Pickleball scoring can be a bit unique, and it may take some time to get used to if you’re new to the game. Here’s a breakdown of how scoring works:
- Points and Games: A game is typically played to 11 points, although it can be played to 15 or 21 as well, depending on preferences and tournament rules. The winner must win by at least 2 points.
- Serving: Unlike tennis, where one player serves an entire game, in pickleball, the serve rotates between players. Serving is done underhand, and points can only be scored by the serving team.
- Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, each side must make at least one groundstroke before volleys (hitting the ball before it bounces) are allowed. This is known as the “double bounce rule.”
- Scoring in Doubles: In doubles, both players on a team will serve before the serve switches to the opposing team, with the exception of the first service turn of a new game when only one partner will serve. After a side-out (when the serving team fails to win the point), the first server for the new team is the player who was not the last server for that team.
- Calling the Score: The score is usually called out loud before each serve, with three numbers: the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, and the server number (either 1 or 2, indicating which server is serving on the serving team).
- Faults: A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation. If the serving team commits a fault, the service passes to the next server or, if it was already the second server, to the opposing team (side-out). If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team scores a point.
- Non-Volley Zone: There’s an area called the “non-volley zone” or “kitchen” close to the net where volleys are not allowed. Stepping into this area to volley the ball is a fault.
- Winning the Game: As mentioned earlier, the game continues until one team reaches the required points (e.g., 11) and is at least 2 points ahead. If the score reaches something like 10-10, play continues until one team has a 2-point lead.
Pickleball scoring has many intricacies, especially in doubles play, and it might be beneficial to have a rulebook or experienced player handy as you learn the game. But once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature, and you can fully enjoy this fun and engaging sport!
The information in this blog post comes from my research and experience playing pickleball and can be found in my books — HOW TO GET STARTED PLAYING PICKLEBALL, HOW TO IMPROVE FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE IN PICKLEBALL, and PICKLEBALL FOR SENIORS — all available on Amazon. I hope you learn something from this post that you can take onto the courts to help you improve your game.