USA Pickleball Provisionally Approves Singles Rally Scoring Format For Sanctioned Tournament Play

PHOENIX —  USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport of pickleball in the U.S., announced rally scoring will be added as an approved tournament format, effective May 1, 2024.

Rally scoring games are to 11, 15 or 21 points.  For inclement weather considerations only, the TD may also allow games to 7.

The approved rally scoring format applies to singles only and is provisional. Additional guidelines are as follows:

1. Win by 2 points.
2. Must win on your serve.
3. If your score is even, you serve from the right, if your score is odd, you serve from the left.
4. A point is awarded on each rally except when a player is at game point and the opponent serves and loses the rally. This is a side out and no point is awarded.

With the addition of Rally Scoring, there are 6 approved tournament formats that may be used, as follows:

1. Single Elimination with Consolation Bracket
2. Double Elimination
3. Round Robin
4. Pool Play
5. Non-Pool Play
6. Rally Scoring – Singles Only Provisionally Approved.

Find more information on tournament scoring options on the USA Pickleball website here.