HELP-Serving rules in doubles

[Krish]

Folks,

I have read pretty much every rule site I can find about rules for a
racquetball doubles game. The rules talk about serving order being
maintained, which means if I serve before my partner, I must follow that
order throught the game. I totally get that. I found no references about
which opponent I should serve to. In my gym, most players are pretty rigid
about keeping the positions of the players in the doubles game the same at
the time of serving. Which means that if my partner stays in the box to my
left, he has to follow that through out the game. Of course that restricts
me to always serve to the opponent who is standing on the right side of the
court. They do allow Z serves, but that would most likely cause my partner
to get hit.

I hope you understand the situation I described. So, here are my specific
questions:
1. Do the servers always have to be in the same positions while serving?
2. Do the receivers have to be in the same side of the court while
receiving?

I would appreciate your comments.

Krish

[JMc]

Krish,
Enjoy your doubles.
Rules do require maintaining order of service as you noted, and prescribe
the penalty for out of order service. Otherwise, you and your partner can
switch sides so that you can serve to whichever side you prefer, and you can
choose on each service.

That said, many clubs and tournaments have adopted a variety of written
and/or unwritten "Gentleman's Rules" that among other things make the game
just a little more predictable and hence, less hinders are called or
debated. One gentleman's rule that is applied frequently in mixed doubles
tourney's where the male server must serve to the male receiver. This then
requires a corollary to determine which side dictates. Typically, the
receiving team chooses sides of the court (left and right), and servers must
then adapt to ensure the male server to male receiver. Server can still
safely choose a high z-serve or a drive.

Most recreational/pick-up club level doubles matches observe gentlemen's
rules as you describe happens in your gym. Bear in mind, you will not
likely find that in a men's or women's doubles tournament, so if you and
your partner are preparing to play a tourney, you might suggest you gym
opponents try tourney rules for a game or two to get used to the lesser
predictability. But of course decide before play starts.

Jere

Post by Krish
Folks,
I have read pretty much every rule site I can find about rules for a
racquetball doubles game. The rules talk about serving order being
maintained, which means if I serve before my partner, I must follow that
order throught the game. I totally get that. I found no references about
which opponent I should serve to. In my gym, most players are pretty
rigid about keeping the positions of the players in the doubles game the
same at the time of serving. Which means that if my partner stays in the
box to my left, he has to follow that through out the game. Of course
that restricts me to always serve to the opponent who is standing on the
right side of the court. They do allow Z serves, but that would most
likely cause my partner to get hit.
I hope you understand the situation I described. So, here are my specific
1. Do the servers always have to be in the same positions while serving?
2. Do the receivers have to be in the same side of the court while
receiving?
I would appreciate your comments.
Krish

[Krish]

Hello Jere,

Thanks a lot for such detailed information.

I suppose the argument given to me in my gym is that if the server can
decide who to serve, then it gives the server an advantage to serve to the
weaker link. The argument is definitely a sound one. On the other hand, my
argument is also valid, which disallows me to serve to my advantage.

How about a Gentleman's rule to mandate alternating the serve to each
opponent?

Thanks again.

Krish

Post by JMc
Krish,
Enjoy your doubles.
Rules do require maintaining order of service as you noted, and prescribe
the penalty for out of order service. Otherwise, you and your partner can
switch sides so that you can serve to whichever side you prefer, and you
can choose on each service.
That said, many clubs and tournaments have adopted a variety of written
and/or unwritten "Gentleman's Rules" that among other things make the game
just a little more predictable and hence, less hinders are called or
debated. One gentleman's rule that is applied frequently in mixed doubles
tourney's where the male server must serve to the male receiver. This
then requires a corollary to determine which side dictates. Typically,
the receiving team chooses sides of the court (left and right), and
servers must then adapt to ensure the male server to male receiver.
Server can still safely choose a high z-serve or a drive.
Most recreational/pick-up club level doubles matches observe gentlemen's
rules as you describe happens in your gym. Bear in mind, you will not
likely find that in a men's or women's doubles tournament, so if you and
your partner are preparing to play a tourney, you might suggest you gym
opponents try tourney rules for a game or two to get used to the lesser
predictability. But of course decide before play starts.
Jere

Post by Krish
Folks,
I have read pretty much every rule site I can find about rules for a
racquetball doubles game. The rules talk about serving order being
maintained, which means if I serve before my partner, I must follow that
order throught the game. I totally get that. I found no references
about which opponent I should serve to. In my gym, most players are
pretty rigid about keeping the positions of the players in the doubles
game the same at the time of serving. Which means that if my partner
stays in the box to my left, he has to follow that through out the game.
Of course that restricts me to always serve to the opponent who is
standing on the right side of the court. They do allow Z serves, but
that would most likely cause my partner to get hit.
I hope you understand the situation I described. So, here are my
1. Do the servers always have to be in the same positions while serving?
2. Do the receivers have to be in the same side of the court while
receiving?
I would appreciate your comments.
Krish

[JMc]

Krish, Good question/suggestion. At the club I regularly play, and almost
everyone I've ever played, we do observe the alternating gentleman's rule
when playing cut-throat. Keeps everyone in the game, and as you say, forces
the server to "play" both opponents rather than just the weaker one.

I live and play in eastern PA now. Have played throughout PA, MD, DE, NJ,
NY, CT in recent tournaments. Have also played in most major US cities
while on business trips. Maybe I'll catch you some day.

Post by Krish
Hello Jere,
Thanks a lot for such detailed information.
I suppose the argument given to me in my gym is that if the server can
decide who to serve, then it gives the server an advantage to serve to the
weaker link. The argument is definitely a sound one. On the other hand,
my argument is also valid, which disallows me to serve to my advantage.
How about a Gentleman's rule to mandate alternating the serve to each
opponent?
Thanks again.
Krish

Post by JMc
Krish,
Enjoy your doubles.
Rules do require maintaining order of service as you noted, and prescribe
the penalty for out of order service. Otherwise, you and your partner
can switch sides so that you can serve to whichever side you prefer, and
you can choose on each service.
That said, many clubs and tournaments have adopted a variety of written
and/or unwritten "Gentleman's Rules" that among other things make the
game just a little more predictable and hence, less hinders are called or
debated. One gentleman's rule that is applied frequently in mixed
doubles tourney's where the male server must serve to the male receiver.
This then requires a corollary to determine which side dictates.
Typically, the receiving team chooses sides of the court (left and
right), and servers must then adapt to ensure the male server to male
receiver. Server can still safely choose a high z-serve or a drive.
Most recreational/pick-up club level doubles matches observe gentlemen's
rules as you describe happens in your gym. Bear in mind, you will not
likely find that in a men's or women's doubles tournament, so if you and
your partner are preparing to play a tourney, you might suggest you gym
opponents try tourney rules for a game or two to get used to the lesser
predictability. But of course decide before play starts.
Jere

Post by Krish
Folks,
I have read pretty much every rule site I can find about rules for a
racquetball doubles game. The rules talk about serving order being
maintained, which means if I serve before my partner, I must follow that
order throught the game. I totally get that. I found no references
about which opponent I should serve to. In my gym, most players are
pretty rigid about keeping the positions of the players in the doubles
game the same at the time of serving. Which means that if my partner
stays in the box to my left, he has to follow that through out the game.
Of course that restricts me to always serve to the opponent who is
standing on the right side of the court. They do allow Z serves, but
that would most likely cause my partner to get hit.
I hope you understand the situation I described. So, here are my
1. Do the servers always have to be in the same positions while serving?
2. Do the receivers have to be in the same side of the court while
receiving?
I would appreciate your comments.
Krish