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Who Serves First In Pickleball in Singles & Doubles?

Date: July 20, 2026
Time to read: 2 min.

In pickleball, the serving order is an important element of the game. Knowing which player serves first and when they will switch off can help players develop their strategies and techniques. The following guide explains the rules for serving in pickleball, as well as how to choose a server and keep track of scoring.

Table of Contents

How to Choose a Server

In pickleball, the choice of who serves first is determined by either a coin toss or a paddle spin. If a coin toss is used, one player calls out “heads” or “tails” and flips the coin. Whichever side it lands on determines who will serve first. When using a paddle spin, each player spins their paddle on the court. Whoever’s paddle stops closest to the net will be chosen to serve first.

Serving Order

The server then gets two serves in a row before switching off with the other players on their side (the side opposite them). This means that if Player A serves first, Player B will serve second, followed by th the rules around serving, they may end up committing a fault and losing points which can alter the overall result of the game. All things considered, it is important for players serving first to have finesse when serving in order to avoid any possible disadvantage that may come along with it.

What is the difference between serving in pickleball singles and doubles?

The main difference between serving in pickleball singles and doubles is that in singles, only one player serves while in doubles, two players serve. Additionally, when playing doubles, both players must alternate sides after every two points, whereas when playing singles, only one player has to do so after every point. Finally, when playing doubles, each team must send the ball diagonally over the net so as to cross into both serve courts (left and right), whereas, in singles, only one court needs to be served into.

Which side serves first in pickleball?

In both singles and doubles, the very first serve of the game always begins from the right-hand side of the court, which is also known as the even court. The player on the right side must serve diagonally into the opponent’s right-hand service court.

Conclusion

Serving in pickleball can make all the difference in terms of winning or losing games or matches! By knowing which player should serve first, as well as how often they should switch sides while serving, players can better plan out their strategies accordingly in order to maximize their chances of winning! It has never been easier than now—with this guide—to understand how pickleball scoring works and what you need to do in order to win your next match!

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