Pickleball Scoring & Positioning

There are a couple of different ways to score pickleball games. Traditional/Side-Out scoring is still the official method of scoring pickleball games. However, in 2025, USAP is provisionally recognizing the introduction of rally scoring for both singles and certain doubles formats which marks a significant evolution in the game’s scoring options. For USAP-sanctioned tournaments, tournament directors now have the option to use Doubles rally scoring for Round-Robin and Team Play. Singles rally scoring can also be used for Double-Elimination play.

This change expands the use of rally scoring, while ensuring it remains optional for tournaments not directly involved in qualifying for the USA Pickleball National Championships held in November. Traditional Side-Out scoring will remain in effect for all USAP Golden Ticket tournaments and for the USAP National Championships.

TRADITIONAL SIDE-OUT SCORING EXPLAINED

Side-Out Singles Scoring

  • With side out singles scoring a point is only awarded to the server when they win the rally.
  • When the server loses a rally there is a side out and the opponent wins the serve.
  • The serve is always made diagonally from the right side of the court when the server’s score is even and from the left side when the server’s score is odd.
  • It is the server’s score that determines the serving and receiving position, not the score of the receiver. The receiver lines up on the right or left side according to the server’s score.
  • The score is called as: server score, receiver score. (0 – 0)
  • The game must be won by a two-point margin, which means the game may be played beyond the scheduled ending score.

Side-Out Doubles Scoring

  • Points are scored only on the serve; the receiving side cannot score a point.
  • At the start of the game, the player on the right side (even court) serves to the diagonally opposite court.
  • If a point is scored, the server moves to the left side (odd court) and serves to the diagonally opposite court.
  • Players on the serving side continue to move from the right to left or left to right each time a point is scored.
  • Players on the serving team do not alternate sides unless a point is scored. The receiving side never alternates sides.
  • The first server continues to serve until the serving team loses a rally and the serve passes to the second server on the team. [See * below for an exception]
  • When the second server loses the serve, the service goes to the other team as a side out and the player on the right serves first, according to their score. That pattern continues throughout the game.
  • Calling the Score:
    • The score should be called as three numbers.
    • Proper sequence for calling the score is: server score, receiver score, then, for doubles only, the server number: 1 or 2.
    • To start a match, the score will be called as: zero - zero – two*
  • The server number (1 or 2) applies for that service turn only. Whoever is on the right side (depending on the score) after a side out is the first server for that service turn only. The next time that the team gets the serve back, it might be the other player depending on the score. Beginning players can mistakenly assume that the player keeps the same server number throughout the game.
  • When a team’s score is even, the player who served first in that game must be on the right (even) side of the court and on the left (odd) side when the score is odd. Or, expressed alternately, when the first server of that game is on the right side of the court, that team’s score should be even. If this is not the case, then either the players are positioned on the wrong side of the court or the called score is inaccurate.

*First Server Exception: To minimize the advantage of being the first team to serve in the game, only one player, the one on the right side, gets to serve on the first service turn of the game. Since the serve goes to the other side when that player loses the serve, that player is designated as the second server. Therefore, at the start of the game, the score should be called, “0-0-2.” The “2” indicates the second server and means that the serve goes to the other side when the serve is lost.

Service Sequence and Scoring - Mini Singles

  • Both the server and receiver line up according to their score. Even score is Right Court and Odd Score is Left Court.
  • The server starting the game will serve diagonally from the right, or even, side of the court.
  • A point is scored when the server wins the rally just like Traditional singles.
  • When a point is scored the server will change position to the Left or Odd court, but the receiver remains in the court corresponding to their score. Even = Right, Odd = Left.
  • The server may be serving diagonal or straight away to the receiver.
  • The server continues until they lose a rally.
  • The new server aligns according to score and begins a new rally.
  • The serve will alternate until one player reaches the game point and wins by two points over their opponent.

If there is not a two-point margin at game point the game continues until a two-point margin is met.

 

 

 

RALLY SCORING EXPLAINED

Service Sequence and Scoring – Rally Scoring Singles

  • The difference between Side Out Scored Singles and Rally Scored Singles is that a point is awarded for each rally, either to the server or to the receiver.
  • Player positions follow the same pattern as Traditional Side Out singles. The Servers align according to their score.
  • After every side out the new server will serve diagonally from the side of the court that corresponds to their score. Right court is even score and left side is odd score.
  • Games must be won by a two-point margin and can continue past the scheduled game point until a two-point margin is obtained, same as traditional scoring.
  • In Rally Scoring the game winning point must be won by the server.
  • No points are awarded when a player is at game point and their opponent loses their serve. 

Scoring Examples:

  • Starting the game. Starting server will serve diagonally from the right or even court at a score of 0 - 0.
  • If the server wins the rally, they will change sides and will serve from the left or odd side at 1 – 0.
  • When the serving player loses a rally, a point is awarded to the opponent as a Side Out and a Point is added to their score.
  • The winning player must win by two points and on their serve. They cannot win on the opponents serve and loss of rally.
  • In a 15 – point game, if the serving player has 14 points, they can serve to win provided their opponent has less than 14 points.
  • In a 15 – point game if the receiving player has 14 points, and their opponent has less than 14 points, and the receiver wins the rally, no point is awarded. It is simply a Side Out. They will now serve for game point at with their score at14.
  • If players are tied at 14 in a 15-point game, a point is still awarded to the winner of the rally making the score 15 – 14.
  • If the serving player serves at 15 – 14 and loses the rally the new score will be 15 – 15 with their opponent serving.
  • In a 15 – point game if players are tied at 15 – 15, and the receiving player wins the rally, a point is awarded, and they are serving at 16 – 15 to possibly win 17 -15. If they lose there is a Side Out Point, and the new score is 16 – 16.

Rally Scoring Doubles

  • The approved format for Rally Scoring doubles allows for servers to serve to both of their opponents and serve from both sides of the court.
  • In Rally Scoring Doubles a point is awarded either to the serving team or the receiving team at the end of each rally.
  • The Winning Team must win by two points.
  • The Winning Team must win the rally on their service.
  • In Rally Scoring Doubles each team serves until they lose a rally, then the opponent will be awarded a point and will serve. There is no Second Server in Rally Scoring.
  • The team starting the game will designate a Starting Server who will always serve from the Even or Right side of the court when their score is even. They will serve from the Left or Odd side when their score is odd. Just like Traditional Scoring.
  • The starting score is 0 – 0, since there is no Second Server in Rally Scoring.
  • When the serving team wins the rally, the server and their partner change positions. When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8,10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right-side court when serving or receiving and when the score is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left-side court when serving or receiving.
  • When the serving team loses a rally, there is a Side Out and their opponents are awarded a point. Their server will be the server that corresponds to their new score. Even score will be the starting server, and odd score will be the non-starting server. The serve after a side out is always initiated from the right court.
  • The serving teams players must change positions after every side out.
  • The game must be won by the serving team. If the serving team loses a rally while the opponent is at a game point score, no point is awarded, and the game continues. There is no “freeze”. The opponent will receive a point if the serving team fails to win the rally even at game point.
  • The game must be won by a two-point margin. The game may extend past the scheduled end point to accommodate the two-point margin.

Scoring Examples:

  • Starting the game. The Starting server will serve diagonally from the right or even court at a score of 0 -0.
  • If they win the rally the serving team players will change sides, and the staring server will serve from the left or odd side at 1 – 0.
  • When the starting serving team loses a rally a point is awarded to the opponent who now is the serving team as a Side Out and Point.
  • The new serving team players will always change positions to align with the score.
  • The winning team must win by two points on their serve. They cannot win on the opponents serve and loss of rally.
  • In a 15 – point game, if the serving team has 14 points, they can serve to win provided their opponent has less than 14 points.
  • In a 15 – point game if the receiving team has 14 points and wins the rally no point is awarded. It is simply a Side Out. They will now serve for game point with a score of 14.
  • If teams are tied at 14 in a 15-point game, a point is still awarded to the winner of the rally making the score 15 – 14.
  • If the serving team serves at 15 – 14 and loses the rally the new score will be 15 – 15 with their opponents serving.
  • In a 15 – point game if teams are tied at 15 – 15, and the receiving team wins the rally they are awarded a point and are serving at 16 – 15 to possibly win 17 -15. If they lose there is a Side Out Point, and the new score is 16 – 16.