How to Keep Score in Pickleball: Complete Scoring Guide

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and learning the game starts with understanding how to keep score in pickleball. Many beginners find pickleball scoring confusing at first, especially when switching between singles and doubles. But once you learn the flow, it becomes very easy and enjoyable.

This guide explains pickleball scoring rules for beginners, how scoring works, how to call the score, the points required to win, and the difference between rally scoring and side-out scoring. You will also learn the scoring system for both singles and doubles, plus simple examples that help you remember everything.

What Is the Scoring System in Pickleball?

Pickleball uses a side-out scoring system, which means:

• You only score points when you are serving.
• If your team is not serving, you cannot score.
• Once you lose a rally while serving, the serve goes to the other team (side-out).

This system is what makes pickleball exciting. It gives both players and teams the chance to fight for serve possession and build momentum.

In pickleball, you typically play to 11 points, and the winner has to have a lead of at least two points to seal the win. While official rules sometimes allow competitive matches to extend to 15 or 21 points, 11 is generally considered the standard game length.

How Many Points to Win in Pickleball?

Most games are:

• First to 11 points
• Win by 2

So a game might end 11–9, 12–10, or even 15–13 in tournaments.

How Does Pickleball Scoring Work?

Pickleball scoring is built around three simple rules:

1. Only the serving team can score.
2. The serve rotates between players (in doubles).
3. Each rally can only give a point to the serving side.

When the serving side wins the rally, they add a point to their score. If they lose the rally, they lose the serve (this is called a side out).

How to Keep Score in Pickleball Doubles

Doubles is the most popular format in pickleball, and the scoring has three numbers:
Serving Team Score – Receiving Team Score – Server Number (1 or 2)

Example: 4 – 3 – 1

It means:

• The serving team has 4 points
• The receiving team has 3 points.
• Server #1 is serving

How the Serve Works in Doubles

1. Each team has two servers (Player 1 and Player 2).
2. Player 1 serves first. If they lose the rally, Player 2 serves.
3. After both servers lose their serves → side-out → the other team serves.

Important Rule: The Starting Team Only Gets One Server

The very first serve of the game starts with:
0 – 0 – 2

It means the starting team only gets one server (the second server). This rule prevents the starting team from having a scoring advantage.

How to Score Points in Pickleball

You score a point when you:

• Are serving
• Win the rally
• Hit the ball in bounds.
• Avoid faults like hitting the net or stepping into the kitchen during a volley.

Once you win a rally as a server, you:

• Score a point
• Continue serving from the opposite side of the court.

If you lose the rally, your partner serves (if they haven’t served yet). If both partners lose their serve, it becomes a side-out.

How to Call Score in Pickleball

In doubles, call the score in 3 parts:

• 1. Your score
• 2. Opponent’s score
• 3. Whether you are server #1 or server #2

Example: 6 – 4 – 2

How to Keep Score in Pickleball Singles

Singles is much simpler than doubles. There are no server numbers in singles.

Singles Scoring Rules

• If your score is even, serve from the right side.
• If your score is odd, serve from the left side.
• Only the server can score points.
• When you win a rally as the server, you switch sides.
• When you lose a rally, the serve goes to your opponent.

Example of a Singles Score

• If your score is 6 → serve from right.
• If your score is 7 → serve from left.

This system helps you track your score by remembering which side you served from.

What Is Rally Scoring in Pickleball?

Some new leagues and formats have experimented with rally scoring, where:

• Every rally results in a point
• It doesn’t matter who served
• The scoring is faster and easier.

But official USA Pickleball rules still use side-out scoring, not rally scoring.

Rally scoring is mostly used in:

• Some recreational leagues
• Certain pickleball clubs
• Newer experimental tournaments
• “Pickleball for TV” formats (like MLP)

What Is Side-Out Scoring in Pickleball?

Side-out scoring is the traditional scoring system used in:

• Official tournaments
• Recreational games
• All standard pickleball formats

Side-out scoring means:

• Only the serving team can score
• Once both players lose their serve → side-out → opponents serve

It creates longer rallies and more exciting momentum shifts.

Why Pickleball Scoring Seems Confusing at First

Pickleball scoring can feel tricky because:

• Doubles scoring uses three numbers
• Only the server scores
• The starting team begins with server #2
• Switching sides depends on keeping the serve.

But once you play a few games, it becomes second nature.

How to Keep Track of Scores in Pickleball

Here are some easy ways:

1. Use the Even/Odd Rule

• If your score is even → serve from right
• If your score is odd → serve from the left

2. Repeat the Score Before Every Serve

That is a requirement for official matches—it just helps everyone on the court keep track of the current score easily.

3. Use Pickleball Score Sheets or Apps

Many players use:

• Printed score sheets
• Pickleball scoring apps
• Wrist counters
• Court-side scoreboards

These tools are useful for both tournaments and friendly matches.

How to Use a Pickleball Score Sheet

A score sheet helps record:

• Server number
• Position
• Points won
• Side-outs
• Final game results

To use a score sheet:

1. Write player names at the top.
2. Mark, which team serves first?
3. Track points as rallies finish.
4. Record side-outs with a slash or tick.
5. Note the final score at the end.

These sheets are especially helpful for beginners, referees, and coaches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)