Think you’re ready for a pickleball game? Scoring might catch you off guard. For first-time players, the system can be confusing, and even a tennis background won’t give you much of an advantage. Learn how it works, though, and everything will start to click.
Understanding the scoring system
Pickleball has a unique scoring system. Only the serving player or team can score points. Even if the receiving side wins the rally, it doesn’t earn a point. Instead, it gains the right to serve. Most games are played to 11 points, while some tournaments use 15 or 21. Every game, however, must be won by at least two points. The main rules are easy to remember:
- Singles scores are announced with two numbers, while doubles scores use three.
- A doubles score such as 8-6-1 means the serving team has 8 points and the receiving team has 6.
- The final number indicates whether the first server (1) or second server (2) is serving.
- The serving team’s score is always announced first, followed by the receiving team’s score and, in doubles, the server number.
- The first serve of every doubles game starts with only one server before the normal two-server rotation begins.
Once those basics fall into place, you’ll spend far less time thinking about the score and much more time planning your next shot. Of course, scoring mistakes can still happen. So, what can you do if someone makes the wrong call?
How to avoid mistakes
Here’s a handy trick that experienced players rely on. Think back to the teammate who served first. Whenever your team’s score is even, that player should be standing on the right side. When the score is odd, they should be on the left. If the positions don’t match the score, it’s worth checking before the next serve.
Another way to avoid confusion is to announce the full score before every serve and pause briefly so everyone can confirm it. Along with the diagonal serve, the two-bounce rule, and the kitchen restrictions, this simple routine helps prevent scoring mix-ups and keeps matches moving smoothly.