How to Keep Score in Pickleball

Pickleball scoring confuses almost everyone at first. The three-number score call, the server switching, the mysterious "0-0-2" start—it all seems overcomplicated until it clicks. This guide will make it click.

The Basics: Only Servers Score

The most important rule in pickleball:

Only the serving team can score points.

If the receiving team wins the rally, they don't get a point—they get the serve. This is called a side-out.

This is why games can take a while. You might win 5 rallies in a row, but if you were receiving, you scored zero points during those rallies.

Doubles Scoring: The Three-Number Call

In doubles, the score has three numbers:

Server's Score – Receiver's Score – Server Number

Example: "4-2-1" means:

• Serving team has 4 points
• Receiving team has 2 points
• Server 1 is serving

Server 1 and Server 2

Each team has two players, and they're designated as Server 1 and Server 2.

• Server 1 serves first when their team gets the ball
• If Server 1's team loses the rally, Server 2 serves next
• If Server 2's team loses the rally, it's a side-out and the other team serves

Think of it as: each team gets two chances (two servers) before giving up the ball.

The Weird "0-0-2" Start

At the very beginning of the game, the starting team only gets ONE server, not two.

That's why games start "0-0-2" (or "0-0-start" in casual play):

• Serving team: 0 points
• Receiving team: 0 points
• Server 2 is serving (only one serve chance)

Why? To offset the advantage of serving first. If the first team got both servers, they'd have a big early advantage.

The Score Call Sequence

Before every serve, call the score out loud:

1. Your team's score (serving team)
2. Opponent's score (receiving team)
3. Which server you are (1 or 2)

Examples:

• "3-5-1" = We have 3, they have 5, I'm server 1
• "7-7-2" = We have 7, they have 7, I'm server 2
• "10-9-1" = Game point! We have 10, they have 9, I'm server 1

Singles Scoring: Two Numbers Only

Singles is simpler—no server number needed.

Just call: Server's Score – Receiver's Score

Example: "6-4" means server has 6, receiver has 4.

Singles Court Position Rule

In singles, your score determines which side you serve from:

• Even score (0, 2, 4, 6...) → Serve from the right side
• Odd score (1, 3, 5, 7...) → Serve from the left side

This means you'll alternate sides as you score, making singles a workout.

Winning the Game

Standard games are played to 11 points, win by 2.

• At 10-10, play continues until someone leads by 2
• Tournament games might be to 15 or 21

Switching Sides

In tournament play, teams switch sides:

• When the first team reaches 6 points (in a game to 11)
• When the first team reaches 8 points (in a game to 15)

Common Scoring Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting the Server Number

• Wrong: "5-3" (in doubles)
• Right: "5-3-2"

Mistake 2: Calling Your Score Second

• Wrong: "3-7-1" when you're losing 7-3
• Right: Server's score always comes first

Mistake 3: Wrong Position After Scoring

When your team scores, you switch positions with your partner. The server moves to the other side and serves again.

Mistake 4: Starting with "0-0-1"

• Wrong: Starting the game 0-0-1
• Right: Starting the game 0-0-2

Position Rules When Scoring

This is where people get tripped up:

When Your Team Scores (You're Serving)

1. You (the server) switch sides with your partner
2. You serve again from the new side
3. Server number stays the same

When You Lose the Rally as Server 1

1. You stay where you are
2. Your partner becomes Server 2
3. Your partner serves from wherever they are

When You Lose the Rally as Server 2

1. Side-out: other team gets the ball
2. They start with their Server 1

Quick Reference: Where Do I Stand?

At the start of each new service turn (after a side-out), players should be in their "correct" positions:

• Server 1 starts on the right side
• When the score is even, Server 1 should be on the right
• When the score is odd, Server 1 should be on the left

If Server 1 is on the wrong side based on the score, someone's position got messed up earlier in the game.

Using a Digital Scoreboard

Paper scoring works, but a digital scoreboard helps:

• No verbal disputes — Everyone can see the score
• Tracks server number — App handles the 1/2 logic
• Share with spectators — People watching can follow along

Create a free pickleball scoreboard →

Rally Scoring (New Alternative)

Some recreational groups use rally scoring where every rally awards a point to the winning team, regardless of who served.

• Games go faster
• Easier for beginners
• Not official rules (yet)
• Some tournaments experimenting with it

If using rally scoring, you only need two numbers (your score, their score).

Practice Exercise

Try calling these scores out loud:

1. Your team has 5, opponents have 7, you're server 2

   • Answer: "5-7-2"

2. Your team has 0, opponents have 0, game just started

   • Answer: "0-0-2"

3. Your team has 9, opponents have 10, you're server 1

   • Answer: "9-10-1"

4. Singles: You have 8, opponent has 6

   • Answer: "8-6" (serve from right side since 8 is even)

Start Your Game

Now that you know the rules, keep score easily with a free digital scoreboard:

Create Free Pickleball Scoreboard →

Running a tournament? Set up a bracket to track all your matches.