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Pickleball Scoring Explained: How to Keep Score Easily with Pickleball Point Keeper

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, attracting players of all ages and skill levels. While the game is easy to learn, pickleball scoring is often cited as the most confusing part—especially in doubles play.

Between server numbers, side-outs, and calling the score correctly before every serve, even experienced players can lose track during a game. This guide explains how to keep score in pickleball step by step—and shows how the Pickleball Point Keeper Apple Watch app makes scorekeeping effortless, accurate, and stress-free.

Pickleball Scoring Basics

Understanding the fundamentals of pickleball scoring is essential before playing recreational games, leagues, or tournaments.

Here are the basic rules of pickleball scoring:

  • Games are typically played to 11 points

  • You must win by 2 points

  • The score must be called out before every serve

  • Singles scoring uses two numbers

  • Doubles scoring uses three numbers, which often causes confusion

Once you understand these rules, pickleball scoring makes sense—but remembering everything correctly during fast-paced play is the real challenge.

That’s exactly the problem Pickleball Point Keeper was designed to solve.

Winning a Pickleball Game or Match

Most pickleball matches follow a best-of-three format. The first player or team to win two games wins the match.

Some advanced tournaments or championship matches use a best three out of five format, but the scoring rules for each game remain the same.

Each game is played to 11 points, and if the score reaches 10–10, play continues until one side wins by two.

Scoring a Point in Pickleball?

There are two main scoring systems used in pickleball:

Traditional Pickleball Scoring

Traditional scoring is the most common format in recreational and tournament play.

  • Only the serving team can score points

  • If the serving team loses a rally, the serve passes to the next server or results in a side-out

  • Games often last longer, increasing the chance of scorekeeping mistakes

Rally Scoring in Pickleball

Rally scoring awards a point after every rally.

  • Points are scored regardless of who served

  • Games move faster

  • Games are often played to 15 or 25 points

No matter which system you play, tracking points, servers, and rotations can quickly become overwhelming—especially without a reliable system.

What Are Server Numbers in Pickleball?

Server numbers apply only to doubles pickleball.

  • Each team has two servers

  • A side-out occurs after both servers lose their serve

  • After every side-out, the player on the right side of the court serves first (Server 1)

Even and Odd Scores

  • Even score (0, 2, 4, etc.) → serve from the right

  • Odd score (1, 3, 5, etc.) → serve from the left

First-Serve Exception

At the start of each game, the first serving team only gets one server. This starting server is designated Server 2 to keep the rotation fair.

Remembering server numbers and positions mid-game is one of the most common reasons players lose track of the score.

Pickleball Point Keeper automatically tracks servers and side-outs for you, eliminating guesswork entirely.

How to Score a Doubles Pickleball Game

Traditional Scoring in Doubles

  • Only the serving team can score

  • Server 1 serves first and switches sides after each point

  • Server 2 serves after Server 1 loses a rally

  • A side-out occurs after both servers lose

The game continues until one team reaches 11 points while serving and wins by two.

Rally Scoring in Doubles

  • A point is awarded after every rally

  • Servers continue switching sides when they win points

  • Side-outs occur after both servers lose rallies

Tracking all of this manually is difficult—especially in competitive or fast-paced games.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball—Not the Score

Download Pickleball Point Keeper from the Apple App Store and take the confusion out of pickleball scoring once and for all.

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Whether you’re new to pickleball or an experienced player tired of score disputes, Pickleball Point Keeper is the easiest, most reliable way to keep score during every game.

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