5. Player Positions and Serving Sequence›5.B

5.B.3Correct Serving and Receiving Positions

Your team score decides where each partner stands to serve and receive. The starting server is on the right when the team score is even (or zero) and on the left when it is odd. Their partner takes the opposite side.

See it in the app Play Today’s call

Show me on the court

Side out: who serves next?First rally of a doubles game The wrong player returns serve Served from the wrong side

Myths about this

“In doubles, both partners serve at the start of every game.”“After a side out, the player who did not serve last time must serve.”

See Rule 5.B.3 in the official 2026 Rulebook ↗