Pickleball Scoring Guide
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Pickleball scoring can sometimes be confusing for new and experienced players alike, but understanding the key rules is essential. Whether you’re playing singles or doubles, the basic scoring system remains consistent, with only slight differences in rhythm and flow. To help you improve your game, we’ve put together a comprehensive Pickleball scoring guide. In it, you’ll find everything you need to know about serving, keeping track of points, calling the score, and understanding the distinctions between singles and doubles scoring.
Points to Win: In pickleball, games are played to 11 points, and you must win by at least 2 points to claim victory.
Player Position: The player positioned on the right service court always serves first for their team.
Scoring Points: Points can only be earned by the serving team. When it's your team’s serve, that's your chance to rack up points.
If you're serving and win the rally, you'll continue serving.
Doubles Pickleball Scoring Guide & Rules
In doubles pickleball, points can only be scored by the team currently serving. If you're on the receiving end, you're unable to score points, much like in other sports where only the serving side can accumulate points.
The serve always starts from the player on the right side of the court, also known as the "even" court. The server must hit the ball underhand and diagonally across the court to the opposing team.
When the serving side wins a rally, the server moves to the left or "odd" court and serves diagonally again.
At the start of a game, the first team to serve begins with the #2 serve, meaning if they lose the rally, it's a team sideout. This only happens for the very first serve of the game.
The server will alternate serving from the right to the left each time they win a point.
Only the serving side alternates between the right and left courts, and they only switch after scoring. The receiving team remains in place.
When the first server loses the rally, the serve is passed to the second player on their team. Players remain on their current sides, and the second server serves from their position.
When the second server loses the rally, it's a sideout, and the other team takes over serving, starting with the player on the right side. This cycle continues throughout the game.
The server number (1 or 2) only applies to that specific service turn. Whoever is on the right side when the team regains serve is considered the first server for that turn. On the next service turn, it could be the other player on the right side who serves first. A common mistake for beginners is thinking a player keeps the same server number throughout the game.
For the very first serve of the game, only one player serves. The score called at the start of a pickleball game is 0-0-2, with the "2" indicating that the second server starts the game. If that team loses the rally, the serve goes to the other team, ensuring no advantage for the team that serves first.
The pickleball court dimensions remain the same for both singles and doubles play.
How to Call the Score in Pickleball
The server always calls the score using three numbers:
- The Serving Team's Score
- The Receiving Team's Score
- The Server Number (1 or 2)
We like to remember it as: me, you, who.
Singles Pickleball Scoring Guide & Rules
Points can only be won when you're serving.
When the server’s score is even, they serve from the right. When the server’s score is odd, they serve from the left.
Always announce the score by calling out your score first, followed by your opponent’s score.
The first player to reach 11 points wins, but remember—you still need to win by 2 points!
The court dimensions are identical for both singles and doubles pickleball.