Pickleball scoring can seem confusing because three things are connected: the score, your court position and which server is serving. Once you understand how those three work together, the pickleball scoring system becomes much easier to follow.
Pickleball Scoring Rules: The Basics
- Only the serving side can score a point.
- Games are typically played to 11 and must be won by 2.
- If the serving side wins a rally, it scores one point and the same player continues serving.
- If the serving side loses a rally, no point is scored.
- In doubles, both players normally get a turn to serve before a side out.
- Doubles scores use three numbers; singles scores use two.
How Does Pickleball Scoring Work in Doubles?
Pickleball doubles scoring gives both players on a team a chance to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team. Only the serving team can score a point.
The Three-Number System: How to Call the Score in Pickleball
Doubles uses a three-number scoring system. Before each serve, the score is called in this order:
- The serving team’s score
- The receiving team’s score
- The server number — 1 or 2
For example, 6-4-2 means the serving team has 6 points, the receiving team has 4 points, and server 2 is serving.
You aren’t server 1 or server 2 for the whole game. Those numbers only refer to the order you and your partner serve during your team’s current service turn.
First Server, Second Server and Side Outs
After a side out, which occurs when the serve passes from one team to the other, the player correctly positioned on the right serves first. That player is server 1 for that service turn.
From there:
- Win the rally: Your team scores one point. You and your partner switch sides, and the same player continues serving.
- Lose the rally as server 1: No point is scored. The serve passes to your partner, who becomes server 2.
- Lose the rally as server 2: No point is scored. A side out occurs and the opposing team gets the serve.
The serving team only switches sides when it scores a point. The receiving team does not switch sides.
The only exception to this sequence is the first service turn of the game, when the starting team gets only one server.
Why Does Pickleball Start at 0-0-2?
Every doubles game starts at 0-0-2.
Normally, both players on a team get a chance to serve before a side out. To reduce the advantage of serving first, the team that starts the game gets only one server during its opening service turn.
That player is treated as server 2, so the opening score is called 0-0-2. If they lose the rally, the serve goes directly to the other team.
How Does the Score Affect Your Position in Pickleball?
In doubles, the starting server is the player who served first for your team at the beginning of the game. You can use their position to check whether you’re in the correct positions throughout the game.
Each time the serving team scores, both partners switch sides. That means the player who started the game serving for your team will naturally be on the right when your score is even and the left when your score is odd.
Even team score = starting server on the right.
Odd team score = starting server on the left.
This also helps determine who serves first when your team gets the serve back. After a side out, whichever player is correctly positioned on the right becomes server 1 for that service turn, which might be the starting server or their partner.
Doubles Pickleball Scoring Example
Here’s an example of how pickleball scoring works in a doubles game:
| What Happens | Score / Result |
|---|---|
| Team A starts the game | 0-0-2 |
| Team A wins the rally | 1-0-2 / same server switches sides and serves again |
| Team A loses the next rally | Side out / since this is the opening service, team A gets only one server *After this opening service, both teams will have two servers per service turn. |
| Team B begins serving | 0-1-1 / player on the right is server 1 |
| Team B loses the rally | 0-1-2 / no point; serve passes to their partner |
| Team B loses again | Side out / Team A gets the serve |
From there, the same sequence repeats. A team scores only while serving; server 1 losing a rally passes the serve to server 2, and server 2 losing a rally results in a side out.
How Does Pickleball Scoring Work in Singles?
Pickleball singles scoring is simpler than doubles because there is no second server, so the score uses two numbers instead of three. Call your score first, followed by your opponent’s score.
If you win a rally while serving, you score a point and continue serving. If you lose the rally, your opponent gets the serve and no point is scored.
Your score also determines which side you serve from:
- Even score: serve from the right.
- Odd score: serve from the left.
The server’s score determines the receiver’s position too.
For example, if you’re serving at 6-3, you serve from the right because 6 is even and your opponent lines up diagonally opposite. Win the rally and the score becomes 7-3, so you move to the left and serve again.
Rally Scoring
The rules above describe standard side-out scoring, where only the serving side can score.
USA Pickleball has provisionally expanded the pickleball rules to allow rally scoring in certain formats, where a point is awarded to the team that wins each rally, regardless of which team served.
The Best Way to Learn Pickleball Scoring Is to Play!
Pickleball scoring can feel like a lot to remember at first, especially when you’re trying to keep track of the score, your position and whose turn it is to serve at the same time. But after a game or two, the pattern starts to make a lot more sense.
For your first few games, just remember the basics: only the serving team scores, doubles uses three numbers, and the serving team switches sides after scoring. If you lose track, use the starting server’s position and your team’s score to get everyone back where they belong.
Don’t worry about getting every call perfect straight away. Within a couple of games, you’ll be keeping track without thinking about it, so grab a paddle, call the score before each serve and have fun!
Still learning the game? Our beginner’s guide to how to play pickleball covers everything you need for your first game, from serving and basic rules to shots and court positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pickleball Scoring
Do You Have to Call the Score Out Loud?
Yes, the score should be called before each serve, either by the server in unrefereed play or by the referee in officiated matches.
What Happens If the Wrong Score Is Called in Pickleball?
If you believe the score has been called incorrectly, you can stop the rally to challenge it before the return of serve is hit. If the score was wrong, it’s corrected and the rally is replayed. If the score was actually correct, or you challenge it too late, it’s a fault against you. If the rally finishes before anyone notices, the result stands and the score is corrected before the next serve.
Can the Receiving Team Score a Point in Pickleball?
No, in traditional side-out scoring, only the serving team can score a point. If the receiving team wins the rally, no point is scored, but the serving team either moves to its next server or loses the serve.
Why Are There Three Numbers in Pickleball Scoring?
Doubles pickleball uses three numbers because the score also needs to show which server is serving. The first number is the serving team’s score, the second is the receiving team’s score, and the third tells you whether server 1 or 2 is serving.
Is Pickleball Always Played to 11?
No. Pickleball games are typically played to 11 points and must be won by 2, but games may also be played to 15 or 21 depending on the format.
Rules verified against the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook
