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Contents
Scoring is the part of pickleball that confuses new players the most. You hear someone call "four, two, one" before serving and wonder whether it's the score or a countdown. Don't worry: the system makes sense, and after two or three games it becomes second nature. In this guide we explain traditional scoring, the three numbers in doubles, why games start at "0-0-2," how to know which side to serve from, how singles scoring works and a full rally-by-rally example.
The essentials: only the serving team scores; games go to 11, win by 2; in doubles you call three numbers (your score, their score and the server number), and every game starts at "0-0-2."
Only the serving team scores
Pickleball traditionally uses side-out scoring, similar to old-school volleyball or classic squash. The rule is simple:
- If the serving team wins the rally, it scores a point and the same player keeps serving, switching sides.
- If the receiving team wins the rally, it scores nothing: it just takes away the serve. In doubles, the serve passes first to the server's partner; once both have lost their serve, it goes to the other team. That moment is called a "side out."
That's why a game can include lots of rallies and still have a low score: you have to win the rally on your own serve for the score to go up.
Games to 11, win by 2
The standard format is a game to 11 points, win by 2. At 10-10, play continues until one team leads by two (12-10, 13-11 and so on). Tournaments also play games to 15 or 21, and matches are often best two out of three games.
In tournament play, teams switch ends of the court mid-game: when the first team reaches 6 points in a game to 11, 8 in a game to 15 or 11 in a game to 21. In rec play, people usually switch between games.
The three numbers in doubles
In doubles, the server calls three numbers before every serve, always in this order:
- The serving team's score.
- The receiving team's score.
- The server number: 1 if they're the first player on their team to serve this turn, 2 if they're the second.
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0-0-2 | Start of the game: 0-0 and the "second" server is serving (the only one this turn) |
| 4-2-1 | The serving team has 4, the opponents 2, the first server of the turn is serving |
| 4-2-2 | Same score, but now the partner is serving: the next lost rally is a side out |
| 2-4-1 | After a side out, the other team calls its own score first |
| 10-8-1 | Game point for the serving team |
Notice that the score is always called from the server's point of view: after a side out, the numbers flip.
Why games start at 0-0-2
If both players on the starting team served on the first turn, that team would have an edge: two chances to score before the opponents ever served. To even things out, the first team to serve only gets one server on its opening turn. That player is treated as the "second server," so the call is "0-0-2": as soon as the team loses a rally, the serve goes straight to the opponents.
After the first side out, every turn is normal: server 1 serves, and when that player loses a rally, server 2 takes over.
Who is server 1 and who is server 2
It isn't a fixed label for the whole game. At every side out, server 1 is whichever player is standing on the right side of the court at that moment. The player on the left is server 2 for that turn.
Each time the server wins a rally, they switch sides with their partner and serve again from the other side, always crosscourt. The receiving team doesn't switch sides: its players stay put until they win back the serve. For what makes a legal serve, see how to serve in pickleball.
Positions on even and odd scores
There's a simple trick to check that nobody is on the wrong side. On each team, the player who served first in the game (or, for the team that received first, the player who started on the right) is the reference:
- When their team's score is even (0, 2, 4, 6…), that player should be on the right side.
- When it's odd (1, 3, 5…), they should be on the left side.
If the call doesn't match the positions, someone is out of place. This quick check heads off most arguments in friendly games.
A rally-by-rally example
Team A: Amy and Beth. Team B: Chris and Dan. Amy serves first from the right; Chris receives on the right side of the other court.
| Rally | Call | Server | Side | Winner | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-0-2 | Amy (A) | Right | A | A scores: 1-0. Amy switches sides |
| 2 | 1-0-2 | Amy | Left | B | Side out: Amy was the only server |
| 3 | 0-1-1 | Chris (B) | Right | B | B scores: 1-1. Chris switches sides |
| 4 | 1-1-1 | Chris | Left | A | Serve passes to server 2 (Dan) |
| 5 | 1-1-2 | Dan | Right | A | Side out |
| 6 | 1-1-1 | Beth (A) | Right | A | A scores: 2-1. Beth switches sides |
| 7 | 2-1-1 | Beth | Left | B | Serve passes to server 2 (Amy) |
| 8 | 2-1-2 | Amy | Right | A | A scores: 3-1. Amy switches sides |
| 9 | 3-1-2 | Amy | Left | B | Side out |
| 10 | 1-3-1 | Dan (B) | Right | … | Dan is on the right, so he's server 1 |
Notice three things: on rally 6, Beth is Team A's server 1 because she's the one on the right after the side out; with A at 2 (even), Amy is on the right, and at 3 (odd), she's on the left; and on rally 10 the score flips because Team B is now serving.
Singles scoring
Singles is simpler: you call only two numbers, the server's score and the receiver's score. There's no server 1 or 2: when the server loses a rally, the opponent serves.
The serving side depends on the server's own score: on an even score, serve from the right; on an odd score, from the left. The game starts at 0-0, from the right. Everything else works as in doubles; it's all in our guide to pickleball rules.
Rally scoring: the system being tested
Some formats, leagues and tournaments are experimenting with rally scoring, where a point is scored on every rally no matter who served, like modern volleyball or badminton. Games are quicker and easier for spectators to follow, and they're usually played to more points, often 21. It's not yet the default in rec play, so ask before you start if you sign up for a tournament or league.
Common scorekeeping mistakes
- Calling the opponents' score first instead of your own.
- Forgetting the third number, or not updating it when the serve passes to server 2.
- Switching sides after winning a rally while receiving (only the serving team switches).
- Assuming server 1 is always the same player.
- Not calling the score before serving: the server must always do it, out loud.
Heads up: if you lose track of the score, stop before the next serve and rebuild it using the even-odd rule. Playing on with a doubtful score only makes the argument worse later.
The best way to make it stick is to play: a pickleball paddle set with balls and three friends is all you need. If you're still discovering the sport, start with what pickleball is and how to play.
Recommended gear for this guide
Frequently asked questions
What do the three numbers mean in pickleball?
In doubles, the server calls three numbers: first their team's score, then the receiving team's score and finally the server number, 1 or 2, depending on whether they're the first or second player on their team to serve that turn.
Why does pickleball start at 0-0-2?
To offset the advantage of serving first. The starting team gets only one server on its first turn, who is treated as server 2. As soon as that team loses a rally, the serve passes to the other team.
How many points is a pickleball game?
Usually 11 points, win by 2. Tournaments also play to 15 or 21, and many matches are best two out of three games.
Can the receiving team score in pickleball?
Not under traditional scoring. If the receiving team wins the rally, it wins back the serve or forces the serve to the opponents' second server, but it doesn't score. Only in rally scoring formats is a point scored on every rally.
Which side do you serve from in pickleball?
In doubles, each turn starts with the player on the right, who switches sides with their partner after every point won. In singles, you serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when it's odd.