Pickleball, the dynamic and fast-growing sport, offers two primary scoring systems: traditional side-out scoring and rally scoring. While the former remains the official standard, recent changes introduced by USA Pickleball (USAP) have expanded the use of rally scoring in tournaments. This shift marks an evolution in how the game is played, offering versatility to cater to different tournament formats.
Pickleball Rules and Scoring
General Rules for Scoring in Pickleball
- Points to Win: Matches are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by a 2-point margin.
- Player Position: The player positioned on the right service court always serves first for their team.
- Scoring Points: Points can only be scored when a team is serving. The receiving team cannot earn points.
Doubles Pickleball Scoring Rules
In doubles, scoring and positioning follow a structured pattern that ensures fair play and strategy.
Key Rules:
- Scoring Points: Only the serving team can score points. If the receiving side wins a rally, they gain the serve but do not earn a point.
- First Serve: The game begins with the player on the right side (even court) serving underhand diagonally to the opposite court.
- Service Rotation: When the serving side scores a point, the server moves to the left (odd court) and serves diagonally again.
Serving Sequence:
- To minimize the first team’s advantage, the starting team serves as the second server for the initial rally. This is why the first score is called "0-0-2."
- After losing the rally, the serve passes to the second server on the team.
- When the second server loses the rally, it becomes a side-out, and the opposing team gains the serve. The player on the right court serves first for the new serving team.
Player Movement:
- Players on the serving team alternate between the right and left courts only when they score a point.
- The receiving team does not switch sides during the serve.
Server Number:
- The server number (1 or 2) applies only for that service turn. When the team regains the serve, the player on the right side becomes the first server for the new turn.
Singles Pickleball Scoring Rules
Singles scoring retains simplicity while mirroring the doubles format with fewer players.
Key Rules:
- Scoring Points: Just as in doubles, a player can only earn points during their serve.
- Serving Position: The server’s score determines their position. If the server’s score is even, they serve from the right side. If it is odd, they serve from the left side.
Announcing the Score:
- The server always calls out the score before serving, stating their own score first, followed by the receiver’s score. For example: "5-3."
Winning the Game:
- Matches are played to 11 points, with a 2-point margin required to win.
Calling the Score in Pickleball
One of the unique aspects of pickleball is the way the score is announced, particularly in doubles.
Three Numbers:
- The serving team’s score.
- The receiving team’s score.
- The server number (either 1 or 2).
For doubles, players can remember the sequence as "me, you, who."