Pickleball Rules and Scoring: A Simple Guide for Beginners
Welcome to the exciting world of pickleball! While it's easy to learn, the scoring system can be a little confusing for new players. That strange three-number callout? The rules about who serves when? Don't worry. This guide will break down pickleball rules and scoring into simple, easy-to-understand steps. By the end, you'll be calling the score like a pro.
How Does Scoring Work in Pickleball?
In pickleball, you can only score a point when you or your partner is serving. A point is awarded when the non-serving team commits a fault (e.g., hitting the ball out of bounds). The score is always called as three numbers: [Your Score] - [Opponent's Score] - [Server Number (1 or 2)]. The first team to 11 points, winning by at least 2, wins the game.
In This Guide
The Golden Rule: Only the Serving Team Can Score
This is the most important concept in pickleball scoring rules. Unlike tennis or volleyball, you cannot win a point if your team is not serving.
If the serving team wins the rally, they get a point. If the receiving team wins the rally, they don't get a point, but they do win the serve back. This is called a side-out.
How Do You Win a Point?
A point is awarded to the serving team whenever the receiving team commits a fault. The pickleball point rules are straightforward. A fault occurs when a player:
- Lets the ball bounce twice on their side of the court.
- Hits the ball into the net.
- Hits the ball out of bounds.
- Volleys the ball from within the non-volley zone (the 'Kitchen').
- Violates the double-bounce rule (the ball must bounce once on each side after the serve before any player can volley it).
Decoding the 3-Number Score (e.g., 0-0-2)
The three-number score call is what trips up most beginners. Let's break it down. Before every serve, the server must call the score out loud.
Here’s the format: [Serving Team's Score] - [Receiving Team's Score] - [Server Number]
- First Number: Your team's current score.
- Second Number: The opposing team's current score.
- Third Number: Indicates which of the two players on the serving team is serving. This will be either a '1' or a '2'.
The score is always called in the same order: Your Score - Their Score - Your Server Number.
The Special 'Server 2' Start Rule
To begin a game, the score is called as 0-0-2. This is a unique rule designed to minimize the advantage of serving first. The first team to serve only gets one server for their first service turn. After that first side-out, both players on each team will get a chance to serve before a side-out occurs.
A Step-by-Step Scoring Example
Let's walk through a typical scoring sequence in a doubles match.
- Game Starts: The score is 0-0-2. Your team serves first. Your partner is Server 2.
- You Win a Point: You win the rally. The score is now 1-0-2. Your partner continues to serve, switching service courts.
- You Lose the Rally: Your team hits the ball out. This is a side-out. No points are scored. The serve goes to the other team.
- Opponent's Turn: The player on their right side is now Server 1. They call the score 0-1-1.
- They Win a Point: They win the rally. The score is now 0-2-1. Server 1 serves again.
- They Lose the Rally: They hit the ball into the net. This is not a side-out yet. The serve goes to their partner, who is now Server 2. They call the score 0-2-2.
- They Lose Again: They lose the next rally. Now it's a side-out, and the serve comes back to your team.
- Your Turn Again: The serve comes to the player on your team who did not serve last. That player is now Server 1. The score is called 2-0-1.
Quick Tip: Remember Your Server Number
It's easy to forget if you are Server 1 or 2. A common trick is that if your team's score is even, the player who started the game on the right side of the court should be serving from the right. If the score is odd, that same starting player should be serving from the left.
Frequently Asked Scoring Questions
How do you win a pickleball game?
Most games are played to 11 points. However, you must win by at least 2 points. If the score is 10-10, play continues until one team has a two-point lead (e.g., 12-10 or 13-11).
Can you score a point on a serve return?
No. According to the pickleball score rules, you cannot score a point when your team is receiving the serve. Winning the rally as the receiving team only earns you the right to serve (a side-out); it does not award a point.
What happens if we forget the score?
Forgetting the score is common, especially in recreational play! The best practice is to reconstruct the point sequence since the last score everyone agreed on. If you can't agree, the official rulebook states you should replay the last point. In friendly games, just agree on a score and continue playing.
Free Printable Scoring Cheat Sheet
Download our one-page guide to keep in your pickleball bag. It has the serving sequence and scoring rules at a glance. Never forget the score again!
Download PDF Guide