How Pickleball Scoring Works: Singles and Doubles Explained

If you’re new to pickleball, scoring can feel like the most confusing part of the game.

The good news is that once you understand the basic pattern, it becomes much easier to follow.

Whether you play singles or doubles, pickleball scoring comes down to three things:

• Who is serving

• Who can score

• When the serve changes

The Basic Rule of Pickleball Scoring

Photo by USA Pickleball

In traditional pickleball scoring, only the serving side can score a point.

• If the serving team wins the rally → they score and continue serving

• If they lose the rally → no point is awarded, and the serve changes

Before every serve, the score is called out loud.

In doubles, three numbers are used:
Serving team score — receiving team score — server number

Example:
“5-3-2”

This means:

• Serving team has 5 points

• Receiving team has 3 points

• Second server is serving

In singles, only two numbers are called:
Server’s score — receiver’s score

Example:
“5-3”

How Doubles Pickleball Scoring Works

Doubles is where most players get confused.

Each team has two players, and both players typically get a chance to serve before the serve goes to the other team.

The Starting Exception

At the beginning of the game, only one player serves. This is called “second server” even though that team hasn’t had a first server yet.

The first score is:
“0-0-2”

This is a special rule used only to start the game.

How Serving Works in Doubles

• If the serving team wins the rally → they score and switch sides with their partner

• If they lose → the serve goes to their partner

• If both players lose → side out (serve goes to the other team)

Server numbers:

• Server 1 = first server

• Server 2 = second server

Example:
Score: 4-2-1

• Serving team: 4

• Receiving team: 2

• First server is serving

If they lose the rally:
→ Score becomes 4-2-2 (second server)

If they lose again:
→ Side out

Side Switching Rule

In doubles, players switch sides every time they score a point.

This helps track serving position and keeps the rotation consistent.

How Singles Pickleball Scoring Works

Singles scoring is simpler.

• Only one server per side

• No server numbers

• Only two numbers called

Key Rule: Your Score Determines Your Position

• Even score → serve from the right

• Odd score → serve from the left

Example:

• Score = 4 → serve right

• Score = 5 → serve left

How It Works

• Win rally → score point + switch sides

• Lose rally → side out

What Is a Side Out?

A side out means the serve changes teams.

• In doubles → after both players lose serve

• In singles → after one lost rally

Quick Doubles Example

Score: 2-1-1

• Team A has 2

• Team B has 2

• First server serving

Sequence:

• Team A wins → 3-1-1 (switch sides)

• Team A loses → 3-1-2

• Team A loses again → side out

• Team B serves

Quick Singles Example

Score: 4-3

• Server has 4 → serves from right

If they win:

• Score = 5-3

• Switch sides → serve left

If they lose:

• Side out

• Opponent serves

Common Pickleball Scoring Mistakes

These happen all the time: 

• Forgetting only the serving side scores

• Mixing up server 1 and server 2 in doubles

• Standing on the wrong side in singles

  • Even = right

  • Odd = left

• Not calling the full score before serving

Keep It Simple

Pickleball scoring sounds more complicated than it is.

Once you understand:

• The score call

• Server order

• When a side out happens

…it becomes second nature.

The fastest way to learn is simple: play, listen, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.