How to keep score in pickleball

The three numbers

In doubles the server calls three numbers before every serve: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, then whether they are the first or second server (1 or 2). So '4-2-1' means the serving team has 4, the receivers have 2, and this is the first server.

Only the serving side scores

You win a point only when your team is serving. If the receiving team wins the rally, they don't score; they move a step closer to getting the serve back.

Both partners serve, then it's a side out

When the first server loses a rally, their partner serves (the second server). When the second server loses a rally, the serve goes to the other team: a side out. Serving partners switch sides after each point they win.

Why every game starts at 0-0-2

To stop the first team getting two servers at the start, the opening serving team gets only one. So the first call of the game is '0-0-2'.

Winning a game

Standard games are first to 11, and you must win by 2, so 12-10 or 15-13 are common finishes. Matches are usually best of three. Some leagues and tournaments use rally scoring or games to 15 or 21, so always check the event format.

Singles scoring

In singles there's no second server, so the call is just two numbers: your score, then your opponent's. The server serves from the right when their score is even and from the left when it's odd.

Worked example

Team A serves first.

1. 1.

   Call '0-0-2'. Team A wins the rally: 1 point to A.

2. 2.

   Call '1-0-2'. Team A loses the rally. A only had one server at the start, so it's a side out.

3. 3.

   Team B serves. Call '0-1-1' (B has 0, A has 1, first server). B wins the rally.

4. 4.

   Call '1-1-1'. B loses the rally, so B's second server serves.

5. 5.

   Call '1-1-2'. B loses again: side out, and Team A serves with the call '1-1-1'.