How to Score in Pickleball? 11-Point Key Guide

Pickleball scoring involves calling three numbers, scoring only by winning a rally, and the first to reach 11 points with a 2-point margin wins.

Pickleball offers entertaining moments, but scoring can seem challenging. Despite its quick growth, it’s not difficult to understand. Originating in 1965, it blends elements of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. Learn the scoring nuances with our recommended strategies, tricks, and tips for an easy grasp of this rapidly growing sport.

Table of Contents

Pickleball Game’s Basics

Wherever Pickleball is played, its rules are always the same, whether you are at a community center, recreation site, or YMCA.
The winner must attain the 11 scores with a margin of two points. Thus the game is won at 11-9 or 12-10 points.
Though, in badminton, Tennis, and other racquet game, the player’s goal is to win the rally. Rally is the back-and-forth ball-hitting position on the pickleball court before a fault and after the Serve.
Rallies in Pickleball are essential for both receiving and serving parties. The major difference between the serving score and rally score is that both teams must make a reliable and powerful serve for one Serve score for the serving team. Contrarily, rallies provide the scores to both the serving and receiving teams.
A significant aspect of the game is you can achieve the score after the successful Serve.
The receiving team can make the score just by making the Serve. Thus, winning the score is the nitty-gritty of this ball game.
The coin flipping determines which team will serve at first. After serving and receiving team selection, the tournament quickly comes into action.
While the game is started, the first and foremost Serve is played from the right corner of Pickle Court. The serving player makes a call for the score. There might be two situations, either as a traditional service; the ball is throw-up and then hit, or once bounced, as a drop Serve. The ball must move diagonally to the receiver’s opposite side in both situations. Ultimately, the played shot should diagonally land far away from the NVZ line in the service court zone.
The server team must follow the playing position while hitting the shot, as an underarm swing to the point from below their waist. On the other hand, the receiver team can return the ball in court anywhere they want.
If the second receiving party misses the upcoming ball, the former serving party gets the score point of Serve.
The rallies provide a fast pace and much more extended score in Pickleball than in Tennis. It’s because the playing time between both points keeps a minimum.

Winning Drop Serve

In 2021, the Drop served rule was made legal just as the provisional rule. Since then, it has converted to a permanent rule. The servers bounce the ball, hit by an underarm swing from the lower side of their waist at once for drop-serve. This ball can’t be thrown up or down. To release the ball, the servers must hold out on their arms. This way, there will be no momentum on the ball, making the legal Drop Serve.

Although, various new players mistakenly find it easy to bounce after the toss. They bounce the ball and hit it to the opposite position. Let’s make a practical hit and then move to the court for drop serving.

You have the complete guide about Serving here.

Score in Pickleball

The Pickleball tournament is based on winning eleven points. The winning team has the opportunity to make scores by serving and must lead by two scores. Furthermore, you must play three games and win two with eleven scores for your victory in the Pickleball Court game.

First Exception Rule in Doubles Pickleball

Doubles Pickleball offers four players to play in both teams, with two players in each. The game score is announced accordingly, as each player will serve. Once the first server takes the first step from the right side and declares the scorecard, here as 0,0,2 for the serving team (Server Score – Receiver Score – Server Number), respectively. This game has fair rules; hence, the 1st server exception rule is made for players to play and win.

First Server Exception Rule

In this doubles gameplay, it’s the vital regulated law. According to game authority, the first server is the only player; because of him, the whole team owns the first serving turn. The first service offered to that team is determined to serve at the initial stage of the game. Remember, you’ve selected the serve team by a toss while starting the match.

However, each player on both teams acquires the chance to serve simultaneously. During the remaining shots for Serve, after each sideout, each team can get the opportunity to serve.

Hence, the serving team can’t enjoy more advantage, which is dreadful to serve at first. Because of this rule, there is no difference between teams serving first or second. Finally, the first exception law creates all things fair for players.

Examples of Doubles Scoring

Once the game is inaugurated, 0-0-2 Scores are stated from the first servers. It represents that our server’s party has zero points, your opponent team has zero scores, and I owe as a second server.

The rally is performed, won, or missed in the next phase. Suppose our service team has won the rally. The first server player goes to the left, and partner players move toward the right side of the court. Now the call-out scores will be 1-0-2; the server team gets 1 score, the opponent at zero, and myself a second server. It’s the noticeable point where the score in Pickleball looks more complicated. Though, beginners must understand this point of scoring.

Look at: Pickleball Doubles Scoring

At the scorecard 1-0-2, the rally is served diagonally from the left corner of the court. It will reach the left service area of the opponent’s team. Now the opponent team hits on the ball, and unfortunately, our server first team loses the chance. It’s the point where the Serve is handover to the second team (receiving team). Now you can serve to obtain the score; this turnover position is known as sideout. For more clearance, let us demonstrate this new term of Pickleball.

Sideout: This turn comes in the match when the ball moves to the second opponent team. They are proficient in serving and gaining scores for their squad.

So forth, your team is serving now, and a point comes when the First server player is on the right side of the court. He reveals 0-1-1. This score in Pickleball indicates that our first team is at zero, you own 1, and I am the 1st server in this following service turn.

Once the server player has announced, the serving score will remain the same until any team misses the ball. Likewise, this server missed his serve turn, and it gives to the second player of the opponent team.

The remarkable sport goes forward, and another player has availed the opportunity to make a score, and that second one will say 0-1-2. This scorecard concludes that our point is zero, yours is 1, and the second server leads the team. That second server stays score in Pickleball game till his team misses the rally, and a side-out happens here.

In the same scenario, the serving group acquires one point. When those players move from the left corner to the right, the server says 1-1-2, and the very next Serve is lost. This situation gives a point to that service team before happening the sideout.

It seems tricky, but once you would follow all the rules. These steps will be at your fingertips to announce and apply well in the match. Meanwhile, the serving player is at the court’s right and calls 1-1-1. It exposes our turn for serving; we are at 1, the opponent at 1, and the first server owns one during the leading serve turn.

The score in Pickleball is initiated, and he misses the serving after some back-and-forth hits with no points. Rather, Some of the following chances of serving offer the announcement of 1-1-2. We got one; you are also at one and led by who the second server at two. Now the scoring process in Pickleball continues and happens side by side. The ball moves between both teams, and both teams get a chance to win. There is no limit for the first winner.

Pattern to remind the Pickleball Scoring System

You may need clarification on various terms when playing the Pickleball court tournament for the first time. Now you always remember the related phrases like Me_You_Who. You may know what these terms are when announced while calling the score in Pickleball.

Me: Score is always initiated by your own team; it represents my score in Pickleball match.

You: The second team may be called the score of receiving team.

Who: It would be the server, whether the first or second server.

When your player serves, you are lies in the second server category. On the other hand, when the opponent team has ended Serve, you’re the first Serve.

Score in Pickleball Doubles’ 2nd Example

Now we’re ready to arrange an exciting match on Doubles Pickleball. The teams have reached the court and are ready to make the score in Pickleball ground.

It’s been a play of two teams, A & B, with a Gold Medal termination. Both teams have been going through various matches, and all were challenging and dynamic. Now they are looking for the final round of the Pickleball match. This tournament will elect which Team will gain the Gold medal and enjoy the victory. Each representative of both teams goes to the net and flips a coin. Hence, team B gained the serve and initiated the match.

Team B player announces the score in the Pickleball court as 0-0-2; he’s the first Server and stays on the right side of the court. First Server Exception falls here. The serving player hits deeply and ideally in the court. The balls run diagonally to the opponent team while the receiver returns it swiftly, so it becomes a rally.

There is an Overhead Smash offer for team B to play an advanced shot skillfully. It will push both gamers back into the court on receiving team. Now the receiver lost this shot. Meanwhile, team B gets a score point. After that, the Server goes to the left corner of the court, says 1-0-2, and drops for the serve again.

What is a Rally Scoring?

A heated rally is created when the receiver hits the ball back. After that, Team A will go in court perfectly, and team B will be at the net. Thus, Team B takes advantage of the chance to hit the drop ball over the net, and the ball is shorted in the NVZ. Team A loses this chance to play the ball as they cannot run in the court quickly as the ball bounces twice.

This point will go to team B again. Now the Server calls for 2-0-2 as he rotates to the right side, while another person from the same Team B goes to the left side. He serves appropriately, but now the ball lands over the net.

The fault of the Server – Serve transfer to the Receiving Team

It’s a sideout until the Serve team makes a fault. Then serve definitely turns to the next receiving Team. Team, A player will now serve from the right corner of the court. The receiving team server announces 0-2-1; because this Team has zero scores yet. Team B got 2 scores and served as the 1st serving team. He perfectly played the serve, and at that moment, Team B (receiving Team) lost the ball. The server player goes to the left corner of the court, and another player of the Team rotates to the right. Here, he states the score in Pickleball as 1-2-1.

He got 1 score and was the first Server, while team B acquired 2 scores. Hence, he serves the ball until it’s bounced on the land, then the serve goes to the following Team. That will initiate their journey with 1-2-2, his credit is one, but in this turn, they are serving as the second Server.

Well, this Server is dealing the serve with an extra advanced shot of Pickleball. Generally, this turn is very convenient, but he makes a sideout by putting much on the ball, and the ball rotates the baseline to the out-of-bound region. Then the Server stays on the right corner, and the serve moves to Team B. In this way, both teams, A&B, got the opportunity of making serves.

Updates from the Match Commentator: Team A has lost their chances to achieve a score on their turn while serving. It’s not practical for them. They must stabilize their thing before Gold Medal slips from their Team to the following Team B.

This match continues until 11 score in Pickleball court is accomplished with a lead of 2 points. Moreover, the Team that owns two games out of three with 11 scores wins the contest and gets a gold medal.

Alert Note: Team A fails here due to making correct mistakes, including bad serving and loss. Team B makes little faults and ultimately wins the match.

This Tournament Example makes some vital Principles

The first server rule is followed by Team B as they have started the match. Thus they announce 0-0-2.
Sideout reaches and serve moves to the opponent team A on the right side
When 1st sideout happens, all players get an equal chance to make a rally and serve since the coming sideout has happened
The serve announcement will be as Me_You_Who > My points, Yours, and serving player number.

Guide about Moving the Servers in the Court

Here are the explanatory points about the whole movement of servers in the Pickleball Court. It may create confusion for beginners, but we’ve tried to make it simple for you.

Players switch their positions on the serving side while playing the doubles game. Each time they get the point, they move from right to left or left to right direction.
The serving team can’t change their position unless they acquire a score. Sometimes, while playing, the team misses the score in Pickleball, and a sideout happens. They have to stay in the same position on the same side where they lost the chance.
The receiving team players cannot change their sides until they become the serving players and get a score.
The serve moves to the opposing team when a side-out happens. The player on the right side while his team is performing as the receiving team (which’s ended right now) will become the first Server.

Accurate Side Track in the Court

To make the appropriate score in Pickleball, you must analyze your position. Whether you’re staying at the correct place or not, and you must remember your position when starting your match. It’s not related to the server or receiver aspect. Here, the right side is represented by Even and the Left by Odds.

When making an even score in Pickleball match, you must stay in the right corner from where your match was started. If it’s odd, you may remain on the other side. If you’ve lost scorekeeping or might be forgotten, you can go forward according to your position on the court. So your score in Pickleball will let you know about your right position.

Singles score in Pickleball

However, the scoring of singles is similar to Doubles scoring. The key difference is the position of the Server in the court. Another difference between Doubles and Singles is there is no serve number announcement. There is a single server point in a singles tournament. The main factor is the position here, and the score in Pickleball can be stated as follows;

Pickleball Singles Scoring

The score call is based on the receiver’s score and the Server’s score
The game is inaugurated from the right side of the court with Even scores of the Server. When it’s on the left, there is the odd score of the Server.

Final Verdict about Score in Pickleball

There is a diversity of key points to learn for beginners. We have to go through all these takeouts.

First Server Exception Rule in Doubles represents no specific benefit for the first Server.
To win the match, your team must win two tournaments out of 3 with 11 points in a game (win by two scores)
Bouncing the Pickleball before serving is an easy approach to serve for new players.
In a doubles game, players must announce three scores before serving; Your points- Opponent team Scores- Server player number.
In a Singles game, players must call two scores before starting their serve, Server’s Point-Receiver’s Point.

Score in Pickleball is well-elucidated for players. Let’s turn over a new leaf, go through how to get scores, check positions, and the rules of score in Pickleball court. Enjoy the exciting gameplay with your loved ones. You may give us your suggestion about official Pickleball rules for dummies by visiting our main webpage.

How to Score in Pickleball? 11-Point Key Guide