In short: in traditional pickleball only the serving team can score. The score is called as three numbers in doubles (serving team's score, receiving team's score, server number) and two numbers in singles. Games go to 11, win by 2. Doubles games start at 0-0-2.
The three-number call
Before every serve in doubles the server calls the score in this order:
- Serving team's score (4)
- Receiving team's score (2)
- Server number, 1 or 2 (1): which of the two players on the serving team is currently serving
In singles there is no server number, so the call is just two numbers: server's score, then receiver's score.
Why doubles starts at 0-0-2
At the very start of a game the team serving first gets only one server before a side-out, to offset the advantage of serving first. By convention that player is treated as server 2, so the first call of the game is 0-0-2. After the first side-out, every serving turn has two servers, starting with server 1.
Side-out scoring, rally by rally
- If the serving team wins the rally, it scores a point, the server and partner switch sides, and the same player serves again from the other side.
- If the serving team loses the rally with server 1, the serve passes to the partner, who becomes server 2. No point is scored.
- If the serving team loses the rally with server 2, that is a side-out: the serve goes to the other team, which begins with server 1.
- The receiving team can never score a point in side-out scoring.
Winning the game
A standard game is played to 11 points, win by 2. At 10-10 play continues until one team leads by two. Tournament formats often use 15 or 21 points. Some recreational groups use a hard cap ("win by 1"), which ScoreTap supports with the win-by-2 toggle.
Rally scoring
In rally scoring a point is awarded on every rally, whether or not the winning side served. This makes game length predictable, which is why it is popular in leagues and on busy public courts. There is no server number in the call. ScoreTap offers rally scoring as its second pickleball variant, with the same 11, 15 or 21 point options and win-by-2 toggle.
Tournament side-out to 15
Many tournaments and medal matches use traditional side-out rules but play to 15 points (win by 2). ScoreTap ships this as a preset so you do not have to change two settings before a bracket match.
Best-of matches
Matches are usually best of three games, with a game to 11 each. ScoreTap supports single game, best of 3 and best of 5, shows a between-games screen, and displays a per-game recap when the match is over.
How ScoreTap keeps score
- It tracks the serving score, receiving score and server number for you and speaks the exact three-number call after every rally in your chosen language.
- A point can only be scored by the serving side in the two side-out variants; the app handles the server-number handover and side-out automatically.
- Undo restores the full previous state, including server number, so a mis-tap never ruins a game.
- The ScoreTap Ring, other Bluetooth remotes and swipe gestures score rallies without touching the phone. See the ring guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does pickleball doubles start at 0-0-2?
- At the start of a doubles game only one player on the first serving team gets to serve before a side-out. That first server is called server 2 by convention, so the opening call is 0-0-2. After the first side-out both players on each team serve in turn.
- What is a side-out in pickleball?
- A side-out happens when the serving team loses the rally with its second server (or its only server at the start of the game). The serve passes to the other team, which starts with server 1.
- How many points do you need to win a pickleball game?
- Games are normally played to 11 points and must be won by 2. Tournaments often play to 15 or 21. ScoreTap lets you pick 11, 15 or 21 and turn the win-by-2 rule on or off.
- What is rally scoring in pickleball?
- In rally scoring a point is awarded on every rally regardless of who served. Games typically go to 11, 15 or 21, win by 2, and there is no third number in the call because server numbers are not used.
Rule summaries follow the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook as commonly played in recreational and club settings. Always defer to the tournament director for event-specific formats.