Voor het spelen
Kant en opslag kiezen, en wat er voor de eerste bal gebeurt.
The toss: serve, receive or choose an end
A coin toss starts the match. The winners choose to serve, to receive or which end to start from, and the other pair takes the choice that is left.
Serving and receiving order
Serve passes from pair to pair after every game, and within each pair the players take turns. The receiving order is fixed for the whole set: the same player always takes the first point of each game.
Changing ends
Pairs swap ends after the first game of each set and then after every two games: after games one, three, five and so on. In a tie-break they swap after every six points.
Running late for a match
In an FIP competition, a pair that is not on court and ready ten minutes after the official start time loses by walkover, unless the tournament umpire accepts it was force majeure.
The three-minute warm-up
Before every FIP match the four players share a compulsory three-minute warm-up rally. It is a courtesy rally with your opponents, and you stay in the match area while it lasts.
What to wear: clothing and shoes
Wear proper sports clothing and sports shoes, never swimwear. In a competition, breaking the rule earns a penalty, and a player who does not put it right is disqualified.
How many balls, and when they are changed
Organisers announce the ball, whether two or three are used and any change policy before the event. A lost or damaged ball is replaced straight away, because play never carries on with only one ball.