How To Keep Score In Pickleball

Hello to all our fabulous PickleChicks community members!

It's Amy and Molly here, bringing you a nifty guide on one of the essential aspects of pickleball – keeping score. If you're a newbie or sometimes get tangled up in the numbers during a game, fret not! We're here to serve you the deets with a sprinkle of PickleChicks flair. 🌟

1. The Basics:

• Three Numbers: When announcing the score, always call out three numbers, like "5-4-1". The first number is the serving team's score, the second is the receiving team's score, and the third tells you which server it is (either "1" or "2").

2. Serve Sequence:

• Start at the Right: The first serve of any new game starts from the right-hand court. If the serving team scores a point, the server then moves to the left court and continues to serve as long as they keep winning points.
• Switching Servers: If the serving team fails to score, the serve switches to the other player on the team (if it's doubles). When both players lose their serve, it's a side out, and the opposing team gets to serve.

3. The Odd-Even Rule:

• Right Court – Even: When your team's score is even (0, 2, 4, etc.), the player on the right side will serve.
• Left Court – Odd: If your team's score is odd (1, 3, 5, etc.), the player on the left serves.

4. Scoring Points:

• Serve & Score: Only the serving team can score. If the serving team wins a rally, they gain a point. If they lose, the serve passes to the next player or the other team (in the case of a double fault in doubles play).

5. Game Finish:

• Race to 11 (or 15 or 21): Typically, games are played until one team reaches 11, 15, or 21 points. Remember, you must win by at least 2 points!

Key Tips:

• Stay Vocal: Always announce the score before serving. It keeps everyone on the same page.
• Pause & Think: If ever in doubt, pause, have a quick chat with your partner or opponents, and get the score right. Better to take a moment than to continue with uncertainty.

So, there you have it – scoring in pickleball, demystified! With a bit of practice, keeping track becomes as breezy as one of our slub tees on a sunny day.

Keep those paddles swinging and scoreboards ticking! And remember, whether you win or lose, doing it with style and a smile is the PickleChicks way. 😉

Sending you all love, volleys, and dinks,
Amy & Molly
PickleChicks Founders

P.S. Want to bring that pickleball passion off the court? Check out our latest collection of tees and sticker packs to showcase your love for the game!