Pickleball Scoring Explained: Doubles, Singles and Examples

Pickleball scoring is side-out scoring: only the serving team can win a point. In doubles the score is called as three numbers, in the order serving team's score, receiving team's score, server number. Each team gets two servers per turn before the serve passes to the other side, except at the start of the game when the first team gets one server, which is why games begin at "0-0-2". Games go to 11, win by two. Once you understand why the third number exists and how the server moves between the right and left sides, scoring stops being confusing.

The three numbers

Say the score is 4-2-1. That means:

• 4 – the serving team has four points.
• 2 – the receiving team has two points.
• 1 – the first server of the serving team's turn is serving.

Call it before every serve. Calling the score is not optional; it tells everyone who is serving and from where.

Server one and server two

When a team gets the serve, the player on the right side serves first as server one. Every time the serving team wins a rally, they score a point and the server moves to the other side of the court and serves again. When they lose a rally, the serve passes to their partner, who becomes server two. When server two loses a rally, it is a side out: the other team serves, starting with their server one.

The exception: at the very start of the game, the first serving team only gets one server. The score is called 0-0-2 to show that the serving player is already the second (last) server. When that player loses a rally, it is a side out. The rule exists to reduce the advantage of serving first.

Right side, left side

The server's position is determined by the serving team's score:

• Even score (0, 2, 4...) – serve from the right side.
• Odd score (1, 3, 5...) – serve from the left side.

Only the serving team switches sides, and only when they score. The receiving team never switches during a service turn. This gives a useful check: the player who started the game on the right side of each team should be on the right whenever that team's score is even. If they are not, the players have switched incorrectly.

A worked example

Team A (Alice on the right, Adam on the left) versus Team B (Beth on the right, Ben on the left). Team A serves first.

1. 0-0-2. Alice serves from the right. Team A wins the rally: 1-0-2. Alice and Adam switch sides; Alice serves from the left.
2. 1-0-2. Team A loses the rally. Side out (only one server at game start).
3. 0-1-1. Beth serves from the right. Team B wins: 1-1-1. Beth and Ben switch; Beth serves from the left.
4. 1-1-1. Team B wins again: 2-1-1. They switch; Beth serves from the right.
5. 2-1-1. Team B loses the rally. Beth was server one, so Ben is now server two.
6. 2-1-2. Ben serves from wherever he is standing (the left, since the score is even and Beth is on the right). Team B loses. Side out.
7. 1-2-1. Team A serves. Whoever is on the right serves as server one, and so on.

Notice in step 6 that Ben serves from the left even though the score is even. The even/odd rule tells you where the first server of a turn stands; after that, servers stand wherever the switching has put them. The check is still valid: on an even score, the player who started the game on the right is on the right.

Winning the game

First to 11, win by two. At 10-10, play continues until one team leads by two. Tournament brackets may use games to 15 or 21 and best-of-three matches; check the event format.

Singles scoring

Singles drops the third number. The score is two numbers: server's score, receiver's score. The server serves from the right when their score is even and the left when odd, switching only when they score. A lost rally is a side out.

Rally scoring

Some leagues and formats use rally scoring, where a point is won on every rally regardless of who served. It is not the standard format for most recreational and tournament play; if your group uses it, confirm the rules in advance.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to call the score. Call it every serve.
• Wrong server number. If in doubt, the player who started on the right for your team is the first server when your team's score is even.
• Switching sides without scoring. Only the serving team switches, only after a point.
• Starting at 0-0-1. The game starts at 0-0-2.
• Serving from the wrong side. Check the score parity against your starting positions.

Tips for keeping track

• Nominate one player per team to call the score.
• Use the right-side player as your anchor: on even scores for your team, they should be on the right.
• If confusion arises, stop and reconstruct from the last clearly agreed score. Most groups replay the point if the server served from the wrong side.

Related guides

• Pickleball rules
• Serving rules
• How to play pickleball

FAQ

Why does pickleball start at 0-0-2?

The first serving team only gets one server, so the player serving is treated as the second and last server. It reduces the advantage of serving first.

What do the three numbers in pickleball scoring mean?

Serving team's score, receiving team's score, and whether the first or second server of the service turn is serving.

Can the receiving team score in pickleball?

Not in standard scoring. Only the serving team scores; the receiving team must win a side out and then serve to score.

Which side do you serve from?

The first server of a service turn serves from the right when the team's score is even and the left when odd. After a point the server switches sides.

What is the score to win in pickleball?

11, win by two, in most play. Some tournaments use 15 or 21.