While pickleball is considered a relatively easy sport to learn with low barriers to entry, scoring can be tricky for beginners to get the hang of. Here is a detailed guide on how to keep score in pickleball:

Keeping score in pickleball is straightforward once you understand the unique structure of the game. A standard game is played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least two points. Only the serving team can score points. In doubles play, the score is called using three numbers: the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, and the server number (either 1 or 2), which indicates whether it’s the first or second server on the serving side. For example, a score called as “4-2-1” means the serving team has 4 points, the receiving team has 2, and the first server is serving.

At the start of the game, the player on the right side serves first. In most cases, the starting team only gets one server (server #2 is skipped), and the serve passes to the opponents after a fault. After that, each side gets two chances to serve—first the player on the right, then the player on the left—before the serve changes sides again. Players switch sides of the court with their partner only after winning a point while serving. This ensures that each player serves from both the even and odd courts throughout the game.

In singles play, the score is simpler: only two numbers are called—the server’s score followed by the receiver’s. The server always serves from the right (even) side when their score is even and from the left (odd) side when their score is odd. This format helps players quickly identify proper positioning during play.