How to Keep Score in Pickleball: A Beginner's Guide

How to Keep Score in Pickleball: A Beginner's Guide

Keeping score in pickleball is one of the most confusing parts for new players, and even seasoned players make mistakes. Whether you're playing singles or doubles, using side-out or rally scoring, this guide will help you understand how to track the score like a pro.

The Basics: What You Need to Know

Pickleball games are usually played to 11 points, and you must win by 2 points. The most common format is doubles with side-out scoring, where only the serving team can score a point.

Doubles Scoring Explained

In doubles, each team has two serves per possession (one per player), except at the start of the game when only one serve is given to even things out. The score is called out in this order:

[Serving Team Score] – [Receiving Team Score] – [Server Number]

So if the score is 5–3–2, that means:

  • The serving team has 5 points
  • The receiving team has 3 points
  • The second server is serving

Key Rules:

  • Only the serving team can score
  • If the serving team loses a rally, the next server on their team serves (if it’s server 1)
  • If both servers lose their rally, it’s a side-out and the other team gets to serve

Singles Scoring

In singles, there is only one server per team, so you simply call out:

[Server Score] – [Receiver Score]

The server always serves from the right side if their score is even and the left side if it’s odd.

Rally Scoring Variant

Rally scoring is a less common but faster format where a point is scored on every rally, regardless of who served. It's often used in recreational play or leagues.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Forgetting the server number – This is why Dropshot tracks it automatically.
  2. Losing track of the score mid-rally – Happens all the time during long or heated rallies.
  3. Calling out the score incorrectly – Saying the wrong server number can confuse everyone.

How Dropshot Makes Scoring Effortless

With Dropshot, you just tap the remote or Apple Watch to indicate who won the rally. It instantly:

  • Updates the score
  • Switches the serving side
  • Advances the server number
  • Adjusts for singles, doubles, rally or side-out settings

You focus on the game, we’ll handle the score.

Final Tip

Always call the score before every serve. It helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces disputes.

Back to blog