Racquetball Doubles Rules

Racquetball is a game similar to tennis and squash, in which players use a racquet to hit a ball in such a way that their opponents are unable to return it. It is different from tennis in that it takes place indoors and does not require a net. As with tennis, it has two basic types of play: "singles," in which two players compete against each other, and "doubles," in which two teams of two compete against each other. Most of the rules for doubles play are the same as for singles, with a few exceptions.

  1. Serving

    • Players decide on the serving order at the beginning of the game, and they must maintain this order throughout the game. If a player serves the ball out of order, her team must forfeit any points made on that serve.

      When one partner on a team is serving, the other partner must, as the University of Maryland Campus Recreation Department explains, "stand erect with his/her back to the side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line." The service box is the area between the service line and the short line. While the serving team is standing inside the service box, the receiving team is farther back, behind the receiving line.

    Hindering

    • As racquetball is played on a small, enclosed court with both teams occupying the same space, players commonly have trouble returning the ball because opponents may be in the way. When it is clear that a player fails to return the ball because an opponent is in the way, this is a "hinder." As in singles play, whenever a hinder occurs, the result is an immediate stop of play and another serve from the same player. In doubles play, since twice as many players occupy the same space, hindering becomes an even bigger issue. Even if a player's partner has a clear shot at the ball, and even if that partner actually attempts to return it and fails, the player who did not make the attempt can still claim a hinder when a player on the opposite team keeps him from returning the ball. A player cannot claim a hinder if his own teammate gets in the way.

    Returns

    • Both players on a team may return the ball, and they do not need to do so in a specific order. On the same rally, both players may swing at the ball, but only one may actually return it. This means that, if one player hits the ball and it does not go in the proper direction, his or her partner may not hit the ball again to correct its trajectory.