the serving team if they win the rally and serve goes to the opposing team if they win the rally. But they don’t score in this rally. Only serving team’s score increases in the match.
Opposing Team Gets the Serve
Once the serving team loses all the chances to serve, the opposing team gets a chance to serve now and score a point for them. One player gets only one serve attempt in a rally and server loses the serve and volley advantage when team loses the rally.
The Team Wins Who Reaches the 11 Points First
The first team to reach 11 points wins the game, but they must also have a two-point advantage over the opposing team. For example, if the score is tied at 10-10, play continues until one team gains a two-point lead.
Team Wins When there’s a 2-Point Difference
If the score reaches 11-10, the game continues until one team leads by two points. If the score reaches 12-11, 13-12, and so on, play continues until one team wins by at least two points.
In organized play or tournaments, matches are typically played as the best of three games. The team that wins two out of three games wins the match. Understanding the scoring system in pickleball doubles allows players to keep track of the score accurately and provides a clear path to victory during competitive matches.
Scoring System in Pickleball Doubles
A video from Pickleball Rocks called Pickleball Doubles Scoring Explained will help to explain much of the previous discussion.
What are the Strategies to Use while Playing Pickleball Doubles?
Pickleball strategies for doubles involve teamwork, communication, court positioning, shot selection, and exploiting opponents’ weaknesses. Here are some effective strategies to use while playing pickleball doubles:
Communication
Players need to constantly communicate with their partners. They should verbally signal their intentions, call the ball, and provide feedback after each point to adjust tactics.
Court Positioning
Players should coordinate with their partners to cover the court efficiently. One player typically stays at the baseline while the other moves closer to the net (the “up” player). They should adjust their positioning based on the flow of the game and their opponents’ shots.
Target Weaknesses
A good player always identify and exploit his opponents’ weaknesses. He always aim shots towards their weaker side or exploit gaps in their court coverage.
Volley Placement
It is important to vary the placement and speed of volleys to keep opponents off balance. Aim for the sidelines to create wider angles and open up space on the court.
Lobbing
Use lobs strategically to push opponents back and create opportunities for offensive shots. Lobs can also be used defensively to reset the rally and regain control of the point.
Cross-Court Shots
Utilize cross-court shots to move opponents laterally and open up space for winners. Cross-court dinks and volleys can also create confusion and miscommunication between opponents.
Stay Patient
Avoid forcing shots or taking unnecessary risks. Stay patient, wait for the right opportunities, and capitalize on your opponents’ mistakes.
Anticipation
Anticipate your opponents’ shots based on their positioning, body language, and shot tendencies. Stay one step ahead by positioning yourself to intercept shots and cover potential weaknesses.
Return of Serve
Focus on making a solid return of serve to initiate the rally on your terms. Aim for consistency and placement rather than power, and use angles to keep opponents off balance.
Adaptability
Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents, as well as the dynamics of the match. Stay flexible and willing to adjust tactics as needed.
A video from Kyle Koszuta called 6 Pickleball Doubles Strategies New Players MUST Know will help you more in Doubles Pickleball Strategy:
How Many Calories are Burned While Playing Pickleball Doubles?
The number of calories burned playing pickleball doubles varies depending on factors such as intensity, duration, player’s weight, and fitness level.
Research in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise Journal shows that playing doubles tennis at a moderate intensity for an hour can burn the following calories, depending on your body weight.
On average, a person weighing around 150 pounds can burn approximately 422 calories per hour playing tennis doubles at a moderate intensity.
Calories Burned When Playing Doubles Tennis
Assuming that playing doubles pickleball uses 30% less energy than doubles tennis, you can estimate the calories burned playing pickleball doubles at a moderate intensity for one hour:
Calories Burned When Playing Doubles Pickleball
On average, a person weighing around 150 pounds can burn approximately 300 calories per hour playing pickleball doubles at a moderate intensity.
The game involves constant movement, including running, pivoting, and swinging the paddle, which engages multiple muscle groups and contributes to calorie expenditure. Additionally, the intermittent nature of pickleball, with short bursts of intense activity followed by brief rest periods, can boost calorie burn through interval training effects.
Overall, pickleball doubles provides a fun and effective way to stay active and burn calories while enjoying the social and competitive aspects of the game.
Just for the record, when you play pickleball singles, you have to cover more distance and play shots from here and there. In such a game, there are more chances to burn even more calories. However, pickleball doubles is more fun and is suitable for the players of higher ages.
While pickleball singles is for young and athletic people if they are only playing the game for fun.
while playing professionally, it doesn’t matter if a player is playing pickleball singles of doubles, he must posses good stamina to beat his opponents.
Conclusion
In the above article, we’ve talked about what is needed to play pickleball doubles, how to play doubles pickleball, serving and scoring rules in the doubles pickleball game.
Pickleball doubles game offers a unique and exhilarating experience that combines elements of teamwork, strategy, and athleticism. With its accessible rules, quick learning curve, and emphasis on social interaction, pickleball doubles has become a beloved pastime for players of all ages and skill levels. The game fosters camaraderie, communication, and friendly competition, making it an ideal activity for friends, families, and communities to enjoy together.
Whether played casually for recreation or competitively in organized leagues and tournaments, pickleball doubles provide a dynamic outlet for physical activity and mental engagement. As its popularity continues to grow globally, pickleball doubles stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of sports that promote inclusivity, fun, and a sense of community.