Serving

Every rally begins with a serve. Before each serve, the server should call out the score by saying his or her team’s score first, then the opposing team’s score, and then his or her server number, which may either be one or two. In doubles, each player on a team has a chance to serve.
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Only the serving team can score a point by winning a rally. The player in the right service court will always serve first for a team. If the serving team scores a point, the two players switch places so the first server now serves from the left service court. The serving team will continue switching places until they lose a rally. When the serving team loses a rally, the second server will now serve from his current position. Once the serving team loses another rally, the opposing team now has two chances to serve. This is called a side out.

Here is an example. The score here is 4 to 3 with the serving team in the lead. The first server is still serving. The score is called out as “4, 3, 1.” The serving term loses the rally, so now the second server will serve and call out the score as “4, 3, 2”. The serving team wins the rally, so the serving team will switch places. The second server will call out the score as “5, 3, 2” and serve. The serving team loses the rally this time, so it is side-out and now the opposing team has two chances to serve. The first server on the opposing team will call out the score as, “3, 5, 1” before serving.

Exception at the beginning of the game

The only exception to both players serving is with the very first server of a game. The very first server of the game still serves from the right service court, but he or she starts as the 2nd server to not give the first team serving an unfair advantage. The very first score of the game is called out “0, 0, 2.” This means that as soon as the serving team faults, side-out is called, and the other team gets to serve.

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Pickleball Scoring Rules for Doubles Play

The player in the right service court serves first for a team and only the serving team can score a point by winning a rally. If the serving team scores a point, the players switch places and the first server then serves from the left service court. The serving team continues switching places until they lose a rally. When the serving team loses a rally, the second server of the same team serves from their current position. Once the serving team loses another rally, it’s called a “Side Out” and the opposing team begins their two chances at serving.

Here’s an example of Pickleball scoring

If the score is 4 to 3 with the serving team in the lead and the first server is still serving, the score called out will be “4, 3, 1.” If the serving team loses the rally, the second server will call out the score “4, 3, 2” and then serve. If the serving team wins the rally, the serving team will switch places and the second server will call out the score “5, 3, 2” and then serve. If the serving team then loses the rally, it is side out, and the opposing team has two chances to serve. The first server on the opposing team will call out the score as “3, 5, 1” before serving.

The only exception to both players serving is with the very first serve of the game. The first serve is always played from the right service court and then the player who serves first becomes the second server, so as not to give that team an unfair advantage. The very first score of the game is called out as “0, 0, 2,” which means that as soon as the serving team faults a side out is called and the other team gets to serve.

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Pickleball Scoring Rules for Singles Play

In Pickleball singles, each player only serves once. If your score is an even number, you serve from the right service court and if your score is an odd number, you serve from the left service court. Once a player loses the rally, it is side out.

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