Pickleball scoring, explained for beginners
Only the serving team can score. The score is called server score, receiver score, then server number — games start 0–0–2. First to 11 wins, by two.
How do you call the score in pickleball?
Three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, then the server number (1 or 2). A game starts 0–0–2, because the first server is server 2 and hands the serve over after losing the first point.
Who can score points?
Only the serving team scores. If the receiving team wins a rally, nobody scores — the serve simply passes on, a side-out.
What does side-out mean?
When the serving team loses a rally, serve passes to the other player on the serving team — or, once both servers have lost, over to the other team. No point is scored on a side-out.
How do you win a game?
First to 11 wins, but you must win by two clear points. Tournament games often go to 15, and a match tiebreaker to 11.
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