Pickleball Scoring Explained
Pickleball scoring is the single most confusing thing about the sport for new players. The three-number callout before every serve, the 0-0-2 start, the fact that you can only score on your serve — none of it is intuitive if you're coming from tennis, badminton, or any sport where every rally produces a point. This guide breaks it down step by step.
Side-out scoring: you can only score on your serve
In traditional pickleball scoring, only the serving team can score a point. If the receiving team wins the rally, it's a side-out — the serve transfers — but no point is added to the scoreboard.
This is why rallies in pickleball can feel longer than in tennis or ping pong. Both teams have an incentive to play conservatively when receiving, because a rally win for the receiver just gets them the serve, not a point.
Games are played to 11, win by 2. Tournament games are sometimes played to 15 or 21.
The three-number callout
Before every serve in doubles, the server calls three numbers: their team's score, the opponent's score, and the server number (1 or 2).
Example: "4-2-1" means your team has 4 points, the opponents have 2, and you are the first server on your team this rotation.
Example: "4-2-2" means the same score, but you are the second server — which means if you lose this rally, it's a side-out.
Why games start at 0-0-2
Every doubles game begins with the score 0-0-2 — not 0-0-1. The "2" means the starting team is already on their second server.
This prevents the serving team from getting two service attempts at the start of the game, which would give them an unfair structural advantage. By starting at server 2, a side-out after the opening rally immediately transfers the serve to the other team.
Once the game is properly underway after this opening sequence, teams get two serves per rotation (one for each player) before a side-out.
Server number: what 1 and 2 mean
When your team wins the serve, the player on the right side always serves first (server 1). If that server loses a rally, service passes to their partner (server 2) — same team, other player. If server 2 loses a rally, it's a side-out and the serve goes to the opponents.
After a side-out, the receiving team becomes the serving team and always starts with server 1 (right side). The player on the right side at that moment serves — no choosing.
Where to stand when serving
The server must be in the correct half of the court when serving — your team's score determines which side. Even score (0, 2, 4…): serve from the right side. Odd score (1, 3, 5…): serve from the left side.
This applies only to the server. The serving team's non-server and both receivers can stand anywhere behind the kitchen line.
Rally scoring (the faster format)
Some recreational sessions and most MLP (Major League Pickleball) matches use rally scoring, where a point is awarded on every single rally — no matter who served.
Rally scoring dramatically speeds up play, especially in competitive settings. It's also easier to understand for new spectators. If you're playing at a club that uses rally scoring, treat it like regular scoring but without the 'only the server scores' restriction.
Singles scoring
Singles uses only two numbers (your score and your opponent's score — no server number). The same even/odd serving-side rule applies: even score, serve from the right; odd score, serve from the left.
In singles there's no server 1/server 2 — there's only one player per side, so every rally ends with either a point or a side-out.
Frequently asked questions
Why does pickleball start at 0-0-2?+
The '2' means the first team is already on their second server. This prevents the serving team from getting two attempts at the start — after a side-out from the opening rally, the serve immediately transfers to the other team rather than passing to a second server first.
What happens if I serve from the wrong side?+
If your team's score is even, you should be serving from the right. If odd, from the left. If you serve from the wrong side and win the rally before anyone catches it, the point typically stands in recreational play. In tournament play, it's a fault if caught before the next serve.
What score do you need to win a pickleball game?+
11 points, win by 2. So 11-9 wins, but 10-10 is not a win — you'd need to reach 12. Tournament games sometimes go to 15 or 21, still win by 2.
Can the receiving team score in pickleball?+
In traditional side-out scoring, no — only the serving team scores points. In rally scoring (used in MLP and some recreational formats), any team scores on any rally.
Now that you know how to score, learn the other rule that trips everyone up — the two-bounce rule.
Learn the two-bounce rule →