a rule concerning serving in doubles

[scotus]

Hi, I haven't played doubles tournaments in a long time, so I no longer know the rule concerning the following situation:

Let's say Player A, who is a stronger server than his partner Player B, served to close out the first set. In their first service game in the second set, can Player A serve again, rather than taking turns as usual?

Since Partners can switch sides after each set, I think I remember this being allowed. But I am just not sure....

[gully]

In a word: Yes.

[d_frank]

yep. We used this many times last season since my serve is alot stronger than my partners :p

[papa]

Although the rules state that after a set a doubles team can in effect change the order of serve (like the above posters have said) most matches at the club level will stick to the original order. They will accept that you can change sides but for some reason many think the order of serve should remain fixed which is rather silly.

[Geezer Guy]

It's in your best interest to start EACH set with your best chance of holding serve. That may mean your best server is serving, or it may mean your best volleyer is at net.

You do NOT need to just automatically continue with the same rotation that you used in the previous set - that would be a bad move tactically.

Note that in each set you may start serving from the opposite end of the court. In the first set it may have been smart for player A to start out, because he serves well into the wind (for example) and in the second set it may be smarter for player B to start out because he's left handed and won't have to look into the sun (as another example).

If someone says you can't change the order of serve after the set is complete, just politely tell them that it's well within the rules, and that you're going to do so.

[grizzly4life]

my partner and i lost the biggest doubles tournament of the year last year partly because we didn't know that rule.... if you re-arranged the service games, we win the 3rd set (although i realize the competitive dynamic would have been different too).

[simi]

Anybody know chapter and verse. Knowing this will come in handy during the upcoming seniors league season.

[papa]

Rules of Tennis ---- 14.1

[InvisibleSoul]

What about receiving? This should be a fairly straightforward answer...

Say for the first receiving game in the set, I start on the deuce court.

For the second receiving game of the set, does my partner have to be the one receiving on the deuce court, or can I receive on the deuce court again?

[simi]

Rules of Tennis ---- 14.1

Thanks, pop.

[simi]

What about receiving? This should be a fairly straightforward answer...

Say for the first receiving game in the set, I start on the deuce court.

For the second receiving game of the set, does my partner have to be the one receiving on the deuce court, or can I receive on the deuce court again?

Not sure I understand your correctly. It's okay to switch sides at the beginning of each set, but not after the set begins.

[InvisibleSoul]

So is it okay for me to be the receiver on the deuce court the entire match?

[grizzly4life]

So is it okay for me to be the receiver on the deuce court the entire match?

i think you have it backwards. you don't generally switch receiving positions like you switch the player serving, and you CAN'T during a set

so the norm is that you'd stay in the same receiving position the whole match, although you can change for each set.

you want the best server serving first each set. and you want to return serve in your better side (or at least relative to partner)....

in fairness, many people don't know you can lead-off strong server each set.

[papa]

i think you have it backwards. you don't generally switch receiving positions like you switch the player serving, and you CAN'T during a set

so the norm is that you'd stay in the same receiving position the whole match, although you can change for each set.

you want the best server serving first each set. and you want to return serve in your better side (or at least relative to partner)....

in fairness, many people don't know you can lead-off strong server each set.

NO, you can change receiving positions as well. Once you receive, after a set starts, you cannot then change positions. If you start serving, you pick your side AFTER your service game - who goes first (serving) has nothing to do with which side you play as receiver.

[Geezer Guy]

Papa's right. It's perfectly fine to switch receiving sides at the beginning of a new set. And, if you got your butt's kicked the first set, switching sides might just turn things around.

[scotus]

Thank you all for clearing this up for me. --scotus