In the latest installment of “10 Pickleball Rules for Beginners,” professional pickleball official Maddie Toren shares how to keep score in pickleball for both doubles and singles games.
How to keep score for doubles pickleball matches
Because there are two players on each side of the court, both players on a team will serve before a side-out is declared.
After each side-out, service always begins with the player positioned on the right side of the court. This player is referred to as Server 1, and the player on the left side of the court is referred to as Server 2.
Server 1 will continue to alternate serving positions from right to left as long as the serving team continues to win points. When the serving team’s score is an even number, Server 1 will serve from the right side of the court. When the score is an odd number, Server 1 will serve from the left side of the court.
After Server 1’s team fails to win a point, Server 2 will serve from whichever position they are currently at on the court. If the team wins a point, Server 2 will switch to the opposite side of the court to serve. If the team loses a point, a side-out occurs and the other team gets to serve, starting from the right side of the court.
The exception to the two-serve rule is at the start of each game when the team starting with service will only serve once. The starting server, who is positioned on the right side of the court, is designated Server 2 for the first service. Once the serving team fails to win a point, a side-out occurs and the two-serve rule is enacted.
How to keep score for singles pickleball matches
There is only one player per side of the court in a singles match, so there is no second server. Therefore, after a player loses a point, a side-out occurs and service is awarded to the opponent.
Just like in doubles, if the score is even, the server will serve from the right side of the court. If the score is odd, they’ll serve from the left side of the court.
Keep up with other videos
Follow the 10-video installment to learn all the rules and regulations every beginner must know before stepping onto the court. Check out the previous episodes below:
- Episode 1: The two types of legal pickleball serves
- Episode 2: Where to stand as the server and other service rules
Be sure to follow along for each new installment of the series. Download the Selkirk TV app HERE to watch other SelkirkTV original shows, podcasts, lesson series from the pros, and much more.
