How to Keep Score in Pickleball: Side-Out and Rally Scoring
Quick answer: In standard pickleball, only the serving side can score. Games are usually played to 11 points and must be won by 2. In doubles, the server calls three numbers before each serve: their team’s score, the opponents’ score, then server 1 or 2. Rally scoring, where every rally earns a point, is a provisional option in the 2026 rules.
Scoring is the part of pickleball that confuses new players the most. Once you know who can score and what the three numbers mean, it quickly becomes automatic. This guide follows the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, with rule numbers so you can check anything that comes up on court.
How does pickleball scoring work?
Standard pickleball uses side-out scoring: a point is scored only by the serving side, when it wins a rally (Rule 4.A). If the serving side loses a rally, it doesn’t lose a point; it loses the serve. In singles, the serve passes straight to the opponent. In doubles, both partners serve before the serve passes to the other team, except at the start of each game, when the first team gets only one server (Rule 5.B).
| Standard (side-out) scoring | Rally scoring (provisional) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can score | Only the serving side | Whoever wins the rally |
| Typical game | To 11 points, win by 2 | To 11, 15 or 21 points, win by 2 |
| Score call in doubles | Three numbers: serving team, receiving team, server number (1 or 2) | Two numbers: serving team, receiving team |
| Score call in singles | Two numbers: server, receiver | Two numbers: server, receiver |
| Servers per side out (doubles) | Two (only one at the start of each game) | One |
| First call of the game | Doubles: “0–0–2.” Singles: “0–0.” | “0–0” |
| Rules | 4.A, 5, 6.B | 14.A, 15.C.2 |
All USA Pickleball scoring formats are win by 2, except that win by 1 is allowed in team play (Rule 15.C).
How do you call the score in doubles?
Before every serve, the server calls three numbers (Rule 6.B.2): the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, then the server number. A call of “4–2–1” means the serving team has 4 points, the receivers have 2, and the team’s first server is serving. The whole score must be called before the serve is hit, and the serve must follow within 10 seconds of the call (Rules 6.C and 6.D).
Why does every doubles game start at “0–0–2”? To reduce the advantage of serving first, the team that starts the game gets only one server before the first side out, and that starting server counts as the second server (Rules 5.B and 5.B.2).
- Start at 0–0–2. The starting server serves from the right-hand side and calls “zero–zero–two.” Only this player serves before the first side out.
- Win a rally, score a point. When the serving team wins a rally, it scores a point. The server switches sides with their partner and serves again, to the other receiver.
- Lose a rally with server 1, go to server 2. When the first server’s team loses a rally, the partner becomes server 2 and serves from the side they’re on. The score doesn’t change.
- Lose a rally with server 2: side out. When the second server’s team loses a rally, it’s a side out. The other team serves next, starting with the player on its right-hand side as server 1.
- Use your score to check positions. When your team’s score is even (0, 2, 4…), the player who started the game on the right should be on the right. When it’s odd, that player should be on the left (Rule 5.B.3).
- Win at 11, by 2. The first team to reach 11 points with at least a 2-point lead wins. At 10–10, play continues until one team leads by 2.
What does a doubles scoring sequence look like?
| Rally | Who serves | Score call | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team A, starting server (right side) | 0–0–2 | Team A wins: point to A |
| 2 | Team A, same server (now on the left) | 1–0–2 | Team A loses: side out (A had only one server) |
| 3 | Team B, server 1 (right side) | 0–1–1 | Team B wins: point to B |
| 4 | Team B, server 1 (now on the left) | 1–1–1 | Team B loses: serve passes to partner |
| 5 | Team B, server 2 | 1–1–2 | Team B loses: side out |
| 6 | Team A, server 1 (player on the right) | 1–1–1 | Play continues to 11, win by 2 |
The score is always called from the serving team’s point of view, so the same score is “1–0” for one team and “0–1” for the other.
How do you keep score in singles?
Singles uses only two numbers: the server’s score, then the receiver’s (Rule 6.B.1). There’s no server number, because each player has one turn at serving before a side out. Your own score tells you where to serve from: serve from the right when your score is 0 or even, and from the left when it’s odd (Rule 5.A.1). Keep serving, alternating sides after each point, until you lose a rally.
What is rally scoring in pickleball?
Under rally scoring, a point is scored on every rally, no matter which side served (Rule 14.A.2). The score is called as two numbers, and in doubles only one player serves before each side out (Rules 14.A.3 and 14.A.5). USA Pickleball lists rally scoring as a provisional rule: an approved option, not the standard.
Tournament directors may use rally scoring for games to 11, 15 or 21 points, but not for double-elimination doubles events, 2026 Golden Ticket events or the 2026 National Championships (Rule 15.C.2). Rally-scored games tend to take a more predictable amount of time, which is one reason some leagues and groups like them. Agree on the format before you start.
How many points is a game of pickleball?
Most games are played to 11 points, win by 2. Tournaments can also use one game to 15 or 21 points, or a best-of-three or best-of-five match of games to 11 (Rule 15.C.1). In a one-game match, or in the deciding game, players change ends when the first side reaches 6 points in a game to 11, 8 points in a game to 15, or 11 points in a game to 21 (Rule 21.B).
What are the most common scoring mistakes?
- Forgetting the server number. In doubles you need all three numbers. Say them out loud every time.
- Starting at 0–0–1. The first call of a doubles game is 0–0–2.
- Calling the opponents’ score first. The serving side’s score always comes first.
- Serving too early. Serving while the score is still being called is a fault on the server (Rule 6.C.1).
- Losing track of who serves. Before the serve, any player may ask the opponents for the score or who the correct server and receiver are, and they must answer (Rules 5.C and 6.E.1).
If the wrong score is called, a player may stop play to correct it, but only before the return of serve is hit. If the rally is played out, the result stands and the score is corrected before the next serve (Rule 6.F).
The bottom line
Remember three things: in standard play only the serving side scores, doubles uses three numbers and starts at 0–0–2, and games go to 11, win by 2. Then learn the rest of the game with our 5 basic rules of pickleball and pickleball tips for beginners, and pick up a pickleball paddle and some pickleballs.
Frequently asked questions
Why does pickleball start at 0–0–2?
In doubles, the team that serves first gets only one server before the first side out, which reduces the advantage of serving first. That starting server is counted as the second server, so the opening call is zero–zero–two.
Can you score a point when you are receiving?
Not in standard side-out scoring. The receiving side can only win back the serve. Under the provisional rally scoring option, the receiving side scores a point whenever it wins a rally.
Do you have to win by 2 in pickleball?
Yes. USA Pickleball games must be won by at least 2 points, so a game to 11 continues past 11 if the score reaches 10–10. The only exception in the rulebook is team play, where win by 1 is allowed.
Who calls the score in pickleball?
The server normally calls the score, loudly enough for everyone to hear, before serving. In doubles, the server’s partner may call it if the server can’t, but the same player must then call the score for the rest of the game unless their voice becomes impaired.
What happens if the wrong score is called?
A player may stop play to correct it before the return of serve is hit. If the rally is played out, the result stands and the score is corrected before the next serve.
Is rally scoring allowed in tournaments?
It can be. Rally scoring is a provisional option in the 2026 rules, and tournament directors may use it for games to 11, 15 or 21, except in double-elimination doubles events, 2026 Golden Ticket events and the 2026 National Championships.