How to Keep Score in Pickleball (Doubles and Singles)
In pickleball only the serving team can score, and a game goes to 11 points, win by 2. In doubles the score is called as three numbers: your team’s score, the other team’s score, and whether you are your team’s first or second server. That third number is what trips most people up, and it is the whole trick to keeping score.
The three numbers
Say the serving team’s score first, always.
“4-2-1” means the serving team has 4, the receiving team has 2, and the person serving is their team’s first server this turn.
When the serve passes to the other team, the numbers flip around: the new serving team says its own score first. If the score was 4-2 and the team with 2 wins the serve, the next call is “2-4-1.”
Only the serving team scores
Every rally ends one of two ways.
| Who won the rally | What happens |
|---|---|
| The serving team | They score a point. The server and their partner switch sides, and the same person serves again |
| The receiving team | No point for anyone. The serve passes to the next server, or to the other team |
Losing a rally while receiving costs you nothing but the chance to score. Losing one while serving costs your team a server.
Who serves next in doubles
Each team gets two servers per turn, with one exception at the very start.
- Your team scores: the same server serves again, from the other side of the court.
- The first server loses a rally: their partner becomes the second server and serves from wherever they are standing. Nobody switches sides.
- The second server loses a rally: that is a side out. The other team serves, starting with whoever is on their right-hand side, as their first server.
- The start of the game: the team serving first gets only one server, so the game starts at “0-0-2” and their first lost rally is a side out. This softens the advantage of serving first.
Which side do you serve from
Players only switch sides when their team scores a point on serve, which gives one rule that works all game:
When your team’s score is even, the player who started the game on the right is on the right. When it is odd, they are on the left.
After a side out, the new serving team’s first server is whoever is on the right. If you lose track of who that is, check the score: even means the original right-side player.
A worked game
Team A serves first. Sam started on the right for Team A, Priya on the right for Team B.
| Rally | Result | Call after it | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | 0-0-2 (A serving) | Game starts. Sam serves, as the only server this turn |
| 1 | A wins | 1-0-2 | A scores. Sam and partner switch sides; Sam serves again |
| 2 | A wins | 2-0-2 | A scores again |
| 3 | B wins | 0-2-1 (B serving) | Side out, since A was already on its second server. B’s score is 0, even, so Priya is on the right and serves first |
| 4 | A wins | 0-2-2 | B’s first server lost the rally. Priya’s partner serves. Nobody switches |
| 5 | B wins | 1-2-2 | B scores. The same server goes again from the other side |
| 6 | A wins | 2-1-1 (A serving) | Side out. A’s score is 2, even, so Sam is on the right and serves first |
Six rallies, two side outs, and the score is 2-1. That is a normal start.
Singles
Singles drops the third number: the call is just server’s score, receiver’s score. Any lost rally on serve is a side out. You serve from the right when your own score is even and from the left when it is odd, which keeps everyone honest about the score without a third number.
Winning: 11 points, win by 2
Most games go to 11 and must be won by 2, so 10-10 plays on until someone leads by two: 12-10, 13-11 and so on. Tournaments sometimes play to 15 or 21 with the same win-by-2 rule. In a best-of-three match, teams switch ends between games, and in the deciding game they switch ends when the first team reaches 6.
Mistakes everyone makes
- Calling the receivers’ score first. The serving team’s score is always first.
- Forgetting 0-0-2. The first serving team gets one server, not two.
- Switching sides after a lost rally. You only switch when you score.
- The wrong person serving after a side out. It is the player on the right, not the one who feels ready.
- Losing the second server. If you can’t remember whether you are server 1 or 2, ask before you serve. Nobody minds.
Frequently asked questions
What does 0-0-2 mean?
Nobody has scored, and the player serving is their team’s second server. Every doubles game starts here, so the first serving team’s first lost rally is a side out.
Why does the first team only get one server?
Serving first is an advantage, because only the serving team can score. Starting on the second server gives that team one server instead of two for its opening turn, which evens things up.
Does the receiving team ever score?
Not in side-out scoring, which is what nearly all recreational play uses. Some leagues and professional events use rally scoring, where every rally scores a point for whoever won it. If your group plays rally scoring, this guide’s serving rules still apply but the numbers move faster.
Do we switch sides after a side out?
No. Sides change only when your team scores on its own serve. After a side out, the player on the right serves.
What if we lose track of the score?
Agree on the last call everyone remembers and play from there. Most groups keep one person calling the score aloud before every serve, which is the rule in the rulebook anyway, so the disagreements stay small.
The bottom line
The serving team’s score comes first, only the serving team can score, and each team gets two servers per turn except the very first. Even score, right side; odd score, left. Say the call before every serve and the rest takes care of itself.