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Side-out scoring explained
In traditional pickleball scoring only the serving team can win a point, and doubles scores are called as three numbers. Here is how it works, with a worked example of a full service sequence.
The basic idea
Most recreational and tournament pickleball still uses side-out scoring. Under this system, only the serving team can score. If the serving team wins a rally, it gets a point and the same server keeps serving. If the receiving team wins a rally, nobody scores; instead, the serve passes along, and when it passes to the other team that is called a "side out."
Standard games are played to 11, win by 2. Tournaments also use games to 15 or 21, especially in single-game formats, and those are also win by 2.
The three-number score call
In doubles, the server calls the score before every serve as three numbers:
- The serving team's score.
- The receiving team's score.
- The server number, 1 or 2.
So "4-2-1" means the serving team has 4, the receivers have 2, and this is the first server on that team. Each player on a team gets a turn to serve before the serve goes to the other side, except at the very start of the game.
Why the game starts at 0-0-2
To limit the advantage of serving first, the team that starts the game gets only one server on its first turn. That is why the opening call is "0-0-2": the game begins as if the first server were already the second server. When that team loses a rally, the serve goes straight to the other team, and from then on both partners serve in each turn.
A worked example
| Rally | Call before serve | What happens | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-0-2 | Serving team wins | 1-0-2, server switches sides |
| 2 | 1-0-2 | Serving team loses | Side out |
| 3 | 0-1-1 | New team serves from right side, wins | 1-1-1 |
| 4 | 1-1-1 | Wins again | 2-1-1 |
| 5 | 2-1-1 | Loses | Partner becomes server 2 |
| 6 | 2-1-2 | Loses | Side out |
Notice that the score numbers swap places at a side out, because the call always starts with the serving team's score.
Where the server stands
- The first server on each turn always starts from the right-hand (even) court.
- After each point won, the server switches sides with their partner and serves from the other court. The receiving team never switches.
- When the first server loses a rally, the partner serves from whatever side they are standing on at that moment.
A handy check: when a team's score is even, the player who started the game on the right for that team should be on the right; when it is odd, that player should be on the left. This works as long as the team has not swapped positions in a way the rules allow, such as stacking.
Singles scoring
Singles uses side-out scoring too, but with only two numbers, because there is no second server. The server serves from the right when their own score is even and from the left when it is odd. See singles rules.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the server number. Say all three numbers every time, out loud, before you serve.
- Wrong server or wrong court. If it is caught before the serve, correct it with no penalty. If it is discovered later, follow the current rulebook guidance; many recreational groups simply correct it going forward.
- Calling the score while serving. The call should be finished before the serve motion begins.
If your group loses track, rebuild the score from the even/odd check above rather than arguing about who served last.
Side-out vs rally scoring
Some leagues and pro events use rally scoring, where a point is scored on every rally. Side-out scoring makes games longer and rewards the serving team's patience; rally scoring makes game length more predictable. Learn side-out first, since it is what you will hear at nearly every public court.
