What is the Double Bounce Rule in Pickleball
Pickleball is a paddle sport that is a variation of tennis. Like regular tennis, a pickleball is shuttled back and forth over a net between two opposing players. However, pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court over a net about half the size of a net. Instead of rackets, players use paddles that are roughly the size of dinner forks.
Closely resembling badminton, pickleball uses a court that has lines painted into the floor. Pickleball is a popular sport in the United States and can be played by people of all ages. Pickleball is played with 2.25 inch paddles and a hard perforated plastic ball similar to a whiffle ball. While pickleball is non-contact, players do volley, overhead smash and dink the ball just like in tennis.
The net is 2.75 inches lower than in tennis, but players volley and land overhead shots just like in tennis. Pickleball can be played indoors or outdoors.
Pickle ball is the athletic game played by many retired people, but the basic idea is simple: hit a ball with a smaller ball into your opponent’s side of the court. That’s easy enough, but things are a bit more complicated once your opponent starts to serve.
The pickle ball serve is called the pickle ball double bounce, and that’s when the pickle ball bounces twice in a row on your side of the ballcourt. It’s a trick meant to throw off returning players, and it’s a good strategy to employ in pickle ball, but what does the rule mean?
The Double Bounce Rule
The Rule of Two Bounces When the first two strokes (the serve and return serve) must bounce before being hit, it is known as double bounce. After allowing both shots to bounce, each team can now hit the ball independently.
- The Double Bounce Rule is based on the following principles:
- Serve must bounce.
- The return serve must bounce.
- Extend the game naturally for more rallies and longer play.
- To some extent, the amount of competition can be reduced.
Reduce the unfair advantage that is given to thr serving team. If you’re new to pickleball, you might have forgotten about the double bounce rule. It’s possible that you’ll lose a point as a result of this. If you were a former tennis player, it goes against all of your instincts. After you have served, you must not charge the net. It has a very specific function in pickleball… and it’s brilliant!
What’s the Point of Double Bounce Rule
One of the most perplexing rules in sports is the double bounce rule. Each team must play their initial shot of each rally off a bounce, according to the rule. This means that before returning the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce, and then the serving team must let the ball bounce before playing their next shot. Also checkout the pickleball terms & definitions to understand the game better.
The game becomes a free for all once each team has allowed the ball to bounce once on their side of the court, and each return can be volleyed or played on a bounce. In contrast to tennis, where just the serve must bounce before being returned, the double bounce rule applies.
With so many similarities between Tennis and Pickleball, you might be wondering why the rule exists at all.
The double bounce rule was implemented to make rallies last longer by eliminating the serve and volley advantage.
The serve and volley strategy is a frequent Tennis strategy in which the serving player rushes up to the net immediately after serving and attempts to terminate the point as quickly as possible by volleying the return.
Pickleball players can ensure that rallies go longer than six seconds by using the double bounce rule. The rule permits each team to take up position at the net and play a longer, more tactical rally.
Tips for Remembering the Rule
Beginners often overlook the Double Bounce Rule because it does not appear to be a natural way to play. When returning a serve, the best method to remember the rule is to stand far back in the court. Take a few deliberate steps backward to remind yourself that you must allow the ball to bounce.
As a visual guide, use the baseline to determine where you should stand. The same advice applies to the serving side. Allow yourself to take a step back to create space for the third shot.
If the ball falls near the baseline, you’ll have allowed yourself enough leeway to let it bounce rather than responding too fast and hitting a volley.
Another common error is for someone on the serving side of the court to move up too quickly after the serve has been made. You’re probably nodding your head as you read this if you’re a seasoned player. We’ve all saw and experienced it. When a serve is made, it is usual for beginners to move towards the net, however this is a mistake. If the return is deep and coming straight at you, it will most likely land at your feet and be difficult to strike until it bounces.
So keep that in mind!
FAQS
Is Pickleball the only sport with a double bounce rule?
NO! Pickleball isn’t the only paddle sport with a two-bout rule.
Is the “Double Bounce Rule”, and The “Two Bounce Rule”, the Same Thing?
Yes. It sort of is. In 2018, the double bounce rule was renamed the “two-bounce” rule in the official pickleball rules manual. It means exactly the same thing. This is the regulation that states that the ball must bounce on both sides before being tossed (volley).It makes no difference whether the regulation is referred to as the “double bounce” or “two bounce” rule.
