top of page

How to Keep Score

Keeping score in pickleball is relatively simple and follows a similar format to other racket sports like tennis. Here are the basic rules for keeping score in pickleball:

​

  1. Each game is played to 11 points, and the winner must win by a margin of two points.

  2. The game begins with one player serving the ball diagonally across the court to the opponent's service area.

  3. If the serving team wins the rally, they earn a point, and the same player continues to serve.

  4. If the receiving team wins the rally, they earn the serve and have the opportunity to score points.

  5. The receiving team cannot score a point until they have won the serve.

  6. The serving team must alternate sides of the court with each point scored, and the player serving must also alternate sides with each serve.

  7. If the score reaches 10-10, the game enters into a "win by two" situation, meaning that the winner must win by a margin of two points.

  8. In pickleball tournaments or other competitive play, games are often played as a best-of-three or best-of-five series, meaning that the first player to win two or three games wins the match.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
bottom of page