Doubles Serving Rules | Table Tennis | PingSkills

Summary

In doubles tennis, players serve diagonally from their right-hand service box to their opponent's right-hand box, and each player serves two serves before swapping sides with their partner. The sequence continues with each player alternating serves and side swaps. The server must follow this rotation, while the receiver does not swap sides. These rules create a structured flow during the match, ensuring fairness and consistency in how serves are executed. Understanding these simple but crucial rules helps in navigating doubles tennis effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Serve from the right-hand service box diagonally to the opponent's right-hand service box in doubles.
• 😀 You are never allowed to serve from the right-hand side to the left-hand side of the court in doubles.
• 😀 The server gets two serves per turn in doubles, starting from the right-hand service box.
• 😀 After a player completes their two serves, they swap sides with their partner.
• 😀 The server’s partner does not serve until it’s their designated turn, and only serves after the first server has completed their two serves.
• 😀 After serving two serves, the server and their partner must swap sides of the court.
• 😀 The player receiving serves does not swap sides after completing their turn to receive. They just prepare for the next server.
• 😀 After one team completes their two serves, the opposing team takes their turn to serve in the same pattern.
• 😀 Doubles serving follows a set pattern: one server serves two times, swaps sides with their partner, and the other player serves next.
• 😀 The serving pattern ensures that every player on a team gets a turn to serve while adhering to the required serving order.

Q & A

What is the first rule for serving in doubles tennis?

The first rule is that the server must serve from their right-hand box diagonally to the opponent's right-hand box.

Can a player serve from the left-hand box in doubles tennis?

No, in doubles tennis, players never serve from the left-hand box across to the other side. Serving is always done from the right-hand box to the opponent's right-hand box.

How many serves does a player get in doubles tennis before rotating?

Each player is allowed two serves before swapping sides with their partner.

What happens after a player serves their two serves in doubles?

After serving two serves, the server swaps sides with their partner.

When do players rotate positions in doubles tennis?

Players rotate after each has served their two serves, swapping sides with their partner each time.

Do receiving players swap sides in doubles tennis?

No, receiving players do not swap sides. Only the servers and their partners rotate positions after serving.

Why is it important to serve diagonally in doubles tennis?

Serving diagonally ensures that the serve reaches the correct box on the opponent's side, maintaining the integrity of the game and its rules.

What happens if the server misses their first serve in doubles?

If the server misses their first serve, they get a second chance to serve. If they miss both serves, it results in a fault, and the opponent gains the point.

Does the server need to always serve to the same opponent in doubles tennis?

Yes, the server must always serve to the same opponent’s right-hand box, but the opponent receiving the serve will change after each rotation.

Can the server serve to the left-hand side of the opponent’s court in doubles tennis?

No, the server can only serve diagonally from the right-hand box to the opponent’s right-hand box. Serving to the left-hand side is not allowed.