Somebody served from the wrong side, or the wrong partner stepped up to serve, and you only notice mid-rally. Short version: If you stop the rally and you are right, the rally is replayed. If nobody notices until the rally is over, it stands as played. Either way, fix the positions and call the score again before the next serve. For more on this topic, see all our doubles guides.
What happens when you catch a wrong server mid-rally?
Any player can stop the rally to point out a wrong server, a wrong receiver or a wrong position. When the rule record describes a correct claim, the outcome is a replay: the rally is played again with everyone in the right place.
What to do, in order:
- Stop play and say what you see: "wrong server" or "wrong side".
- Check the score call. Server's score, receiver's score, server number.
- Put the right player in the right court.
- Replay the rally.
Rulebook numbering and wording change from edition to edition, and a wrong server used to be treated as a fault in some wording. The common thread is that the error gets corrected and play goes on. Check the edition your event or club uses if the stakes are high.
| When you find it | What happens |
|---|---|
| During the rally, and your claim is right | The rally is replayed |
| After the rally is over | The rally stands as played |
| During the rally, and your claim is wrong | Fault on the player who stopped it |
What if nobody notices until the rally ends?
Then the rally stands as played. The rule record says that when a player or position error is found after the rally has played out, the result of that rally holds.
You still fix it right away. Before anyone serves again, work out who should be serving and from which side, move the players, and call the full score out loud.
What if you stop the rally and you are wrong?
That is a fault on the player who stopped the rally. So check before you shout. Look at the score, then at who is standing where. If you are not sure, wait until the rally ends and sort it out before the next serve. The rally stands, and nobody is penalised for a quiet check.
What is the difference between a wrong server and a wrong side?
Two separate mistakes, and they often show up together.
- Wrong server: the wrong partner serves. For example, the second server steps up when it is still the first server's turn.
- Wrong side: the right partner serves, but from the wrong court. The score says even, so the serve should come from the right, and the server is standing on the left.
Both are position or server errors, and the same steps apply. Stop the rally if you catch it, or fix it before the next serve if you find it late.
A quick example. Your team has 4 points, the other team has 2, and you are first server. The call is 4-2-1. Your score is even, so the first server of the game should be on the right. If that player is standing on the left, one of two things is off: the players are on the wrong sides, or the score was called wrong. Say the full score out loud, count back through the game with your partner, and agree on it before you serve.
How do you know who should be serving?
Start with the score call. In doubles it is three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number, 1 or 2, as the call is described. A game starts at 0-0-2, and the opening server counts as server 2. If you want the reasoning, see why a game starts at 0-0-2.
Then match the side to the score:
- The serve is made from the right side when the server's score is even, and from the left when it is odd.
- When your team's score is even, the player who served first in that game stands on the right. When it is odd, that player stands on the left.
- If that does not match, either the players are on the wrong side or the score was called wrong, as this scoring and positioning guide puts it.
The server number belongs to the service turn, not to a person. It's a common mix-up, and our guide on server 1 or server 2 covers it.
How do you avoid it next time?
- Say the full score out loud before every serve, all three numbers.
- Check that the server's side matches the score: even on the right, odd on the left.
- Let one person own the count, and let everyone speak up if it sounds wrong.
- Keep a simple routine. For the full routine, read how to keep score in doubles.
Try it
In Pickle Call you tap the side that won each rally, one tap per rally, and the app keeps the call, the server number and the serving side for you. A small court on the score screen shows where each player stands and who is serving, so you can check it against the call. See the server number kept for you. Pickle Call is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. No account, no tracking.
Bottom line
Caught mid-rally and right: replay. Found after the rally: it stands. Stopped it and wrong: fault on you. Then fix positions and re-call the score before the next serve.
Questions
- Do you lose the serve for serving from the wrong side?
- Not as a penalty by itself. If a player stops the rally and is right about the error, the rally is replayed. If nobody notices until the rally ends, the rally stands as played. Rule wording changed between rulebook editions, so check the one your event uses.
- Can any player stop the rally?
- Yes, any player can stop the rally to point out a wrong server, receiver or position. If the claim turns out to be wrong, it is a fault on the player who stopped it.
- What if we find the mistake after the point is over?
- The rally stands as played. Fix the positions and the score call before the next serve.
- How can I tell if I am on the right side?
- Look at your team's score. When it is even, the player who served first in that game stands on the right. When it is odd, that player stands on the left.
