Double Bounce
Term Last revised October 21, 2026 Synonyms: double bounce rule, two-bounce rule
In short. The double bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side after the serve before volleys are allowed.
Understanding the concept
After the serve, the returning team must let the ball bounce, then the serving team must do the same on the next shot. Only then are volleys allowed.
Example
The returner lets the serve bounce, then the server lets the return bounce before volleying.
Frequently asked questions
What Does “Double Bounce” Mean, Exactly?
The double bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side after the serve before volleys are allowed.
Why Care About “Double Bounce”?
After the serve, the returning team must let the ball bounce, then the serving team must do the same on the next shot. Only then are volleys allowed.
What Does “Double Bounce” Look Like in Practice?
The returner lets the serve bounce, then the server lets the return bounce before volleying.
Where this term appears
- Dink, Drop, Drive: Telling the Three Pickleball Shots Apart
- Playing the Kitchen: Dink Strategy in Singles and Doubles
- Where to Place Your Dinks: Targets and Trajectories to Unsettle Your Opponent
- Ready Position and Footwork at the Kitchen Line: The Checklist
- What Is a Dink in Pickleball? Definition and Role of the Shot
- Kitchen Rule in Pickleball: What's Allowed and What Isn't
- The Double Bounce Rule Explained for Dink Players
- Nailing the Dink Motion: Paddle Grip, Swing and Touch
- Seven Stroke Mistakes That Ruin Your Dinks