Who Serves in Pickleball? The Serving Order, Explained Step by Step
The rulingBoth partners, then side out
In pickleball doubles, both players on a team serve before the serve goes to the other team (a side out), with one exception: at the start of each game, only one player on the first serving team serves before the side out. That is why the score starts at "0-0-2." The player on the right side serves first after each side out, keeps serving and switching sides as long as the team wins rallies, and then the partner serves until the team loses another rally (USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, Rule 5.B).
The doubles serving order, step by step
| Moment | Who serves | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Start of the game | The starting server of the team that won the choice to serve, as the "second server" | 5.B, 5.B.2 |
| That team loses a rally | Side out: serve goes to the other team | 5.B |
| After every side out | The player on the right side for their team's score is the first server | 5.B.2 |
| First server wins a rally | Same server, switches to the other side | 5.B.5 |
| First server's team loses a rally | Serve passes to the partner (second server) | 5.B.5 |
| Second server's team loses a rally | Side out | 5.B.6 |
How to know who serves: read the score
The score in doubles is called as three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, then the server number, 1 or 2 (Rule 6.B.2). So "5-3-1" means the serving team has 5, the receivers have 3, and the first server is serving. Each game starts with "zero-zero-two."
Where you stand is tied to your team's score (Rule 5.B.3):
- When your team's score is zero or even, your team's starting server is on the right.
- When your team's score is odd, your team's starting server is on the left.
That even-right, odd-left rule is the best way to check your position when you lose track. At tournaments, the Tournament Director provides a way to identify each team's starting server, and starting servers must wear it where players and officials can see it, so everyone can tell who started on the right (Rules 16.H and 18.C).
How many serves do you get?
One attempt per rally. USA Pickleball's rules summary says each server gets only one serve attempt, and a serve that clips the net and lands in the right court is simply in play; our guide to what happens when a pickleball serve hits the net covers that case. You keep serving, alternating right and left, until your team loses a rally.
Singles: simpler
In singles there is one server per side. When the server's score is zero or even, they serve from the right; when it is odd, from the left. The server keeps serving until they lose a rally, which is a side out (Rule 5.A). The score is called as two numbers: server's score, then receiver's score (Rule 6.B.1).
Rally scoring: one server per team
USA Pickleball has a provisional rally scoring option (Rule 14.A). Under it, a point is scored on every rally, the score is called as two numbers, and only one player on a doubles team serves before a side out. After each side out, the player on the right for the team's score serves. Check which scoring system your event uses before you start.
Who serves first in the match?
At tournaments, the referee uses a fair method, such as a coin toss or picking a number written on the back of the scoresheet, to decide which side gets first choice. The winner can choose to serve, receive, pick a starting end, or defer the choice to the opponent, and the choice cannot be changed once made (Rule 17.C.4). In casual play, any fair method works.
When someone serves out of turn
Before the serve, any player may ask the opponent who should be serving or receiving, and the opponent must answer (Rule 5.C). During a rally, a player may stop play to claim a wrong server or position:
- Correct claim: the rally is replayed (5.C.1.a).
- Incorrect claim: fault on the player who stopped play (5.C.1.b).
- Discovered after the rally: the result stands (5.C.2).
Before you serve, run through our legal pickleball serve checklist for the motion and foot rules.
Quick questions
- How many times do you serve in pickleball?
You keep serving as long as your side keeps winning rallies, switching sides after each point. Each server gets one attempt per rally; a fault ends that server's turn.
- Why does pickleball start at 0-0-2?
At the start of each game, only the starting server on the first serving team serves before a side out, so that player is treated as the second server. The rulebook says the score is called zero-zero-two to start each game.
- How do you decide who serves first?
In tournaments, the referee uses a fair method such as a coin toss or picking a number written on the scoresheet; the winner chooses to serve, receive, pick an end, or defer. In rec play, any fair method works.
- What if the wrong person serves?
Any player may stop the rally to point out a wrong server or position. A correct claim means a replay; an incorrect claim is a fault on the player who stopped play. If nobody notices until after the rally, the result stands.
Rulebook sources
- 2026 Official Rulebook (Sections 5 and 6, Rule 14.A, Rule 17.C.4), USA Pickleballusapickleball.org
- Pickleball Rules Summary, USA Pickleballusapickleball.org
Rule statements were checked against these sources on October 19, 2026. See a mistake? Read our corrections policy or email contact@sportsanswered.com.
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Expert review
Reviewed by Bob Savar on October 19, 2026.