Scoring in pickleball can be confusing for beginners, but once you learn the system, it becomes second nature. Whether you’re playing singles or doubles, knowing how to keep score correctly is essential to winning matches and improving your game.
This comprehensive guide will cover:
✅ How pickleball scoring works
✅ Singles vs. doubles scoring differences
✅ How to announce the score properly
✅ Common scoring mistakes and how to avoid them
✅ Pro tips to improve your scoring strategy
By the end of this guide, you’ll be keeping score like a pro and focusing more on your game than on score confusion!
1. How Scoring Works in Pickleball
Pickleball uses a unique rally scoring system where only the serving team can score points. Unlike some sports where both teams can score at any time, pickleball requires you to be serving to earn points.
🏓 Basic Pickleball Scoring Rules
✔️ Games are played to 11 points (win by 2).
✔️ Only the serving team can score points.
✔️ If the serving team commits a fault, no points are awarded, and the serve moves to the next player or team.
✔️ In doubles, each player on a team serves before turning the ball over to the opponent.
💡 Pro Tip: The first team to reach 11 points (win by 2) wins the game. In some tournaments, games can go up to 15 or 21 points instead.
2. How to Keep Score in Doubles Pickleball
Doubles is the most common format in pickleball, but scoring can be tricky for new players because of the third number in the score call.
🏓 How Doubles Scoring Works
Each score has three numbers:
📢 (Server’s score) – (Receiver’s score) – (Server number)
💡 Example: 4-2-1 means:
- The serving team has 4 points.
- The receiving team has 2 points.
- The first server (Player 1) is serving.
🏓 Understanding the Server Number
✔️ Each team gets two serves per side-out (one per player).
✔️ The first server is always Player 1.
✔️ If a fault is made, the serve switches to the second player on the team.
✔️ If the second server loses the point, it’s a side-out and the other team serves.
💡 Pro Tip: The first serving team of the game only gets one serve before a side-out (this prevents an unfair advantage).
🏓 Example of a Full Scoring Sequence in Doubles
Let’s say Team A and Team B are playing, and Team A starts serving.
1️⃣ Team A starts serving (0-0-2) – Since it’s the start of the game, Player 2 serves first.
2️⃣ Team A scores a point → 1-0-2
3️⃣ Team A faults → Player 1 on Team B now serves → 0-1-1
4️⃣ Team B scores a point → 1-1-1
5️⃣ Team B scores again → 2-1-1
6️⃣ Team B faults → The serve moves to Player 2 on Team B → 2-1-2
7️⃣ Team B faults again → Side-out, Team A gets the serve back → 1-2-1
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re ever confused about the score, remember that the server number resets to 1 every time the serve changes sides.
3. How to Keep Score in Singles Pickleball
Singles scoring is simpler than doubles because there are only two numbers in the score call.
📢 (Server’s Score) – (Receiver’s Score)
💡 Example: 5-3 means:
- The server has 5 points.
- The receiver has 3 points.
🏓 Key Differences Between Singles & Doubles Scoring
✔️ Only two numbers are called out (no server number).
✔️ The serve still alternates after a fault.
✔️ The server always serves from the right side when their score is even and from the left side when their score is odd.
💡 Pro Tip: In singles, since you don’t have a partner, court positioning and stamina are more important.
4. How to Announce the Score Correctly
One of the most confusing parts of pickleball scoring is calling out the score properly, especially in doubles.
🏓 How to Call Out the Score in Doubles
📢 (Your Score) – (Opponent’s Score) – (Server Number)
💡 Example: If your team has 7 points, the opponents have 5, and you are the first server, you would say:
📢 7-5-1
🏓 How to Call Out the Score in Singles
📢 (Your Score) – (Opponent’s Score)
💡 Example: If you have 8 points and your opponent has 6, you would say:
📢 8-6
📌 Pro Tip: Always call out the score before serving to avoid confusion.
5. Common Scoring Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Even experienced players make scoring mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them.
❌ Mistake #1: Forgetting the Server Number in Doubles
✅ Solution: Remember that Player 1 serves first and Player 2 serves second.
❌ Mistake #2: Serving From the Wrong Side in Singles
✅ Solution: If your score is even, serve from the right. If your score is odd, serve from the left.
❌ Mistake #3: Losing Track of Side-Outs
✅ Solution: If both players on a team have served and lost a point, the ball goes to the other team.
📌 Pro Tip: If you’re confused about the score, ask your opponents to confirm before serving.
6. Pro Tips to Improve Your Pickleball Scoring Strategy
Now that you know how to keep score, let’s talk about how to use scoring to your advantage!
🏓 Pro Tip #1: Serve Deep for More Control
✔️ A deep serve forces your opponent to hit a weaker return.
✔️ This allows you to move up to the kitchen line faster.
🏓 Pro Tip #2: Get to the Kitchen Line Quickly
✔️ Most points are won at the net.
✔️ As soon as you serve, move toward the kitchen line to control the rally.
🏓 Pro Tip #3: Keep Your Opponent Moving
✔️ Hit the ball to the open court to force errors.
✔️ Aim for your opponent’s backhand (most players struggle with it).
📌 Pro Tip: Better strategy = More points scored!
7. Stay Comfortable While Playing Pickleball
Pickleball games can last a long time, so wearing the right gear keeps you comfortable.
👕 Moisture-Wicking Pickleball T-Shirts – A 50/50 DryBlend t-shirt keeps you comfortable, while the 100% Polyester Mesh t-shirt helps with sweat control.
🥤 Pickleball Tumblers – Stay hydrated with a pickleball-themed tumbler, perfect for keeping your drinks cold during long matches.
Shop now at Big Green Pickle and level up your game!
Final Thoughts
🏓 Pickleball uses rally scoring, but only the serving team can score points.
🏓 Doubles scoring involves three numbers: (Your Score) – (Opponent’s Score) – (Server Number).
🏓 Singles scoring is simpler, with only two numbers.
🏓 The first team to 11 points (win by 2) wins the game!
Now that you know how to keep score like a pro, grab your paddle and start playing!
