Last Updated on December 7, 2025 by Drew Pierce
Pickleball doubles scoring uses three numbers: [Serving Team Score] – [Receiving Team Score] – [Server Number 1 or 2]. You only score points when your team is serving. The game always starts at “0-0-2” because the starting team only gets one server before a side-out.
The very first time I picked up a pickleball paddle and drove down to my local tennis center to take a group lesson, the instructors warned, “you will all leave knowing how to play the game, but learning to keep score will take you months.”
Perhaps a bit of an overstatement, but I did wonder at the time if the scoring system was devised to filter out a segment of people unwilling to learn something new.
And while learning to keep score in pickleball did not take months, it did take several reps to gel in my simple brain. But if I can learn how to keep pickleball score, so can you! 🙂
Let’s start with the basics.
The game of pickleball doubles is played to 11 points, with players needing to win by two points. Some tournaments play until 15 points.
A point is scored when the serving team hits the ball into the non-volley zone or out of bounds, the receiving team is unable to return the ball, a player hits a volley into the non-volley zone and the other team is unable to return it, or a player hits the ball out of bounds.
Similar to ping pong, only the serving team gets the point. There is a variation of pickleball that uses “rally scoring,” which means a team can win a point regardless of whether or not they served.
Now here’s where a lot of folks get tripped up–the actual scoring.
The first server (always on the right side of the court) announces the starting score of 0-0-2 (zero-zero-two). The two represents that you are the second server, and if your side wins the point, the score becomes 1-0-2, with the second server continuing until a sideout (aka – when the point is lost).
If the initial point is lost by the serving team, the ball goes to the other side, and the score is now 0-0-1. If the point is won by the serving team, the score becomes 1-0-1. If the next point is lost by the serving team, the second player on that side serves and announces a score of 1-0-2.
Reading this probably doesn’t help; it’s the kind of headache only cleared up by getting out onto a court and actually playing the game.
Also, do not forget to call the score before serving, loud enough for the opposing team to hear. And, do not drop the ball after calling the score. Both items can be called as rule violations and result in losing the point.
Understanding Court Positioning (This One’s Important!)
Here’s something that confused me for weeks: when your team scores a point, the server switches sides of the court. So let’s say you’re serving from the right side and the score is 0-0-2. You win the point, making it 1-0-2. Now you move to the left side of the court to serve again. Win another point? You’re back on the right side. This continues until you lose the rally. Your partner doesn’t move during your service turn—only the person serving switches sides. This is how you can tell which server should be serving based on the score: if your team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, etc.), the original starting server should be on the right. If it’s odd (1, 3, 5, etc.), they should be on the left. Yeah, I know. It’s a lot. But after a few games, it becomes second nature.
The Two-Bounce Rule (A Total Game-Changer)
This rule is absolutely critical to understanding how rallies work in pickleball, and it directly affects scoring opportunities. After the serve, the ball must bounce once on the receiving side AND once on the serving side before anyone can hit a volley (hitting the ball in the air). So the sequence goes: serve (bounce), return (bounce), then the third shot can be a volley. This rule exists to prevent the serving team from rushing the net immediately and dominating the point. It levels the playing field and makes pickleball the strategic game we all love (or are learning to love!). If you want to learn more about official pickleball rules, USA Pickleball has a comprehensive rulebook available online.
What Actually Happens During a Side-Out?
I mentioned side-outs earlier, but let me break this down more clearly because it’s where a lot of the confusion happens. When your team gets the serve, Server 1 serves first. If your team loses that rally, the serve goes to Server 2 (your partner). If Server 2 also loses their rally, that’s a side-out—the serve goes to the other team. The exception? That pesky 0-0-2 start. The very first team to serve only gets ONE server before a side-out occurs. This prevents the starting team from having an unfair advantage right out of the gate. After any side-out, the server number always resets to “1” for the team receiving the serve.
Deciding Who Serves First
At the start of a game, you’ll need to determine which team serves first. Most recreational games handle this with:
- A coin flip or paddle spin
- Rock-paper-scissors
- Or the classic “odds or evens” finger game
The team that wins gets to choose whether they want to serve first or receive first. Some players actually prefer to receive first to avoid that awkward 0-0-2 situation where you only get one server!
Common Scoring Mistakes (I’ve Made Them All)
Let me save you some embarrassment by sharing the mistakes I see constantly on the courts: Forgetting to switch sides after scoring: This happens to everyone. Your opponent will usually remind you (sometimes a bit smugly, but hey, we’ve all been there). Calling the wrong server number: If you can’t remember if you’re Server 1 or 2, look at your team’s score. Even score = original Server 1 should be on the right. Odd score = they should be on the left. Starting a new game at 0-0-1: Nope! It’s always 0-0-2 for the very first serve of the game. Serving from the wrong side: Again, use your team’s score as your guide. Even = right side, odd = left side. Not calling the score loud enough: Your opponents need to hear it. If there’s any confusion, stop and clarify before serving.
A Step-By-Step Scoring Example
Let me walk you through an actual game sequence because sometimes reading the progression helps more than the explanation:
- Game starts: Team A serves at 0-0-2 from the right side
- Team A wins the point: Score is now 1-0-2, server moves to left side
- Team A loses the point: Side-out! Team B now serves
- Team B serves at 0-1-1 from the right side (they have 0, which is even)
- Team B wins: Score is 1-1-1, server moves to left side
- Team B loses: Server 2 on Team B now serves
- Team B (Server 2) serves at 1-1-2 from the right side
- Team B loses again: Side-out back to Team A
See how it flows? After a few games, this becomes automatic.
What If There’s a Scoring Dispute?
It happens all the time, even with experienced players. Here’s the polite way to handle it: If you disagree with the score that’s been called, speak up immediately—before the serve happens. Usually, someone in the group will remember what happened. In recreational play, if nobody can agree on the score, common practice is to replay the point or agree on the score that seems most likely. In tournament play, you’d call over a referee. Pro tip: At the start of each side-out, I quickly remind myself of the current score. It helps avoid these awkward moments.
Win-By-Two: When the Game Gets Close
You need to win by two points, which means if the score reaches 10-10, you keep playing until one team gets a two-point lead. I’ve played games that went to 15-13 before someone finally pulled ahead. The same rule applies whether you’re playing to 11, 15, or even 21 points (though 11 is standard for recreational play).
Rally Scoring: The Alternative
I mentioned earlier that traditional pickleball only awards points to the serving team. But there’s a growing movement toward “rally scoring,” where you can score a point whether you’re serving or receiving—just like volleyball. Rally scoring games typically play to 21 points and move much faster. Some tournaments and leagues are adopting this format because it makes game lengths more predictable and keeps the action moving. If you’re playing rally scoring, you don’t use the three-number system—just the two team scores. Much simpler, honestly!
Tournament vs. Recreational Scoring
Most casual games play to 11 points, win by two. But in tournament play, you might encounter:
- Games to 15 or 21 points
- Rally scoring instead of traditional scoring
- Best 2-out-of-3 or 3-out-of-5 match formats
Always clarify the scoring format before starting, especially in tournament settings.
Memory Tricks That Actually Work
Here are some tips that helped me (and might help you): For server number: If you started the game serving, you’re always Server 1 when your team has the ball. Your partner is always Server 2. For which side to serve from: Look at your team’s score before every serve. Even number = right side. Odd number = left side. Make this your mantra. For remembering the score: After each rally, I repeat the new score out loud (even if I’m not serving next). This keeps me engaged and aware.
The Bottom Line
Look, I’m not going to lie to you—those instructors at my first lesson were kind of right. Pickleball scoring has a learning curve that feels steeper than it should be for a game played with a whiffle ball. But here’s the thing: after about 3-4 games, something clicks. You stop overthinking it, and the numbers just start making sense. Your body knows which side to stand on. You call the score without hesitation. So don’t get discouraged if you mess up the score a dozen times in your first few games. We all did. Laugh it off, correct it, and serve again. That’s the spirit of pickleball anyway—having fun while learning something new. Now get out there and practice! And maybe print out a little cheat sheet for your first few games. No shame in that whatsoever.
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